Greensboro Plan2Play Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2019

GREENSBORO PLAN2PLAY MASTER PLAN - 73

Access and Equity

Beyond the amount of park acreage, the types of facilities, and the programs delivered, it is important to consider if these offerings are accessible and equitably distributed across the Greensboro community. Accessibility takes multiple forms: it includes geographic distribution of parks and recreation sources in relationship to users; affordability of programs and services to the community; and adaptation of existing sites and programs to be inclusive of all populations and abilities. Geographic Proximity The approach to understanding need and equitable distribution of services is multi-layered and includes demographic mapping of population density, car ownership, race, income, and age (particularly among seniors and children under 18). This snapshot of Greensboro’s current population provides a basis

for understanding community need for recreation amenities. These individual demographic ranges have been combined into a composite geography that reveal places with defined opportunities for city services like parks and recreation programming. In general, areas to the east and south of downtown show the highest need for spaces and programming services based on the demographic composite. The demographic data also establishes the magnitude and composition of population change in Greensboro and highlights segments (youth, the elderly, and people with incomes below the poverty line) that the Department should position itself to better serve in the future. A proximity analysis reveals physical community access to parks and facilities. The analysis evaluates a five minute walk or ¼ mile, 10 minute walk or ½ mile, and 6 minute bike ride or 1 mile from each main park entrance by following the existing road structure.

Access to parks is generally strong within the denser areas closest to the urban center. Given the city’s investment in its 110 neighborhood parks, neighborhoods with the highest populations have high walkable access to parks. This means that park access is high south of the railroad and north of Wendover Avenue. Conversely, large areas of west and northwest Greensboro lack walkable access to neighborhood parks. Greensboro is growing most rapidly in the areas with the least public park provision today. Communities north and west of downtown are increasing in population, and this growth pattern is projected to continue. Population growth is also occurring outside of downtown near the edges of the city. Neighborhoods with the most residents have decreased between 2010 and 2016. Additional analysis is needed to identify barriers and assess true walkability within the City to ensure safe and equitable park access.