Using an environmental justice approach to examine the relationships between park availability and quality indicators, neighborhood disadvantage, and racial/ethnic composition

Public parks are key community resources that can promote health. Some research has examined whether parks are equitably dispersed across neighborhoods of varying socioeconomic status and racial/ethnic composition, but few studies have examined the interaction of these characteristics. Additionally, the quality of park environments has received limited attention, but is considered integral to utilization of parks. This study examined the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and park availability and quality and whether neighborhood racial/ethnic composition moderated these associations. A neighborhood disadvantage index was created for all block groups (n = 255) in a southeastern U.S. county using Census Bureau data. Detailed audits of all public parks were conducted in 2013 (n = 103). Park availability was determined using ArcGIS and four park quality indicators were examined: facilities, amenities, incivilities, and aesthetics. No significant differences were detected between neighborhood disadvantage and number of parks. However, high-disadvantaged neighborhoods had increased park incivilities compared to low-disadvantaged neighborhoods (IRR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.24, 3.00). Further, neighborhood racial/ethnic composition moderated the associations between park incivilities and amenities and neighborhood disadvantage. Among low-disadvantaged neighborhoods, park incivilities increased as neighborhood minority concentration increased but remained constant in high-disadvantaged neighborhoods. Additionally, among low-disadvantaged neighborhoods, the number of park amenities decreased as neighborhood minority concentration increased but among high-disadvantaged neighborhoods, park amenities increased as neighborhood minority concentration increased. Identifying and rectifying disparities in park quality may be integral to creating equitable park environments across diverse neighborhoods.