Portland Region Parks: Measuring Equity in Access
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Portland State University PDXScholar Asset Mapping: Community Geography Project Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies Spring 2013 Portland Region Parks: Measuring Equity in Access Harold Shields Portland State University Sindre Fredsvik Portland State University Jonah Horn Portland State University Robert Kalei Miller Portland State University Cameron Hill Portland State University See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/ims_assestmapping Part of the Human Geography Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Citation Details Shields, Harold; Fredsvik, Sindre; Horn, Jonah; Miller, Robert Kalei; Hill, Cameron; Petry, Anna; Mogelinski, Daniel; Kyle, Stephen P.; Knobloch, Jenna; Horn, Jonah; Biorn, Henrich; Wyatt, Andew; Bedell, James; Kent, Evan; and Young, Adrien, "Portland Region Parks: Measuring Equity in Access" (2013). Asset Mapping: Community Geography Project. 14. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/ims_assestmapping/14 This Project is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Asset Mapping: Community Geography Project by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. Authors Harold Shields, Sindre Fredsvik, Jonah Horn, Robert Kalei Miller, Cameron Hill, Anna Petry, Daniel Mogelinski, Stephen P. Kyle, Jenna Knobloch, Jonah Horn, Henrich Biorn, Andew Wyatt, James Bedell, Evan Kent, and Adrien Young This project is available at PDXScholar: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/ims_assestmapping/14 Portland Region Parks: Measuring Equity in Access, 2012 Portland Region Parks: Measuring Equity in Access, 2012 Table of Conents Section Page Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 PSU Capstone ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Partners ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Project Goals ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Health Benefits of Parks and Greenspaces ................................................................................................................................................................... Research in Parks Equity ............................................................................................................................................................................................. Equity in the Law ................................................................................................................................................................................................... Low-Income and Minority Access to Parks and Greenspaces ..................................................................................................................................... Visualizing Access through GIS .................................................................................................................................................................................. Parks Custodian Survey ............................................................................................................................................................................................... Methodology ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Fieldwork Methodology ......................................................................................................................................................................................... Analysis and Map Creation .................................................................................................................................................................................... Key Findings ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Minority and Economically Disadvantaged Populations ....................................................................................................................................... Park Proximity to Public Transit ............................................................................................................................................................................ Importance of Ground Truthing ............................................................................................................................................................................. Density and Proximity Assessment ........................................................................................................................................................................ Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Appendix ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Maps Methodologies .............................................................................................................................................................................................. Parks Custodian Survey Form ............................................................................................................................................................................... Park Equity Reports ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Portland Region Parks: Measuring Equity in Access, 2012 use when making decisions about future devel- satisfying essential needs and advancing their Introduction opment in the region. well-being” (CLF, 2007). Equity as it relates to Audubon Society of Portland (ASP) is also parks is a difficult concept to define. Our proj- a partner of the Equity Atlas project. The orga- ect specifically focused on cataloging the ame- PSU Capstone nization addresses environmental issues related nities of ninety-three newly developed parks to conserving Oregon’s natural areas and ani- and making observations about park access in The University Studies Senior Capstone mal refuges. ASP provides information to the an effort to build a better picture of what equity enables students to engage in connected learn- community about how to better protect the re- looks like in the Portland region. ing experiences that provide a foundation for gion’s wildlife habitat and natural areas as ur- The Capstone started with the mission of intellectual development beyond the classroom. ban growth continues. The Equity Atlas will aid simply assisting our partners with collecting Through community projects that range from ASP’s mission to ensure that all members of the site data about local parks. Due to the limited designing afterschool programs for ESL stu- community have access to Portland’s diverse resources available to nonprofits, CLF relies dents, to creating a Public Relations strategy for wildlife and natural spaces. significantly on the work of volunteers to col- local nonprofits, the Capstone program allows Metro has been an important partner in the lect data for the Equity Atlas. The collection students to better understand how the skills they development of the second Equity Atlas. Metro of onsite information about parks helps answer acquire in the classroom can be put to use in the was created by the need to meet expansion- questions about accessibility, available ameni- world after graduation. The 2012 Spring term ary suburban growth with adequate services in ties and physical location, and can best be ad- Asset Mapping Capstone project was designed Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Coun- dressed by physically visiting the site and re- to allow students to partner with Metro, Audu- ties. During the early 1960’s, demand grew for cording observations. After the data collection bon Society of Portland (ASP) and Coalition for a cohesive regional entity that encompassed the phase of the project was complete, the gathered a Livable Future (CLF) in the completion of the needs and addressed equity throughout the tri- data raised new questions about equity and ac- second edition of the Regional Equity Atlas. county area. Metro’s mission is to maintain