Just launched by Park People, the 2021 Canadian City Parks Report, features the most important trends and opportunities in Canada’s city parks in the last year. Based on data from 32 Canadian cities and a survey of 3,500 Canadians, this year’s report has a dedicated focus on the critical role parks’ play in creating more equitable and resilient cities.
Two-thirds of the nearly 3,500 Canadians Park People surveyed in April 2021 said their appreciation of parks had increased during the pandemic. People flocked to their local parks, sought out natural areas, took more regular walks along trails, and tried new winter activities.
This greater appreciation has important health benefits: 85% of Canadians said parks had a positive impact on their mental health, 81% on their physical health, and 71% on their sense of social connection during the pandemic—critical in addressing the isolation so many have felt during the last year.
But COVID-19 has also shown there is work to do in addressing inequities and discrimination—particularly around homelessness in parks and anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism. Park People’s survey of Canadians found that people who identified as Black, Indigenous or a person of colour were more likely to report experiencing barriers to park use, including concerns about ticketing, social judgement, and harassment. Additionally, 90% of cities reported homelessness in parks as a challenge, a significant rise from last year.
