Innovation in Equity — Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Pennsylvania Restoring Pittsburgh Parks: The Parks Plan Restoring Pittsburgh Parks: The Parks Plan was created by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the city of Pittsburgh and community members, to establish a more equitable parks system for all Pittsburghers, while also addressing a $400 million shortfall of deferred capital repairs and an annual $13 million maintenance shortfall. The plan calls for enough annual resources to prevent future backlogs, and a new ballot initiative was proposed to raise enough annual funds to address the ongoing need. The ballot initiative aimed to establish a dedicated Parks Trust Fund to invest in high-quality parks for every citizen of Pittsburgh. The initiative received nearly 30,000 petition signatures, which was nearly 18,000 more than the needed number to be placed on the November 2019 ballot. The ballot question was approved by the citizens of Pittsburgh on November 5, 2019, who voted ‘yes’ to increased funding for Pittsburgh’s parks system. This initiative will now guarantee an additional $10 million per year to Pittsburgh’s parks, in perpetuity, funded by a 0.5 mill property tax levy ($50 for every $100,000 of assessed real estate value). “The Parks Plan has furthered our dedication to improving the lives of the people of Pittsburgh by restoring our parks
PHOTO COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH (PENNSYLVANIA) PARKS CONSERVANCY
media provided information that staff will use in the planning of future HomeRECed events throughout the duration of COVID-19 related restrictions and beyond.
system to excellence. This is a positive first step in creating a more equitable parks system for all Pittsburghers to enjoy for many years to come,” says Catherine Qureshi, chief operating officer for Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Innovation The Conservancy engaged Interface Studios, a planning and urban design practice, as a key contributor for data collection, processing and plan development. Interface helped outline individual park need and provided a clear narrative on the investment plan should the ballot initiative pass. The plan outlines funding to sites in order of their Investment Need Ranking — a data-driven scoring process that considers a range of equity factors, including race, poverty, level of disinvestment in the surrounding neighborhood and existing park conditions. Parks in communities with the greatest need and that haven’t seen significant site investment in years are considered the highest priorities. Each park’s total need is summed up in a single Investment Priority Score, which combines two key measures: local community level of need and the condition of the park itself.
Restoring Pittsburgh Parks: The Parks Plan was created to establish a more equitable parks system.
Community Engagement and Partnerships The Parks Conservancy and the city of Pittsburgh engaged nearly 15,000 residents in more than 220 events from nearly 80 neighborhoods from December 2018 to October 2019 through a Parks Listening Tour. The Conservancy decided early on that this referendum effort would truly be grassroots in nature. Even so, the Parks Conservancy did call on aligned nonprofits, such as Nine Mile Run Watershed Association and PUMP, for support. Looking Ahead The Parks Conservancy stands behind the belief that the equitable investment strategy laid out in Restoring Pittsburgh Parks: The Parks Plan will be sustainable by: investing in traditionally underserved neighborhoods; increasing property values, particularly those properties in proximity to parkland; preserving economic and cultural diversity; creating new jobs; supporting healthier communities; and providing sustainably to the environment.
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Parks & Recreation
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