At a time when Americans are fractured by politics and policies, there is one thing most of us agree on and which has broad, bi-partisan support—convenient access to a high-quality park.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL), the National Recreation and Park Association(NRPA), and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) launched the 10-Minute Walk to a Park Campaign with the support of 134 mayors from cities across America and from both sides of the political aisle. These mayors signed on endorsing the goal of providing every neighborhood with a quality park that improves life for city residents, serves as a safe place for people to gather, and adds to the beauty of the city.

Parks play vital roles in enhancing environmental sustainability, absorbing carbon and other air pollutants, lowering temperatures, and capturing storm water runoff. They are also crucial to public health—data show that when people live near parks they exercise more. Parks also enhance property values, and create community cohesion by bringing diverse people together in social settings. Cities that invest in parks and open spaces are directly benefiting local residents and their physical and mental health by creating life-enhancing ways to get outdoors and be active.

Read the full article about parks by Adrian Benepe at Huffington Post.