Measuring locational equity and accessibility of neighborhood parks in Kansas City, Missouri

Abstract

Recent research has focused on assessing equity with regards to location of public services and the population served. Instead of equality, equity involves providing services in proportion to need, rather than equal access for everyone. This study uses three commonly identified measures of accessibility (minimum distance, travel cost, and gravity potential) to assess how equitable higher-need residential populations of Kansas City, MO are served by neighborhood parks. Using Census 2000, socio-economic block group data, areas with high population concentrations of African-American and Hispanic populations, as well as areas of high density and low income are characterized as having the most need. However, correlations of higher-need populations with the accessibility measures reveal patterns of equity within the Kansas City. MO study area. Results indicated that while most of the high need population was adequately and equitably served by neighborhood parks, there were still block groups that did not have access to this type of public resource. This research follows methods proposed in previous studies that utilize the spatial mapping and analysis capabilities of ArcGIS and promote the use of these tools for city planners and future park development and decisions.