To become a National Park City, cities follow and interpret the 10 steps set out in the National Park City Journey Book, in a way that reflects the particular qualities, values, and ambitions of that place and landscape.
Once a city campaign has registered its interest in becoming a National Park City, it begins its journey working through the steps at its own pace, towards the submission of its portfolio of evidence which sets out the city’s case for why it should be a National Park City against 23 assessed criteria.
The assessment process is undertaken by peer review, coordinated by the International Steering Group of the National Park City Foundation (a charity registered in England & Wales. Charity number: 1173267).
The peer review process is open, transparent and participatory, undertaken in a collaborative way and fully involving the Chattanooga team, along with representatives of National Park City Foundation, Salzburg Global Seminar, World Urban Parks, and individual representatives from the wider National Park City community and external peers and colleagues.
National Park City status is formally awarded by the National Park City Foundation following a successful portfolio submission, peer review, and in-person visit coordinated by the International Steering Group, and validated by representatives of Salzburg Global and World Urban Parks.
A shared promise and ambition
National Park Cities are not utopias. Like all cities they are messy, complicated, frustrating, and wonderful places in equal measure. Becoming a National Park City is not an award of excellence, rather it is about setting out the shared ambition, power and responsibility that exists within the city to create a place where people and nature are better connected.
The movement is about working together to tackle and overcome many of the complex challenges that cities face. No National Park Cities will ever have a perfect report card.
The purpose of the application and peer review process is to ensure that a candidate National Park City would be a suitable place, visionary, inclusive, supported and capable enough; would share National Park City values, goals, spirit and commitments; and contribute to the integrity of the National Park City vision, family and movement.
Five stages in the assessment process
There are five stages in the National Park City application process. All nominated National Park Cities must go through this process in order to join the National Park City family and become an officially recognised National Park City.
Stage 1: Portfolio submission
Submission of a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates that the city is ready to become a National Park City.
Stage 2: Desk review
The assessment team will complete an initial desk review to ensure all documents are in place.
Stage 3: Peer review
Peers from established and emerging National Park Cities, as well as experts from the National Park City Foundation, World Urban Parks and Salzburg Global Seminar will review the initial application and provide feedback on where additional activity or evidence might be required against 23 National Park City criteria.
Stage 4: In-person visit and independent research
Representatives of the Peer Review team will visit the city to meet with community groups, members of the city government, civil society, and ordinary citizens. This will be supported with independent research to check the validity of the application and gather additional evidence, along with monitoring the media and social media.
Stage 5: Invitation
Following stages 1-4 being completed successfully, the National Park City Foundation in partnership with World Urban Parks and Salzburg Global Seminar will formally invite the City to agree to the National Park City commitments, join the family and become an established National Park City.
How we assess each application
The 23 assessment criteria from the Journey Book cover five areas of enquiry:
- Is the area a suitable place
- Is the National Park City initiative visionary enough
- Is the National Park City initiative inclusive enough
- Is the National Park City initiative supported enough
- Is the National Park City initiative capable enough
The reviewers are not looking for perfect scores across the application. Instead they want to hear about the ambitions, plans and progress of each candidate National Park City. Each peer reviewer will look at the overall approach each city is taking and will make an informed judgement on whether each urban area is ready to become a full National Park City.
Across the application portfolio, peer interviews and independent research, the assessment team will want to have seen enough evidence to be confident that the ‘right mix’ of criteria were sufficiently met.
To aid this process each of the peer review team scored each of the assessment criteria as either:
Green: Evidence is present and satisfactory – Score 1
Orange: More evidence or activity is required – Score 0.5
Red: No evidence or Significant Concerns – Score 0
The scoring process will be used to support conversations and decide where more evidence or activity may be required, and also used to identify any areas of concern.
Making the commitment
Once the candidate city has successfully completed all steps of the Journey Book, and been formally welcomed to join the family of National Park Cities, they will commit to upholding the five National Park City Family commitments:
- To be inspired and guided by the Universal Charter of National Park Cities, to contribute to its future development and uphold the spirit and values of the movement.
- To act as a member of the National Park City Family, sharing learning, practices, ideas and resources with people in other National Park Cities.
- To join in with joint National Park City campaigns and projects, where appropriate.
- To support emerging and established National Park Cities in their journeys.
- To share annual updates and experiences on your progress with the public and members of the National Park City Family
The final step required to complete the process and become a National Park City will be to officially launch publicly and enjoy an appropriately joyous celebration.
If you are interested in starting your own National Park City campaign then why not sign up for our newsletter and join us for one of our ‘What if your city was a National Park City?’ meetings. Sign up for free on our community site.
