The Impact of Arts in Parks: A Multi-Dimensional Analysis

A Strategic Case for Integrating Public Art into Duncanville’s Green Spaces

Ron Thompson
April 2025

Executive Summary

This white paper examines the measurable benefits of public art in park settings, with a focus on Duncanville, Texas. Drawing on national research, municipal case studies, and emerging local strategy, the findings demonstrate that public art in parks significantly enhances community cohesion, economic development, public health, educational access, civic identity, and environmental design. As Duncanville launches a 10-year initiative to install public art in every park, culminating in a permanent Public Art Gallery in Armstrong Park Cultural District, this document provides the foundation for sustained investment and cross-sector collaboration.

1. Community and Social Cohesion

Public art and cultural programming in parks contribute meaningfully to community belonging, inclusion, and shared identity. The 2021 national report WE-Making: How Arts & Culture Unite People to Work Toward Community Well-Beingfound that place-based cultural initiatives build social ties and improve collective well-being. In Toronto, the Arts in the Parks initiative (launched 2016) was created to animate public green spaces; its 2018 evaluation showed high resident participation and enthusiasm.

Local organizers reported that free, neighborhood-based arts events reduced social isolation, fostered intergenerational interaction, and created meaningful collective experiences. These events activated underused areas while introducing diverse creative voices into underserved communities. Survey data showed that 72% of attendees found events welcoming and inclusive, and 71% wanted more arts programming in local parks.

Community-led murals, participatory performances, and co-created projects offer platforms for underrepresented groups to express identity and contribute to public discourse. Studies indicate that such visibility may correlate with increased civic participation, volunteerism, and trust in neighborhoods.

2. Economic Development

Public art and arts programming in parks generate direct and indirect economic returns. In New York City, The Gates(2005), a 16-day installation in Central Park, drew nearly 4 million visitors and contributed an estimated $254 million in economic activity. New York City Waterfalls (2008) generated $69 million by activating underused areas of the East River.

Chicago’s Millennium Park, home to Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate, is now one of the most visited destinations in the city and a cultural anchor. A 2024 report by Toronto Metropolitan University found that placemaking interventions like murals and sculptures increased the likelihood of individuals spending time in an area by 50%, often leading to greater commercial activity.

In Cincinnati, neighborhoods with murals showed weekend foot traffic 30% higher than the citywide average; when murals were near restaurants, pedestrian activity was nearly five times higher. In Philadelphia, Mural Arts Philadelphia employs more than 250 artists annually, contributing $2–3 million to the local creative economy. Nationally, the nonprofit arts and culture sector supported 1.6 million jobs and $150 billion in economic activity in 2022.

3. Public Health and Well-Being

Arts in parks supports public health through social engagement, light physical activity, and time outdoors. A 2024 study found that people who experienced a temporary public art installation in an urban park reported lower stress and improved mood compared to a control group.

Participating in or attending arts events also combats loneliness and isolation. A London-based survey found that 84% of community art participants reported improved emotional well-being. These benefits are especially relevant in post-pandemic recovery, where informal social connections are a critical health determinant.

The combination of natural settings and cultural engagement encourages repeat visits and fosters a stronger sense of public safety and neighborhood care.

4. Educational Access and Enrichment

Park-based arts programming expands informal access to arts education for families and youth. Free workshops, concerts, and performances create hands-on learning opportunities that complement school-based arts programs.

In Toronto, 83% of Arts in the Parks attendees brought children or came in family groups. Activities like painting, music, and dance offer creative exploration in a relaxed, welcoming setting. Programs such as Pittsburgh’s August Wilson Park sculpture project integrate art and science education through public installations designed by youth.

These experiences increase early exposure to the arts, which is linked to long-term civic and academic engagement.

5. Civic Identity and Participation

Public art in parks reinforces community identity by reflecting local history, aesthetics, and values. Projects that involve residents in design or storytelling foster deeper emotional connections to place. Collaborative murals and performances also build leadership and encourage stewardship of public space.

Research suggests that these participatory processes result in more durable civic engagement than top-down cultural interventions. Public art becomes a tool for civic education, often sparking dialogue around race, memory, migration, and belonging.

Events like multicultural arts festivals create shared moments of joy and connection across diverse audiences. Parks become civic commons—spaces where democratic values and public culture visibly converge.

6. Environmental Design and Placemaking

Public art enhances how people experience parks. When embedded in the landscape, art draws attention to ecological features, site history, and spatial storytelling.

Art trails, sculpture gardens, and interpretive installations guide visitors to new areas and encourage deeper engagement. Projects that incorporate environmental themes also promote sustainability and public education about natural systems.

Art integrated into green infrastructure projects can increase community acceptance and long-term use of these spaces. Designed well, these spaces become cherished public environments.

Case Studies

  • Toronto, ON – Arts in the Parks reaches 35+ parks annually with performance, music, and community workshops.

  • New York City, NY – Temporary public art projects (The Gates, Waterfalls) generated over $300M in combined economic activity.

  • Chicago, IL – Cloud Gate and other works in Millennium Park made it a year-round tourist destination and local gathering space.

  • Philadelphia, PA – Mural Arts Philadelphia employs hundreds of artists and advances social justice through participatory practice.

  • Seattle, WA – The city’s Arts in Parks grants fund neighborhood-led cultural programs with an equity focus.

Selected References

  • Americans for the Arts. Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (2022).

  • National Endowment for the Arts. The Arts and Civic Engagement (2022).

  • Urban Institute. Housing Matters: The Benefits of Public Art (2023).

  • Toronto Arts Foundation. Arts in the Parks Evaluation Reports (2016–2019).

  • Public Health England. Arts, Health and Wellbeing Evidence Summary (2019).

  • Toronto Metropolitan University. Placemaking and Business Engagement Report (2024).

  • University of Cincinnati. Murals and Foot Traffic Study (2022).

  • NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. Economic Impact Reports (2005, 2008).

  • WE-Making: How Arts & Culture Unite People to Work Toward Community Well-Being (2021).

  • Mural Arts Philadelphia. Annual Program Reports.

  • National Recreation and Park Association. Arts and Parks Planning Toolkit (2021).

  • Participatory City. The Power of Co-Creation (2020).

  • Design Trust for Public Space. Making Public Space Work (2021).