Socioeconomic and race/ethnic disparities in observed park quality

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Brian E. Saelens¹  James F. Sallis²  Kelli L. Cain²  Carrie Geremia²  Jessa K. Engelberg²  Terry L. Conway²  Karen Glanz³  Lawrence D. Frank⁴ 

[1] Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, University of Washington, 2001 Eighth Avenue, Suite 400, 98121, Seattle, WA, USA;Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, 3900 5th Ave Suite 310, 92103, San Diego, CA, USA;Perelman School of Medicine and School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, 801 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, 19104, Philadelphia, PA, USA;School of Community and Regional Planning, University of British Columbia, #433-6333 Memorial Road, V6T 1Z2, Vancouver, BC, Canada;

关键词: Park quality;    Disparities;    Inequalities;    Park facilities;    Physical activity;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-016-3055-4

 received in 2015-11-05, accepted in 2016-04-29,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThough park presence and access disparities are well studied for their associations with physical activity (PA), disparities in the availability and quality of amenities and facilities within parks have been infrequently examined.MethodsFive hundred forty-three parks from 472 block groups in the Seattle, WA and Baltimore, MD regions were audited using the Environmental Assessment of Public Recreation Spaces (EAPRS) to assess presence and quality (e.g., condition, cleanliness) of amenities (e.g., restrooms, seating) and facilities (e.g., fields, courts). General linear model regressions investigated Census 2000-derived neighborhood race/ethnicity and income main effect and interactive relationships with 7 park quality summary scores: 1) trails, 2) open space, 3) sports facilities, 4) PA facilities count, 5) PA facilities quality, 6) aesthetics, and 7) overall amenities, controlling for park size. The regions were analyzed separately due to differing race/ethnicity distributions.ResultsIn the Seattle region, neighborhood income was significantly negatively associated with sports quality score (p < .043), PA facilities total count (p < .015) and the overall amenities quality score (p < .004) (unexpected direction). In the Baltimore region, neighborhood race/ethnicity (percent White/non-Hispanic) was significantly positively related to the open spaces quality score (p < .011) (expected direction). A significant income-by-race/ethnicity interaction was found for PA facilities quality (p = .014), with high-percent minority neighborhoods having higher quality parks in high- vs. low-income neighborhoods, yet was opposite in mostly White/non-Hispanic neighborhoods. The other income-by-race/ethnicity interaction was for overall amenities quality score (p = .043), where scores in high-percent minority neighborhoods were best in high- vs. low-income neighborhoods. There was little difference in scores within mostly White or mixed neighborhoods by income.ConclusionsPatterns of association of neighborhood race/ethnicity and income with park qualities differed between regions. In the Seattle region, “equitable differences” were found, where lower income neighborhoods had better park quality on average. In the Baltimore region, park quality was more consistently negatively associated with income and race/ethnic diversity, and complex interactions of race/ethnicity by income were detected. These findings emphasize the need to explore other factors that may explain variations in park quality, like local policy, citizen involvement in park decision-making, park funding and allocation, sources of funding and park priorities.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Engelberg et al. 2016