2023 Parks and Recreation Aquatics Master Plan

City of Greensboro EQUITY ASSESSMENT

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Residents with lower social vulnerability rankings live in areas where they may not have means to access parks and recreation services needed to improve social and health outcomes. In areas with higher social vulnerability rankings, parks and recreational facilities such as spraygrounds and pools may provide a valuable resource people may not otherwise have access to. Providing parks and recreation facilities to all residents is important, and this analysis is intended to serve as a baseline assessment that can guide future decision making for investment in aquatics facilities.

WHAT IS SOCIAL VULNERABILITY? Social vulnerability refers to the inability of people, groups of people, organizations, and societies to withstand adverse impacts from multiple stressors to which they are exposed. These impacts are due in part to characteristics inherent in social interactions, institutions, and systems of cultural values. Social vulnerability research frequently focuses on risk management analysis, particularly related to the impacts of natural hazards. This chapter recognizes that many of the factors that determine a community’s resilience to natural hazards are the same factors that leave communities vulnerable to ongoing public health risks, such as a lack of access to parks and open space.

The following factors influence social vulnerability:

› Socioeconomic status › Age › Health and disability status

› Race and ethnicity › English language proficiency › Medical issues and disability

Continued reading: Planning for an Emergency: Strategies for Identifying and Engaging At-Risk Groups: A Guidance Document for Emergency Managers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) n.d. Penny Gordon-Larsen, Melissa C. Nelson, Phil Page, Barry M. Popkin. Inequalities in the Build Environment Underlies Key Health Disparities in Physical Activity and Obesity . n.d.

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