Urban parks, the growth machine, and the media: An analysis of press coverage of the high line, klyde warren park, and the rail park

ABSTRACT

News media have the power to influence public opinion and economic growth. News coverage of landmark urban parks may influence public support of such parks, potentially increasing economic growth. However, some landmark urban parks have been associated with gentrification and displacement. News media may implicitly support local economic growth to the detriment of vulnerable residents through uncritical, positive coverage of park projects. However, the nature of press coverage of landmark urban parks has been scantly studied. This study analyzed news coverage of three landmark urban parks to understand how news media portray such parks and the voices they represent, using comparative thematic analysis. We found both broad support of parks, contributing to a societal master narrative of parks as a universal good, and some critique. Altogether, positive press coverage outweighed criticism. Uncritical promotion of parks could result in continued creation of landmark parks that threaten to facilitate gentrification and displacement.

KEYWORDS:

• Discourse
• environmental justice
• gentrification
• growth machine
• press
• urban parks

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. http://network.thehighline.org/

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lauren E. Mullenbach

Dr. Lauren E. Mullenbach is a Postdoctoral Researcher at NC State. Her research focuses on urban environmental justice issues related to public spaces, green amenities, and climate change adaptation.

Andrew J. Mowen

Dr. Andrew J. Mowen is a Professor of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management at Penn State. His teaching and research interests focus on state and community park and recreation services in terms of their funding and their health outcomes.

Kathryn J. Brasier

Dr. Kathy Brasier is a Professor of Rural Sociology at Penn State. Her research program focuses on collective action, networks and public participation related to agricultural, natural resource, and environmental issues.