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
Dataset: Equity Report Data: Geography
Data Source: County of San Diego, Land Use and Environment Group,
Planning and Development Services, 2021.
References
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Trust for Public Land. (n.d.). The Heat is On. Retrieved October 28, 2022, from https://www.tpl.org/the-heat-is-on
- Livewell San Diego Database. Live Well San Diego Database | Open Data Portal (sandiegocounty.gov)
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Updated February 7, 2024