Violent and Verdant: Systemic Injustice in Public Parks in the U.S.

Winner of the 2026 Leisure Studies Association's Outstanding Book Prize

Public parks in the U.S. are one of the most contentious and paradoxical places. Many Americans believe public parks are encapsulations of nature, promoters of health, and embodiments of egalitarianism and democracy, providing a wide range of health, economic, cultural, and social benefits to users. Yet, the historical reality of American public parks has been riddled with greed, hypocrisy, prejudice, and ulterior motive...