The Trust for Public Land

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) helps communities take action on parks and land conservation by providing objective advice based on extensive experience, the latest technology and analytical frameworks, and a proven approach to realizing parks and conservation goals. TPL's services are:

Conservation Vision: TPL helps agencies and communities define priorities for new parks and land conservation, identify lands to be protected, and plan networks of conserved land that meet public need, often employing specialized Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques.

Conservation Funding: TPL helps agencies and communities identify and generate funds for conservation from federal, state, local, and philanthropic sources. TPL's Federal Affairs staff works with Congress and administration officials to secure federal funding. TPL's Conservation Finance Program helps states, counties, and municipalities design legislation and ballot measures that will dedicate public funds for new parks and land conservation. TPL works with foundations and private donors to encourage philanthropic support.

Conservation Research & Education: TPL acquires and shares knowledge of conservation issues and techniques to improve the practice of conservation, promote its public benefits, and encourage pro-conservation public policy.

Conservation Transactions: TPL helps structure, negotiate, and complete land transactions that create parks, playgrounds, and protected natural areas. TPL serves as an independent agent, buying land from willing landowners and then transferring it to public agencies, land trusts, or other groups for protection. In some instances, TPL will protect land through conservation easements, which restrict development but permit traditional uses such as farming and ranching.

Park Design & Development: TPL helps transform newly acquired or existing sites into parks, playgrounds, or restored natural areas. TPL employs a participatory design process and solicits the viewpoints of all stakeholders. Where no steward for the new park exists, TPL trains community stewards in park programming and parkland management.

The Conservation Campaign: Created as an affiliate of The Trust for Public Land in 2000, The Conservation Campaign (TCC) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that mobilizes public support for ballot measures and legislation that create public funds to protect land and water resources. TCC's website is the premier resource for conservation campaigns across the country.