Zack Czajkowski’s recent INDY op-ed, “Durham Parks Are Literally the Worst,” raises an important issue. Durham finished at the bottom of Trust for Public Land’s 2026 ParkScore rankings, and that’s a result we should take seriously.

But as volunteer leaders of the Durham Parks Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds, builds partnerships, and advocates for Durham’s parks and open spaces, we believe the rankings also deserve some context. 

David Green Credit: Courtesy photo
Donna Stanek Credit: Courtesy photo

Durham has added more than 75,000 residents since 2010, with significant growth in areas that look very different from our older, more walkable neighborhoods. Because ParkScore places considerable emphasis on whether residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, those development patterns matter. The rankings offer a useful benchmark, but they don’t tell the whole story of our parks system or the challenges of keeping pace with a rapidly growing city.

None of that diminishes the need for improvement. We share Czajkowski’s concern about the need for greater investment in our parks and a clear plan for moving forward. But we also see an opportunity for a broader conversation about what Durham’s parks could look like in the years ahead, and what it will take to get there.

Consider three cities near the top of the 2026 ParkScore rankings.

  • In third-ranked Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation raised $18.1 million through its RiverFirst campaign to support major improvements to public spaces. 
  • In fourth-ranked Saint Paul, the Saint Paul Parks Conservancy has raised approximately $4 million for local park projects and programs. 
  • And in fifth-ranked Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Parks Foundation has contributed more than $100 million to park projects, programs, and conservation over the past three decades.

These examples do not establish that philanthropy caused these cities’ high rankings. They do show how foundations contribute to the public spaces and opportunities residents enjoy. Trust for Public Land’s investment measure includes public and private spending on publicly accessible parks. Understanding a city’s investment therefore requires looking at the broader network of organizations supporting its parks.

For Durham, that starts with meaningful public investment. The City has a responsibility to maintain safe, accessible, and well-funded parks, and it has implemented a coordinated investment strategy to make this happen, including the adoption of a Comprehensive Parks and Recreation System Plan, development of Land Acquisition Strategy and an Investment Priority Indicator, approval of the $85 million Parks and Recreation Bond, and continued Capital Improvement Program investments in playgrounds, park infrastructure, accessibility, and recreational facilities. Residents should expect the Durham City Council to back DPR’s existing plans and budget requests to continue this work.

But public funding shouldn’t define the limits of our ambition. Private philanthropy, business involvement, and community partnerships can help accomplish more, from improving neighborhood parks and expanding recreational opportunities to supporting projects that might otherwise never get off the ground.

The Durham Parks Foundation already provides a vehicle for this work. Founded in 2015, our volunteer-led organization raises funds, builds partnerships, and advocates for the expansion, accessibility, and improvement of Durham’s parks and open spaces. Our Community Fund offers grants of up to $5,000 for neighborhood-driven park projects and events, giving residents a direct role in shaping the spaces they use.

Growing this work requires broader participation from Durham’s businesses, philanthropic institutions, and residents. It also requires directing resources toward neighborhoods with the greatest unmet needs. A neighborhood’s ability to raise money should never determine whether its children have a quality place to play.

We support the DPR’s Comprehensive Plan which sets out measurable goals, and the need for reliable public funding. We also invite the community to help strengthen the philanthropic partnerships that can advance those goals.

Durham deserves better parks. The experience of leading cities offers a practical direction: invest consistently, build lasting partnerships, and give residents a meaningful voice in the work. The Durham Parks Foundation is ready to help turn that shared responsibility into results.

David Green and Donna Stanek serve as volunteer leaders of the Durham Parks Foundation, which is hosting the New Year’s Bull Drop on December 31st in downtown Durham, with proceeds benefiting the Foundation’s Community Fund.