Background

Our History

COMING SOON: COALITION TIMELINE

Ripple Mapping

Ripple Effects Mapping evaluates and visualizes a program's chain of effects by having members interview each other and reflect on what has been accomplished so far. Five core impact themes emerged:

1. Activating a diverse network of people and organizations around a shared vision

2. Centering youth leadership and community engagement to elevate nature connections

3. Deepening relationships with local government and leaders, leading to policy changes

4. Collaboration leading to new programs, professional development and strengthening existing programs

5. Challenges and barriers

Policy Scan

We reviewed 12 local plans and policies to assess how frequently children, youth, and/or adolescents are mentioned to have a baseline for future policy. Many existing plans have intersecting goals that align with the Coalition’s vision: improving city parks and public infrastructure, sustainable land development, reducing emissions, and increasing heat resilience. However, none of these efforts have the goal of specifically increasing children’s equitable access to nature. The Pima Connecting Children to Nature Coalition fills that gap. 

The Children’s Equity in Nature (CENI) score combines data on demographics, park quality, transportation networks, and public safety to see where children under 5 years old have more social and physical barriers to safe and convenient outdoor spaces. This metric was created after research showed that access to protected community resources, like public parks and green spaces, plays a pivotal role in childhood development.  

The goal was to find which neighborhoods have a higher degree of social vulnerability and larger populations of young children with less access to quality green spaces.

• 133 census block groups in urban Pima County have low equitable access to nature for young kids (ages 0-4 years).

• 34 exhibit the greatest need for intervention with their index falling below the 5th percentile.

• Blocks are most prevalent in Ward 5 (16 blocks), Ward 1 (7 blocks), and Ward 3 (4 blocks).

• 66% of Tucson residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park.

PCCN aims to give all kids living in Pima County equitable and safe access to the outdoor areas that are already in their neighborhoods.   

Contact Us

admin@pimaconnectingchildrentonature.org