Land and Green Space
Everyone deserves access to high-quality parks and public green spaces.
As a large, sprawling metro area, Cleveland is fortunate to have beautiful parks and greenspaces where people can rest, rejuvenate, and recreate. Lake Erie and our extensive walking and biking trail systems provide a strong foundation on which to build. However, more should be done to expand the regional tree canopy and connect local greenspaces through urban farming and gardening. Doing so will build climate resilience and serve community health and nutritional needs.
Everyone deserves access to high-quality parks and public green spaces. However, gaps exist in the availability of these resources throughout the city. Gaps also exist in the community’s perceived ownership of and a sense of belonging in parks and public green spaces, and many BIPOC residents feel disconnected from these resources.
The fate of abandoned and vacant lots is a critical factor in fostering greater equity in Cleveland. The City of Cleveland is holding at least 30,000 vacant lots in its land bank. Depending on the needs of the community, these abandoned areas could be made available for restoring infrastructure for increased affordable housing options, growing food, installing solar energy, planting trees, building playgrounds, remediating soil, or creating new green gathering spaces for the community.
Questions to Ask Candidates:
Do you commit to finalizing the plan that will ensure all Clevelanders are within a 10-minute walk to a high-quality park? What steps will you take to reach this goal?
How will you ensure that Cleveland’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Properties solicits input from the community and uses that input to inform educational programming offered in parks, greenspaces, and other venues?
How will you ensure it is easy for Cleveland residents to purchase and improve vacant lots?