Over half of U.S. parks sit within two miles of polluting sites

A new spatial study finds that most U.S. parks sit near polluting industrial sites, suggesting widespread potential health risks for park visitors. Over half (52.6%) of parks are within two miles of a Toxics Release Inventory site, with 9.3% within half a mile. Additionally, 2,442 parks overlap Superfund land, and 17.7% are near such sites. Researchers combined ParkServe and Environmental Protection Agency data in ArcGIS Pro. The results show green spaces and polluting sites coexist, requiring local attention and advocacy for human and environmental health.