A longitudinal analysis of park equity in Baltimore, MD Global Institute of Sustainability Chona Sister Christopher Boone

African-American and high need populations have better walking access to parks, but have access to lower per-capita acres of parks than others Current patterns are in spite of a long history of neglecting recreational needs of African- Americans

Park Equity Los AngelesWolch et al. Latinos and low-income households have better access, but access to less acreage per capita than whites and high- income households Ramla and Lod (Israel) Omer and Ur Arabs have access to less acreage per capita than Jews PhoenixCutts et al. Latinos, less-educated, and lower-income households have better access, but access to less acreage per capita than white, wealthy, well-educated neighborhoods PortlandTalen Needs index

Hypotheses Blacks “inherited” much of Baltimore’s space and services from a combination of historic processes Black neighborhoods grew into formerly white communities better served with parks

Distributive Outcome equality Distribution of environmental disamenities (and amenities) Participative Process equality Fairness in decision-making, application of law, and institutions Environmental Justice Just distributions justly achieved

Comparing present day with historic patterns: 3 methods Quarter-mile access to parks -Provides a comparison of who have pedestrian access and who do not Needs-based index -Addresses equity issue; targeting a public good to groups in most need Potential park congestion -Measures distributional equity without the constraints of a pre-defined service area 2000 vs. 1970

2000 = 7.9 park acres per 1,000 people 1970 = 5.3 park acres per 1,000 people

Within ¼-mi buffer Beyond ¼-mile buffer Within ¼-mi buffer Beyond ¼-mile buffer Population75%25%74%26% Af-Am80%20%76%24% White73%27%70%30% Poverty15%12%26%21% Quarter-mile pedestrian access

Quarter mile access percentage

1970 (acres/1000 pop) 2000 (acres/1000 pop) WhiteBlackWhiteBlack > Acres per 1K pop Park acres per 1K pop across race groups

Need Class Mean distance to park Maximum distance Std deviation Accessible acres per 1K pop Low Med ,2771, High ,4861, Needs-based index

Needs-based Index: Accessible acres per 1,000 pop Acres per 1K pop

Needs-based index

Potential park congestion

Summary Despite loss of 270,000 people, not significant differences in the equity of park distribution between 1970 and For both 1970 and 2000, African-American and high need populations have better walking access to parks, but have access to lower per-capita acres of parks than others

Within ¼-mi buffer Beyond ¼-mile buffer Within ¼-mi buffer Beyond ¼-mile buffer Population75% (75%)25% (25%)74% (77%)26% (23%) Af-Am80% (78%)20% (22%)76% (81%)24% (19%) White73% (71%)27% (29%)70% (69%)30% (31%) Poverty15% (11%)12% (3%)26% (19%)21% (4%) Note: values in parenthesis are taken from estimates using areal weighting and assuming homogeneity Within the Census tracts Quarter-mile pedestrian access