Connecting everyone
to the outdoors™
Access to nature is essential to our happiness, health, and well-being. Yet in the U.S., about one in three people, including 28 million children, don’t have a quality park close to home.
We’re partnering with communities across the country to change that. Since 1972, we’ve created thousands of parks and protected millions of acres of public land where it’s needed most.
Discover inspiring stories, thought-provoking articles, new research and resources, and exciting updates.
We’re more than a conservation organization—we’re catalyzing social impact, strengthening community well-being through people’s connection to nature and one another, ensuring everyone has access to the benefits and joys of the outdoors.
Expanding access and connection to high-quality outdoor spaces benefits everyone in many ways. It improves public health outcomes. It enriches, unifies, and grounds us in our country’s shared history and cultures. It combats isolation and gives people a sense of belonging. And it helps our communities adapt to climate change.
Our expertise, proven strategies, and applied research create lasting change. We contribute our conservation, land-use, policy, finance, and technical know-how to bring communities’ visions to life for their outdoor spaces. Whether we’re conserving vast landscapes or connecting people to new or improved local parks, trails, and schoolyards, we plan and design with communities, not for them.
Parks, schoolyards, and trails are more than just places to gather—they are living reminders of the people, cultures, and moments that shaped America. By protecting and uplifting these spaces, we keep history alive and ensure that future generations see themselves reflected in the stories our lands tell.
From transforming schoolyards to preserving national parks, our work is changing communities across the country.
Sign one or more of our petitions. Let lawmakers know that our outdoor spaces must be protected and that everyone needs equal access to the benefits and joys of the outdoors.
We’ve gathered the most comprehensive data on park access in the United States—and we’re using it to pinpoint neighborhoods where parks are needed most.
See which cities are highly ranked for equitable access to the outdoors in our annual ParkScore top 100 list and discover how your own city stacks up.
Our Members Make Our Work Possible. Join Us.
Take a stand for the outdoors and become a member today.
