The Park Equity Analysis was developed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the University of Maryland to support both the goal of the department to increase equitable access to green space and those of Maryland’s Project Green Classrooms. The analysis was created to provide an initial quantitative tool to extend public access to nature to underinvested communities, foster community connections, and grow future stewards of our natural world.

It is the goal of this analysis to provide a tool that employs national, statewide, and local data in a consistent and strategic manner for the state and its local partners. The Park Equity Analysis is meant for guidance only and is a first look at where resources may be needed. As always, a more in-depth evaluation of on-the-ground resources, challenges, and opportunities will help inform land use decisions regarding the location and development of local and state park lands.