Originally aired January 28, 2021
Parks and recreation systems have evolved far beyond playgrounds and ballfields — they are now recognized as essential green infrastructure that can contribute to community resilience, sustainability, and quality of life. Co-hosted with Island Press, this 90-minute session introduces a new step-by-step approach to parks system planning that generates greater economic, social, and environmental benefits, with examples drawn from major U.S. cities and communities.
David Barth, PhD
Landscape Architect; Author, Parks and Recreation System PlanningDavid Barth is a landscape architect and the author of Parks and Recreation System Planning, which offers a new methodology for creating parks systems that generate multiple economic, social, and environmental benefits. He has developed parks and recreation system master plans for over 100 communities across the United States, including Washington D.C., Miami-Dade County, Norfolk, San Diego, and Raleigh. He also authored the American Planning Association’s Planning Advisory Service Memo on alternatives for determining parks and recreation levels of service.
Kate A. Parmelee
Strategic Initiatives Director, City Manager’s Office, City of Port St. LucieKate Parmelee serves as Strategic Initiatives Director in the City Manager’s Office for the City of Port St. Lucie, where she leads cross-departmental sustainability and strategic planning initiatives. Her work connects parks and green infrastructure planning to broader community sustainability goals, resilience, and quality-of-life outcomes for city residents.
Carlos Perez
Principal, Perez Planning + Design, AtlantaCarlos Perez is the Principal of Perez Planning + Design, an Atlanta-based urban planning and design firm. He specializes in community engagement, equity-centered design, and sustainable place-making, helping cities and municipalities develop parks, open spaces, and recreational facilities that serve diverse communities and advance sustainability objectives.
