| Description |
Over half the global human population lives in urban areas, and more than 80% of the people in the United States live in urban areas; furthermore, researchers predict urbanization to continue. Given these global population patterns, the National Park Service (NPS) developed a strategic focus on engaging urban populations to work towards its objective to be relevant to all Americans. While the NPS acknowledges the great potential of urban parks and programs to enhance relevancy and reach new and diverse audiences, it does not mention how parks in other geographical settings can or should contribute to NPS urban work. Parks in urban-proximate settings (unbuilt areas located near, though not within, urbanized areas) have potential to serve and engage urban communities. Urban-proximate parks also have unique conditions, and managers must approach and assess urban engagement in urban-proximate parks in specialized ways not attended to by resources designed for urban parks and programs. However, urban-proximate-specific resources for urban engagement are notably lacking. In response, I explored perceptions of the purpose, understandings of success, and successful practices of urban engagement in urban-proximate parks and used findings to develop an instrument for urban engagement assessment and planning in urban-proximate parks. I created the Scorecard for Urban Engagement to help park employees respond to NPS urban initiatives and assess and plan park urban engagement efforts through a structured process of critical, operationalized thinking. |
