Pictured: Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles, California. Photo courtesy of Clement Lau.

Over the course of my career, I have listened to countless residents share what parks mean to them — a safe place for kids to play, a quiet spot for reflection, a vital community resource during crisis. These conversations remind me that parks are not just amenities — they are essential to our collective well-being.

Unfortunately, when budgets tighten, parks and recreation is often among the first services to face cuts. Too often viewed as “nice-to-haves” rather than essential public infrastructure, parks are deprioritized in favor of services seen as more immediately urgent. But this view is short-sighted. Parks are critical public assets that generate significant cost savings in health care, crime prevention, climate resilience, and community well-being. In fact, during times of financial constraint, continued investment in parks is not only defensible — it is fiscally responsible.

A Prescription for Prevention

The connection between parks and public health is well-established. Parks provide safe, free, and accessible spaces for physical activity, which helps prevent obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other costly chronic illnesses. If everyone met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s recommended levels of physical activity — something made far more achievable through access to parks — the U.S. could save billions annually in healthcare costs.

In Los Angeles County, the award-winning Parks After Dark (PAD) program has demonstrated positive health impacts. PAD provides free evening programming in underserved communities and has increased physical activity, reduced sedentary behavior, and fostered safer, more vibrant park spaces (see this UCLA evaluation). These are not just lifestyle improvements — they are public health interventions that help reduce long-term healthcare expenditures.

Additionally, research from the Prevention Institute and UCLA indicates that enhancing access to safe, quality parks correlates with increased life expectancy, especially in communities facing park deficits and limited green space. Parks are not only sites for recreation — they are environments that can help extend lives.

Crime Prevention Through Recreation

Parks and structured recreational programs also help reduce crime and violence, particularly among youth. Since 2010, there has been a reduction of serious and violent crimes, such as robbery, and nonviolent crimes, like vandalism, in participating parks and their surrounding communities (per previously mentioned UCLA evaluation). The results offer compelling evidence that well-designed recreation programs can yield public safety benefits.

This pattern is not unique to Los Angeles. Studies have found that investing in parks, greening vacant lots, and expanding recreation opportunities can reduce gun violence and foster safer neighborhoods across the U.S. (examples include a University of Michigan study and this article). Parks are, in this sense, a crime prevention strategy that addresses root causes through positive engagement and place-based interventions.

Mental Health and Social Connection

Parks are also vital to mental health and social cohesion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they became sanctuaries for residents coping with anxiety, isolation, and grief. Research confirms that time in green space is associated with lower rates of depression and stress — and the economic burden of mental illness is staggering. Parks offer a scalable, low-cost intervention with tangible mental health benefits.

Parks are also among the few truly democratic spaces where people of different races, cultures, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds can come together without cost or prerequisite, as supported by the Trust for Public Land (TPL)’s Great Unifiers report. Whether through shared use of playgrounds, walking trails, sports courts, or community events, parks offer organic opportunities for interaction that help break down barriers, reduce social isolation, and build mutual empathy. In an era marked by political polarization, rising loneliness, and declining trust in institutions, parks serve as common ground — fostering the kinds of everyday connections that are essential to a more cohesive and resilient society.

Beyond their traditional roles, parks have proven indispensable in times of crisis. For example, during the pandemic, Los Angeles County transformed parks into COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites, emergency shelters, and food distribution hubs. This adaptability underscores their importance not only for recreation and respite, but also as essential infrastructure in meeting urgent public health and community needs.

In addition, parks promote community connection. When neighbors connect in public spaces, trust and empathy grow. These outcomes may be harder to quantify, but they are foundational to building stronger, more resilient communities — especially in a time of social fragmentation.

Climate Resilience and Land Stewardship

As communities confront climate change, parks play a frontline role in sustainability and resilience efforts. Tree canopies help cool neighborhoods, reduce energy use, manage stormwater, improve air quality, and support biodiversity. Community forestry, native plant landscaping, and ecological restoration are essential strategies in adapting to hotter, drier conditions.

Maintaining these benefits requires not only new investments but also consistent care. Deferred maintenance — from broken irrigation systems to declining tree health — can erode long-term value. That is why funding for operations and maintenance (O&M) is just as important as funding for capital improvements. In L.A. County and beyond, agencies are increasingly adopting sustainable practices, including the use of native, drought-tolerant species and converting underutilized or contaminated lands into community-serving green space.

One notable example is the transformation of a former oil tank farm into the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Recreation Area — now a vibrant park with wetlands, walking paths, and playgrounds. This and other brownfield-to-park projects show how environmental restoration can turn liabilities into assets that serve both people and the planet.

Beyond their role in enhancing climate resilience, parks are pivotal in advancing community decarbonization efforts. By expanding tree canopies, restoring wetlands, and implementing sustainable practices in park operations — such as utilizing renewable energy sources and promoting active transportation — parks serve as vital assets in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Investing in these initiatives not only furthers environmental goals but also underscores the necessity for funding to support the decarbonization of park systems.

A High-Return Investment

Despite the compelling evidence, parks often remain vulnerable to budget cuts. According to research by TPL, every $1 invested in parks can yield up to $4 in economic benefits, including increased property values, public health savings, and environmental services like cleaner air, stormwater capture, and urban cooling. These are not expenses — they are multipliers.

Moreover, equitable investment in parks helps advance racial justice, health equity, and environmental repair. Research by the Prevention Institute and UCLA underscores that park investments must be equity-driven and community-informed to address the structural inequities that have long deprived low-income communities and communities of color of green space. TPL’s Great Unifiers report echoes this, highlighting how parks help bridge divides — socially, racially, and economically — while generating strong economic and environmental returns. Communities that have historically lacked access to quality green space are often the same ones most burdened by pollution, disinvestment, and climate risk. Addressing these disparities through park investment is not only fair — it is foundational to achieving broader public goals.

Conclusion

In an era marked by rising temperatures, health care costs, and social challenges, parks are more critical than ever. Budget constraints are real — but so are the costs of disinvestment. Investing in parks and recreation is a high-return strategy for public health, environmental resilience, safety, and economic vitality. Even when budgets are tight, parks yield dividends — in ways both seen and unseen — today and for generations to come. As we navigate difficult budget choices, we must ask: Can we afford not to invest in parks?

Clement Lau, DPPD, FAICP, is a planner with over 17 years of park planning experience in Los Angeles County. He is a regular contributor to NRPA's Parks & Recreation magazine and Open Space blog.