Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies
PerSquareMile
A tool for identifying high impact park projects in California.
PerSquareMile Access and Opportunity Zones
About the Tool
The PerSquareMile tool, developed by GreenInfo Network and the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, was created to identify areas where new parks will have the greatest impact.
The tool starts with a one-square-mile grid over the state of California, it layers high resolution population location data, park locations, demographic data, biodiversity metrics, and other environmental factors to identify the specific areas where park investment will serve the most people.
PerSquareMile in Action
LA CITY PNA
The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) used the PerSquareMile tool in the 2025 Park Need Assessment to identify priority areas for park investment.
The tool narrowed in on square mile grids with low Park Access (high number of people without a park within a 10-minute walk of their homes) as well as low Park supply (areas where there are less than 3 park acres per thousand people within a 10-minute walk of their home.)
Data & Research
Equitable Access Research Project
Peer Reviewed Article (coming soon)
PerSquareMile in the News
How local parks can help close the nature gap
We want to hear from you! please reach out to Jon with questions and comments on how to use PerSquareMile
Jon Christensen, Adjunct Assistant Professor
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability & Luskin Center for Innovation
Director, Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies
mobile: 650-759-6534 | email: jonchristensen@ioes.ucla.edu
christensenlab.net