Project Abstract
Urban green space projects are not often retroactively visited to evaluate their performance post-construction. Our goal was to create a framework for the Boston Society of Landscape Architects to assess parks. Through a literature review, interviews with 13 landscape architecture experts, and on-site park visits, we identified health, safety, use of the space, longevity and maintenance, and environment and biodiversity as critical performance indicators for assessing urban parks. We incorporated these metrics into a comprehensive grading framework and we tested it in four parks in Boston. By focusing on standardization of metrics and metric protocols, the framework can provide insights for designing and maintaining urban parks.