Crime and Greenspace: Extending the Analysis Across Cities
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Clemson University TigerPrints All Dissertations Dissertations December 2019 Crime and Greenspace: Extending the Analysis Across Cities Samuel Scott Ogletree Clemson University Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations Recommended Citation Ogletree, Samuel Scott, "Crime and Greenspace: Extending the Analysis Across Cities" (2019). All Dissertations. 2484. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/2484 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CRIME AND GREENSPACE: EXTENDING THE ANALYSIS ACROSS CITIES A Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of Clemson University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management by Samuel Scott Ogletree December 2019 Accepted by: Dr. Robert B. Powell, Committee Co-Chair Dr. David L. White, Committee Co-Chair Dr. Lincoln R. Larson Dr. Matthew T. J. Brownlee ABSTRACT The role of greenspace in urban areas has become a focus of research as municipalities seek to increase the quality of life in cities. Multiple benefits are found to be associated with greenspace, but disservices such as crime are often overlooked. Studies investigating the link between crime and greenspace have revealed mixed results and been limited in geographic scope. This dissertation sought to examine the crime and greenspace relationship, extending the analysis to multiple cities in order to describe how the relationship may vary in different contexts. Additionally, one possible cause of crime, increased temperatures, was investigated to determine how greenspace may moderate the impact of hot weather on crime risk. As urban parks are an important type of greenspace, the relationship between proximity to parks and crime was examined in four case cities. Parks are typically green areas of cities but also encompass less green land uses. This broad analysis revealed a more comprehensive understanding of how crime and greenspace are related which can inform residents and decision-makers of the benefits and possible drawbacks from including greenspace in city and community development. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................... ii LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... v LIST OF FIGURES.....................................................................................................vi CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 1 Problem Statement ................................................................................ 1 Purpose Statement ................................................................................. 3 Document Structure .............................................................................. 4 References ............................................................................................ 6 II. MORE GREEN LESS CRIME? THE CRIME AND GREENSPACE RELATIONSHIP ACROSS 301 CITIES..................... 9 Abstract ................................................................................................ 9 Introduction .......................................................................................... 9 Background ......................................................................................... 10 Methods .............................................................................................. 13 Results ................................................................................................ 21 Discussion ........................................................................................... 33 Conclusion .......................................................................................... 37 References .......................................................................................... 39 III. BEAT THE HEAT: CRIME REDUCTION EFFECTS OF URBAN GREENSPACE DIMINISH UNDER EXTREME HEAT CONDITIONS ......................................................................... 46 Abstract .............................................................................................. 46 Introduction ........................................................................................ 47 Methods .............................................................................................. 54 Results ................................................................................................ 62 Discussion ........................................................................................... 73 Conclusion .......................................................................................... 77 References .......................................................................................... 79 iii Table of Contents (Continued) Page IV. PARKS AS SAFE HAVENS OR CRIME MAGNETS: PROXIMITY TO PARKS AND CRIME IN FOUR CITIES ............... 89 Abstract .............................................................................................. 89 Introduction ........................................................................................ 89 Background ......................................................................................... 90 Methods .............................................................................................. 95 Results .............................................................................................. 102 Discussion ......................................................................................... 109 Conclusion ........................................................................................ 112 References ........................................................................................ 114 V. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION ........................................................ 121 Findings ............................................................................................ 122 Limitations ........................................................................................ 124 Future Research ................................................................................ 124 References ........................................................................................ 126 APPENDIX ......................................................................................................... 127 A: List of Cities ........................................................................................... 127 iv LIST OF TABLES Table Page 2.1 Data descriptions and sources ................................................................... 14 2.2 Climate region descriptive statistics .......................................................... 19 2.3 Descriptive statistics of census block groups and cities ............................. 22 2.4a Model results – Violent crime risk ............................................................ 26 2.4b Model results – Property crime risk ........................................................... 27 3.1 Universal thermal comfort index ranges for thermal stress ........................ 57 3.2 Data description and sources ..................................................................... 60 3.3 Descriptive statistics of level 1 and level 2 variables ................................. 63 3.4a Model results for violent crime risk ........................................................... 67 3.4b Model results for property crime risk ........................................................ 68 4.1 City descriptive statistics........................................................................... 97 4.2 Descriptive statistics for case cities ......................................................... 104 4.3a Model results for violent crime ............................................................... 106 4.3b Model results for property crime ............................................................. 107 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 2.1 City locations and climate classifications .................................................. 19 2.2 Correlation matrix. X cells indicate p > 0.05 ............................................. 23 2.3a Fixed effects of model 4, violent crime risk (estimated unstandardized coefficients and confidence interval) ........................... 28 2.3b Fixed effects of model 4, violent crime risk (estimated standardized coefficients and confidence interval) ............................... 29 2.3c Fixed effects of model 4, property crime risk (estimated unstandardized coefficients and confidence interval) ........................... 30 2.3d Fixed effects of model 4, property crime risk (estimated standardized coefficients and confidence interval) ............................... 31 2.4 Slope estimates of NDVI and 95% error bar for cities with positive relationship between greenspace and violent crime risk ............................................................................................ 33 3.1 Linear and curvilinear perspective of temperature and crime relationship ......................................................................................... 49 3.2 Conceptual diagram of greenspace moderation on thermal