Since 1972, The Trust for Public Land (TPL) has connected land and people by protecting and creating parks, trails, and public spaces that are important infrastructure and a first-order solution to the multi-faceted problems facing cities, towns, villages, and rural communities. In New York State since 1978, TPL has worked with 500 communities, protected over 125,000 acres of land, completed 194 playgrounds, protected over 100 community gardens, and brought nearly 5 million people within a 10-minute walk of a trail, garden, park or playground, giving all New Yorkers the opportunity to enjoy nature and get outdoors. TPL carries out its work through national programs and 24 field offices that offer four services:  protection of land (PROTECT), planning and GIS analysis (PLAN), park and trail design and construction (CREATE), and public financing (FUND).