Welcome to World Urban Parks!

World Urban Parks is the international representative body for the urban parks, open space and recreation sector. At a time when urban growth will see 70 percent of the world’s population living in urban areas by 2050, sharing knowledge and providing a collective voice for people and organisations leading or involved in urban parks, green city, conservation, recreation, sport, health and related outcomes is vital. Together we want to build healthy, liveable and sustainable communities. 

“Developed countries with reduced budgets, developing countries with high population

growth - all need information, best practice, and benchmarking to resolve these common

concerns and challenges. We want to push forward with the good parks development

learned from a variety of efforts from around the world.

 - Kenzo Oguchi, Executive Director, Park and Recreation Foundation, Tokyo, Japan

World Urban Parks is the organisation to go to for international advice, support and getting connected with urban park, open space and recreation issues, people and activity. We combine the experience of our members and partners with opportunities to help build urban parks leadership and bring about significant improvements in cities where rapid urbanisation is occurring.

We provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on common environmental, social and economic challenges where urban parks are part of the solution. And we speak at an international and local level in direct support of our members – whether setting global standards, advocating the benefits of urban parks, or supporting a funding bid, a campaign, or professional development.

World Urban Parks aspires to complement and attain the same level of recognition as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which represents protected areas on the world stage. To achieve this we will build membership to levels where we are truly representative of the diverse international urban parks, open space and recreation community. We will act as an umbrella to national associations and connect park agencies, non-governmental organisations, universities, research institutes, businesses, community groups, individuals and allied sectors such as health, tourism, and resource management.

World Urban Parks is an inclusive community for organisations, professionals and citizens that all share similar values, issues, and a vision "For a world where people value and have easy access to quality urban parks, open space and recreation".

“As the peak professional association for Parks and Leisure Professionals

in Australia, representation on the global stage is crucial. The new World Urban

Parks body strengthens our relationships with international agencies, ensures we

remain involved with global issues and trends, and provides a stronger, united voice

for the benefits of parks and leisure to all levels of government across the globe.

- Mark Band, Chief Executive Officer, Parks and Leisure Australia

     “We are a long way from most folks and culling the best ideas from around the world

           is a great way to not waste money reinventing the proverbial wheel and that’s the

           best political sell of all!

                 - Anne Charlton, Director Parks, City of Calgary, Canada

Benefits of Membership

Click here to download and share our 2018 Brochure! 

World Community

• Advocating for access to urban parks, open space and recreation and promoting conservation and effective management of natural and cultural values to create healthy, liveable and sustainable communities and a healthy planet

• Providing global research and experience demonstrating the health and social benefits of urban parks and making the case for more funding

• Forming a strategic international ‘think-tank’ or group of respected individuals to credibly advance and advocate for the cause of urban parks

• Partnering with like-minded global bodies and sectors to speak with a unified voice to advance common agendas and ensure parks are recognized as an essential city-building tool

Organisation Members

• Advocating and supporting common causes and issues internationally, nationally and on behalf of agencies

• Facilitating international networking, project collaboration, study tours, peer reviews, staff exchange and consultancy, and bringing government, businesses, and communities together

• Accessing the latest international data and information on urban park issues, actions and efficiencies through conferences and seminars, collaborative research studies, policy development, a knowledge hub and e-communications translatable into many languages

• Setting international standards and providing benchmarking services and awards to drive and recognise excellence in city liveability and sustainability, and organisational and community leading practices

• Coordinating and facilitating international programmes and events

• Strengthening national associations through member discounts, brokering speakers and world conference status, promoting and expanding services, and assisting the formation of new national associations

• World Urban Parks endorsement and promotion of quality services and products by organisations and groups

Individual Members (in addition to above benefits)

• Facilitating specialised education and training, including by webinar

• World Parks Academy international professional development, certification and credentialing

• Great international network support, standing committee and working group roles; advancing young professionals

 “ The world body is the best chance for international networking. On the

occasion of annual conferences, I meet many of my worldwide colleagues.

     - Joachim Chen, Vice Head of Parks and Gardens Department, City of Vienna, Austria

 World Urban Parks Membership and Fees

The following fees are for annual membership. For the full suite of benefits see page eight of the World Urban Parks 'Invitation to Join' Prospectus click here

Organisations

All organisations are welcome from government departments, municipal and public authorities, universities scientific and educational institutions, businesses and non-governmental and community organisations associated with parks, open space, recreation and related sectors such as health, tourism and natural resources.

There is an increasing expectation and value in cities and organisations interacting internationally to access best practice, new ideas, standards and benchmarking, receive recognition, avoid reinventing the wheel, build cooperative and diverse networks and solve common issues. Membership of an international organisation is an extremely cost-effective way to achieve this. And by uniting we can make the case for funding urban parks, open space and recreation to build healthy, liveable and sustainable communities.

Organisations pay an annual membership fee relative to the size of their annual operating budget for urban parks and recreation. This may be the total budget for a park and recreation association or a city council parks department but only a part of the budget of a state agency or a business with wider responsibilities. Find your operating budget in United States Dollars (USD) in column one, and the fees in USD in column two. Organisations from countries with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of less than $25,000 USD receive a 50 percent discount off all membership fees. For the United Nations list of Country GDP click here

Organisations join for one year from the month payment is received.

**Please note - USD are provided as a reference only. All transactions including membership payments are to be paid at the NZD rate. If you have any questions or concerns please contact World Urban Parks office at 001-780-644-1779 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. **

Each organisational membership comes with unlimited free individual memberships for staff and board members approved by the organisation. These can be provided in a list to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or they can register individually by filling out the Join as an Individual Member form. All other members of an organisation receive Associate Member status with limited benefits.

Individuals

Individuals (professionals and non-professionals) pay a fixed annual membership fee. Individuals from countries with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of less than $25,000 USD receive a 50 percent discount off all membership fees. For the United Nations list of Country GDP click here.

Fees are expressed in United States Dollars (USD)

**Please note - USD are provided as a reference only. All transactions including membership payments are to be paid at the NZD rate. If you have any questions or concerns please contact World Urban Parks office at 001-780-644-1779 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. **

Need help? Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you wish to clarify any aspect of membership and fees.

Payment

New Members: Please complete an Individual or Organisation memberships form. Payment options are at the bottom of the form. You can pay securely online by credit card or by bank transfer. You will receive a tax receipt by email. You can also request an invoice.

Membership renewal: The World Urban Parks financial and membership year is from April to March. You will be sent a renewal invoice annually in March or in the month you joined. Payment options are at the bottom of the form. You can pay securely online by credit card or by bank transfer. You will receive a tax receipt by email.

Fees are expressed in United States Dollars (USD). International Payment by credit card will be charged in equivalent New Zealand dollars, the country World Urban Parks is registered in.  International payment by bank transfer may be paid in the equivalent value of any major world currency.

Fee Payment Methods

There are two methods for fee payment - online credit card or bank transfer. Individuals and organisations may use either method.

1. Online Credit Card Payment.

New members please click on the 'Join as an Individual Member' or 'Join as an Organisational Member' drop-down menu under 'Join Us' on this website, enter your details and finally select 'I wish to pay by credit card' and submit. This will take you to a secure eway page to make your payment. Existing members please click on the 'Renew your Membership' drop-down menu under 'Join Us' on this website.

Should you have any questions or issues please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

2. Bank Transfer Payment

Please use the following details (that will also be indicated on any invoice):

• SWIFT Code: BKNZNZ22
• Bank: Bank of New Zealand (BNZ)
• Account number: 02-0108-0328147-000
• Account name: World Urban Parks
• Bank Address: BNZ, Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand
• World Urban Parks Office Address: 11759 Groat Road NW, Edmonton, AB T5M 3K6, Canada
• Address for NZ Registration: 86 Customhouse Quay, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

Please ensure you identify your or the organisation's name

You can pay the United States dollar fee in USD, or the equivalent in any of the major currencies, such as Euro, GPB, Yen or in New Zealand dollars.

Please pay the transaction fee in addition to the membership fee

Ideally include your invoice number if you are renewing your membership

Terms and Conditions

Services include conferences and technical tours, monthly World Parks News bulletin, professional training and certification

1. For a full description of services please refer to Benefits of Membership above and the Invitation to Join Prospectus
2. Members agree to abide by World Urban Parks' values, rules/constitution and policies
3. The membership and financial year is from 1 April to 31 March
4. The membership fee for new applications will be charged for 12 months from the month in which the application payment was received
5. The name that will appear on membership fee invoices and statements will be World Urban Parks
6. Membership fees are due in full at the time of application or within 20 days of receiving an invoice.
7. Invoices for renewed subscriptions will be sent in February or March and dated 1 April, or in the month that the member joined.
8. World Urban Parks membership will commence on the day on which payment is made and is valid until 31 March or for 12 months from the month the member joined.
9. Membership fees are non-refundable
10. World Urban Parks Incorporated is registered in New Zealand with banking at the Bank of New Zealand. 

a. Payment amounts shown on this site are in United States Dollars (USD) unless otherwise specified

b. Payment by credit card will be charged in the equivalent New Zealand dollars (NZD)

c. Payment by bank transfer may be made in United States Dollars, or the equivalent in any of the major currencies (such as Euro, GBP, Yen) or equivalent in New Zealand Dollars (NZD)

d. Any transaction fees are to be made in addition to the membership fee