Rooted in the experiences of Park People, a national organization championing city parks in Canada, this practical toolkit provides readers with a framework, indicators, tools and case study examples to measure the impact of parks and green spaces on equity, health and well-being.
As impact assessments can be complex, this resource serves as an accessible starting point, offering practical tips, definitions and innovative approaches for capturing data and stories. By providing a common understanding and approach to assess the impacts of green spaces and parks, it helps align evaluation efforts across different organizations.
Assessment areas, key indicators and statements
The toolkit focuses on two assessment areas: community health and well-being, and social equity. For each area, it includes key indicators and survey statements that practitioners can apply or tailor to assess the impacts of green spaces and parks in their communities.
Key indicators for community health and well-being are:
- social connection
- sense of belonging
- mental health and well-being
- physical health and well-being
Key indicators for social equity are:
- decolonization
- anti-racism
- access
- safety and social access
Case study
The toolkit presents a case study of how Park People evaluated its Sparking Change program in Toronto, offering insights on conducting an impact assessment that engages communities. The Sparking Change program provides grassroots leaders with seed funding, access to networks, training and coaching to offer park programs that respond to community priorities. Using a mixed-methods approach and working in partnership with municipal staff and a community advisory group, the evaluation identified several positive impacts that demonstrate how parks and community-led programs can play a critical role in advancing health, well-being and equity.
Importantly, public health, community and grassroots organizations and leaders can use the results of their own assessments to advocate for and strengthen ways in which green spaces and parks are activated in support of equity and community health goals.
Use this resource to
- Develop a shared understanding of how to measure the impact of parks and green spaces on health, well-being and equity
- Conduct impact assessments of green spaces and parks focused on health, well-being and equity
- Build the case for the vital function that green spaces and parks can play in promoting health, well-being and equity
Alignment with NCCDH work
The NCCDH supports the public health community to act on interrelated structural, social and ecological determinants of health.
Parks and green spaces — and their potential for positively impacting community well-being, equity, connectedness and resilience — are important places where public health can take action to help ensure they are experienced as safe and just spaces for all.
This toolkit complements the recommendations highlighted in the Mind the Disruption podcast episode “Disrupting for healthy and just public green spaces” (Season 4, Episode 1) by providing practical tools and indicators to support their implementation.
As the toolkit focuses on assessing equity impacts, see the following foundational resources:
The toolkit also connects to the NCCDH’s broader work on climate change and health equity, including Climate change resilience part 1: COVID-19 underscores the need to address inequity and transform systems and Climate change, health equity and public health responses: A curated list.
Reference
Hassen, N., Mohamed, A., & Mulligan, K. (2025). Measuring health, wellbeing, and equity in greenspaces: A toolkit & common indicators framework. Park People. https://parkpeople.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Health-Wellbeing-and-Equity-Toolkit-Nadha-Hassen-2025.pdf