Disparities in the provision of public parks in neighbourhoods with varied Latino composition in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area

ABSTRACT

This article examines the provision of public parks in Latino and non-Latino neighbourhoods in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Though previous research has examined the socio-spatial distribution of urban parks, few have analysed both accessibility and variations in park features associated with the Latino composition of neighbourhoods. In this study, geographical information systems were employed to assess the availability and accessibility of neighbourhood parks, and Google Earth was used to audit their natural and built environmental features. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Games-Howell post hoc test was applied to examine the hypothesis that park resources are not equitably distributed across neighbourhoods, and that Latino places are disproportionally affected by a suboptimal provision of park space and services. The analysis points to invariance across neighbourhoods in terms of quantity and features of public parks, so the expected systemic pattern of inequality affecting Latino neighbourhoods in Phoenix Metro was not found. The study suggests, however, some areas wherein cities in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area could act to improve the allocation of public park resources and engage the diversity of local populations.

KEYWORDS:

• Public parks
• park quality
• neighbourhoods
• Latinos
• environmental justice

Acknowledgements

The author also acknowledges the Latino Community Lab at Arizona State University, but in particular to Jalaya Alexander, Tate Desper, Christopher Long, Kevin Partida, Alexandra Portillos, and Lilibeth Santiago, for assistance in collecting and processing the data used in this analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 The terms ‘Latino’ or ‘Hispanic’ refer to people residing in the U.S. who classify themselves as Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or belonging to another Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.

Additional information

Funding

This paper draws on work carried out on the auspices of Obesity Solutions, a research initiative of the Mayo Clinic and ASU [OSSG2016/4]. Further information on Obesity Solutions can be found at www.mayo.asu.edu/.