Think about your favorite neighborhood park. It's probably a beautiful place to spend an afternoon, perhaps play a game of soccer, or ride a bike.  But have you ever stopped to consider the other ways your park helps your neighborhood? Well-designed and close-to-home parks can provide benefits to the surrounding community that go beyond beautification and recreation, from reducing flood risks to growing the local economy.  

Across America, parks are increasingly being recognized for their ability to improve cities' resilience to the challenges of the 21st century. For example, in Chicago, a former rail line has been transformed into "The 606,"a beautiful 3-mile long pedestrian trail that provides enhanced mobility options for the nearly 60,000 nearby residents, while also improving their health and promoting economic development.  Cities are using this "multi-benefit" understanding of parks to create beautiful public spaces that can also move the needle on key civic issues.

The Trust for Public Land is applying cutting edge research, mapping and analysis to create parks that help cities tackle their biggest social, environmental, and economic challenges.  In his presentation, Robert Kent will explain why parks are vital to developing long-term resiliency in America's cities, the many "hidden" benefits provided by parks to their surrounding communities, and how the cities of North Texas are applying these principles in their own park systems.

Robert Kent is the North Texas Area Director for The Trust for Public Land, a national non-profit organization that creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities.  Since 1985, the organization has created over 40,000 acres of new parks in Texas.  The Trust for Public Land's North Texas Office works to ensure that every resident of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area has a park within a ten-minute walk, creating a healthier and more connected region that is resilient to the challenges of the 21st century.  A Dallas native, Robert has been with The Trust for Public Land since 2014.  Previously, he served as the Director of Public Policy for the North Texas Commission.

DIRECTIONS: http://www.dallassierraclub.org/page.htm?generalmeeting

Info: Kirk Miller, 972-699-1687 or KirkMiller@DallasSierraClub.org