The State of UK’s Public Parks 2014 study was commissioned by the Heritage Lottery Fund to take stock of the current condition of public parks across the UK. The remit is wide and, by definition, focusses specifically on urban and country parks that are freely accessible to the general public. This also includes formal and ornamental landscapes that have been laid out for leisure and recreation along with more informal natural areas that are open to the public and managed for the benefit of both people and nature. 

The primary purpose of the study is to provide a clear evidence base to influence national and local policy on the importance of investing in public parks and urban green spaces. It describes the current condition of public parks and highlights the challenges presently being faced by local authority parks services. It identifies particular trends in the condition, use, funding, staff resources and community participation involved in managing and maintaining parks. The study has a wide audience including key decision makers, the parks and landscape professions and the general public and its core objective is to raise awareness, highlight the continuing importance of public parks and set out key actions for protecting and improving parks across the UK.

This is the first UK-wide study on public parks to be undertaken since the Public Parks Assessment of 2001. It draws together new data from new commissioned surveys of Park Managers, Park Friends and User Groups and the General Public. It provides a clear national picture on the current resourcing and challenges facing public parks to inform the future work programme of the HLF as client and the wider landscape profession involved in restoring and managing public parks. It concludes with a Call to Action to organisations responsible for setting policy and prioritising investment in public parks.