The TurfMutt Foundation Reveals Six Park Personality Types

Recent research shows the power of parks in our communities

From bustling activity hubs to tranquil nature escapes, public parks offer diverse experiences that cater to different preferences. Based on new research conducted for the TurfMutt Foundation by The Harris Poll, the Foundation unveils six distinct “Park Personality Types.” The study shows 9 in 10 Americans want communities to prioritize providing public green space for residents’ health and well-being, and they desire more parks, walking trails and picnic spots near their homes.

“Our research revealed something fascinating: people utilize and benefit from parks differently,” says Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation, which has advocated for the care and use of green spaces around us for over 15 years. “Understanding these park personality types can help communities better cater to the diverse needs of residents and can also help residents maximize the power of parks in their community.”

The six park personality types as identified by the TurfMutt Foundation:

1. Park Pros are experts at tapping into the diverse activities parks offer including walking and hiking and enjoying nature, and they take many indoor activities, such as working, exercising, dining and connecting with friends and family, to park settings.
2. Dog Park Enthusiasts ensure their pet’s exercise and socialization by visiting park trails and dog parks, which are critical to urban neighborhoods that don’t have large yards or access to dog-friendly spaces.
3. Picnic Players gather at park pavilion shelters and picnic tables, enjoying family barbeques, school reunions, family gatherings and more.
4. Nature Lovers enjoy birdwatching, appreciate landscape diversity, and want to see parks support pollinators and other local wildlife habitats with flowering plants, shrubs and trees.
5. Outdoor Educators want to improve education outcomes and behavioral issues in kids by taking learning outside. Study sessions in the grass, hands-on learning in an outdoor classroom science lab, and nature-based scavenger hunts are all part of their lesson plans. Earn extra credit by incorporating TurfMutt’s free, STEM-based lesson plans, which are downloadable here or in the USGBC® Learning Lab.
6. Exercise and Sports Fans have a real appreciation for natural turf playing fields where they can exercise, play baseball, tennis, pickleball, golf and more, or cheer on their kids’ games.

Waterfront Park, home of the TurfMutt Great Lawn and located in TurfMutt’s hometown of Louisville, was named #1 Riverwalk in the United States in the USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards.

Look for Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Lucky Dog television show and Mission Unstoppable on Saturday mornings.

Check out the TurfMutt Foundation’s International Backyarding Fact Book to learn more about the power of parks and other green space around us. Sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with “backyarding” tips and all the news from the TurfMutt Foundation here.

About the TurfMutt Foundation
TurfMutt, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2024, was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) TurfMutt Foundation and has reached more than 70 million children, educators and families since 2009. Championed by Foundation spokesdog, Mulligan the TurfMutt, and through education partners such as Scholastic, Discovery and Weekly Reader, TurfMutt has taught students and teachers how to “save the planet, one yard at a time.” Today, TurfMutt is an official USGBC® Education Partner and part of their global LEARNING LAB. TurfMutt has been an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2017, the TurfMutt animated video series won the coveted Cynopsis Kids Imagination Award for Best Interstitial Series. TurfMutt’s personal home habitat was featured in the 2017-2020 Wildlife Habitat Council calendars. In 2024, the Great Lawn at Louisville’s award-winning Waterfront Park on the Ohio River was renamed the TurfMutt Foundation Great Lawn as part of a $1 million sponsorship. More information at www.TurfMutt.com.