One third of Maine residents lack close to home access to the outdoors

May 28, 2026

More than 60% of Maine residents do enjoy nearby open space access, which directly supports personal health, neighborhood connections, and overall quality of life

MAY 20, 2026 /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Two-thirds of Maine residents live within walking distance of a park or open space, according to data from Trust for Public Land’s 2026 ParkServe® mapping resource.

It’s a meaningful reality for 63% of Maine residents who do enjoy nearby open space access, as those public places directly support their personal health, their neighborhood connections, and their overall quality of life.

But for the 37% of Maine residents who do not have a park or open space within a 10 minute walk— the distance an average able-bodied person is willing to walk to a nearby amenity—it’s a missed opportunity.

“Investing in parks and open space is fiscally smart policy. Cities that prioritize outdoor spaces are not only creating healthier and more connected communities—they’re maximizing economic benefits that strengthen local prosperity,” said Betsy Cook, Maine State Director of Trust for Public Land

Based on Trust for Public Land data, Portland is the clear leader in park access with 98% of residents living within a 10 minute walk to a park or open space.

Other Maine towns and cities included in the ParkServe® data include Bangor (63%), Rumford (60%); Waterville (60%); Gorham (59%); Lewiston (57%); Biddeford (52%); Auburn (48%); Brunswick (47%); Camden (47%); Sanford (47%); Saco (44%); South Portland (39%); Kittery (32%); Orono (21%); Scarborough (18%); Augusta (17%); and Kennebunk (17%).

Nationally, a clear majority (79%) see parks and open space as essential infrastructure, with an even larger group (88%) wanting their local communities to invest in affordable outdoor recreation such as parks, trails, and open space.

According to additional research from Trust for Public Land, people want parks for the specific ways they improve their everyday lives, helping them reduce stress and improve their mood (61%), be physically active (71%), and spend quality time with friends and family (46%).

Those living within a 10 minute walk of a park are more than twice as likely to spend 20 minutes in nature most days of the week compared to those who don’t; and they are 35 percent more likely to get the recommended 150 minutes a week of physical activity than those who don’t.

“Perhaps most importantly, when we invest in our parks, we reap huge benefits. For every dollar spent on parks and recreation, there is a $3 return in economic benefits—from reducing healthcare costs to strengthening local economies,” added Cook.

ABOUT PARKSERVE®: Trust for Public Land’s ParkServe® is the nation’s most comprehensive park access dataset, tracking approximately 150,000 parks across nearly 13,000 cities, towns, and villages. Using a 10-minute walk standard, the platform identifies communities without nearby parks and highlights “park priority areas,” where investments can deliver the greatest health, climate, and equity benefits. ParkServe provides a free, publicly accessible platform that enables researchers, policymakers, and communities to explore park access, analyze environmental conditions, and prioritize new park development. ParkServe® is part of Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore® initiative, an annual ranking of the 100 most populated US cities and their support for parks in five key categories: equity, access, investment, amenities, and acreage. The 15th annual report was released by Trust for Public Land this month.

ABOUT TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND: Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.