Many studies have shown high quality urban parks are not accessible equally to all demographic groups. A recent study entitled “Social media analysis reveals environmental injustices in Philadelphia urban parks” looked more in depth at this issue with a focus on how individuals perceive the parks based on social media reports. (full study citation: Walter, M., Bagozzi, B.E., Ajibade, I. et al. Social media analysis reveals environmental injustices in Philadelphia urban parks. Sci Rep 13, 12571 (2023).)
By using Google Maps review data, the study was able to focus on the public perception of each park. The study authors are clear that all individuals do not have equal access or affinity for reporting on Google Maps reviews; however, they do point out that over the 10 year review period there were over 140,000 reviews submitted that their machine learning program was able to dig through and analyze. A significant data set that can’t be ignored.
The authors did conclude that parks with lower scores were associated with disadvantaged neighborhoods and, similarly, that there was disproportionate access to high quality parks based on median incomes. It goes without saying that these conditions should be redressed and those connected to urban design can play a role in that work.
The study also sought to answer the question, “What marks a park’s quality as good?” Essentially the answer here determined by the artificial intelligence review was “built amenities” followed by “recreation” opportunities and “safety”. In conclusion, the study authors highlighted that certain actions really ARE important and will make a difference in environmental justice issues:
- cleanliness
- regular maintenance and lawn mowing
- removing trash
- trimming trees/bushes
- eliminating safety hazards and fixing damaged structures
- adequate lighting
Olmsted’s Push for Equality
Frederick Law Olmsted, most famous for designing New York City’s Central Park, had a passion in his life for promoting urban parks. He believed they were beneficial for all, but especially for poorer citizens – those with little property of their own living an overwhelmed life. His belief was so strong that he personally had circulars created showing directions on how to get to Central Park and distributed them to all of the doctors in the area to recommend to their patients and also posted them in tenement houses. The benefit the poor gained from large urban parks would then serve the city overall well.
With both the rich and the poor enjoying the parks, Olmsted believed the mixing and meeting of classes would reduce conflict and played an important social role in democracy. An urban park, Olmsted said, “was an educative and civilizing agency, standing in winning competition against the sordid and corrupting temptations of the town.”