Parks and Community Spaces

Parks and community recreation areas contribute to public health, social cohesion, and community resilience. They enable social gatherings and community events[1] and especially benefit children, older adults, and people who do not have access to an outdoor area at home. Studies show that available facilities and proximity to parks are correlated with park use and physical activity.[2],[3] Parks can also mitigate urban "heat island” effects, which occur when natural ground cover is replaced with asphalt, concrete, buildings, and other materials that retain heat.[4]
However, available facilities can vary between parks, such as playgrounds or sports fields, water fountains, bathrooms, shade, seating areas, and off-leash dog areas. Parks’ congestion, flexibility, programming, maintenance, and cleanliness can also differ.[5],[6]
Nationwide, communities historically subject to redlining have the least access to green space.[7] As a result, communities of color and low-income neighborhoods have less access to the health and social benefits of parks. Park audit data also suggest that parks tend to offer fewer amenities in neighborhoods that have a higher number of people of color.[8] The COVID-19 pandemic improved disparities in access to public parks because of the lower risk in socializing, organizing, and meeting in outdoor public spaces.[9]
The figure below shows the percent of residents in each subregional area (SRA) with adequate access to parks or community spaces in San Diego County in 2021. Values are based on data from the County of San Diego, Land Use and Environment Group, Planning and Development Services.[10] “Adequate” access to parks or community spaces is defined as 1) living within a quarter mile of community space(s) and 2) that space having at least 300 square feet per nearby household.
Of all San Diego County residents, 53% had adequate access in 2021. Subregional areas in the county ranged from 3% in Miramar (largely occupied by a military base) and Anza-Borrego Springs to 75% or over in Coronado and South Bay. When interpreting the data, it is recommended to compare areas of the county with similar population densities and residential lot sizes. Park accessibility in rural communities can be misleading because residences are often situated on lots of land far from community spaces, reflected when comparing Mid-City (at 68%) to Anza-Borrego Springs (at 3%). Additionally, this measure does not account for amenities or other characteristics of community space and open spaces, like trails, playgrounds, fields, and areas designed for people with disabilities.

Data Information
Data Source: County of San Diego, Land Use and Environment Group, Planning and Development Services, 2021.
References 
  1. The Health Benefits of Parks and Their Economic Impacts. (n.d.). Urban Institute. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.urban.org/research/publication/health-benefits-parks-and-their-economic-impacts
  2. Kaczynski, A. T., Besenyi, G. M., Stanis, S. A. W., Koohsari, M. J., Oestman, K. B., Bergstrom, R., Potwarka, L. R., & Reis, R. S. (2014). Are park proximity and park features related to park use and park-based physical activity among adults? Variations by multiple socio-demographic characteristics. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 11(1), 146. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-014-0146-4
  3. Kaczynski, A. T., Besenyi, G. M., Stanis, S. A. W., Koohsari, M. J., Oestman, K. B., Bergstrom, R., Potwarka, L. R., & Reis, R. S. (2014). Are park proximity and park features related to park use and park-based physical activity among adults? Variations by multiple socio-demographic characteristics. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 11(1), 146. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-014-0146-4
  4. Zhang, R., Sun, F., Shen, Y., Peng, S., & Che, Y. (2021). Accessibility of urban park benefits with different spatial coverage: Spatial and social inequity. Applied Geography, 135, 102555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2021.102555
  5. Housing Matters. (2022, August 18). “Not All Parks Are Created Equal”: How Communities Can Ensure Parks Are Accessible for All Residents. https://housingmatters.urban.org/feature/not-all-parks-are-created-equal-how-communities-can-ensure-parks-are-accessible-all
  6. The Health Benefits of Parks and Their Economic Impacts. (n.d.). Urban Institute. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.urban.org/research/publication/health-benefits-parks-and-their-economic-impacts
  7. Nardone, A., Rudolph, K. E., Morello, -Frosch Rachel, & Casey, J. A. (n.d.). Redlines and greenspace: The Relationship between historical redlining and 2010 greenspace across the United States. Environmental Health Perspectives, 129(1), 017006. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7495
  8. Hughey, S. M., Walsemann, K. M., Child, S., Powers, A., Reed, J. A., & Kaczynski, A. T. (2016). Using an environmental justice approach to examine the relationships between park availability and quality indicators, neighborhood disadvantage, and racial/ethnic composition. Landscape and Urban Planning, 148, 159–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.12.016
  9. Trust for Public Land. (n.d.). The Heat is On. Retrieved October 28, 2022, from https://www.tpl.org/the-heat-is-on
  10. Livewell San Diego Database. Live Well San Diego Database | Open Data Portal (sandiegocounty.gov)
Return to Theme Page: Parks and Natural Resources
Updated February 7, 2024