Geographic Inequalities: Exploring Green Space Access in New York City

Abstract

Access to green space, areas such as parks, outside playgrounds, and general plant life, has been linked to positive physical and mental benefits. In metropolitan areas like New York City, it can be difficult to find and access green space, and certain areas within NYC have very limited access to these spaces. This project explores factors related to green space availability around NYC, specifically on patterns between racial demographics and access to green space. This is done through an analysis of Tree Equity Score (TES), a measure by American Forests on how much tree access exists in individual census blocks nationwide. This analysis shows that many communities of color, especially in Queens and the Bronx, have far less access to green space than their primarily white counterparts. We also explore New York’s history of redlining to evaluate the possible foundation of this geographic inequality. This spatial analysis identifies many areas of color that are linked to historic redlining, and many of which fall on the end of the TES.