Fostering Racial Equity in Access to Green Spaces in Southeast Michigan: Pathways Towards Regional Equity

Abstract

Southeast Michigan has experienced social, racial, and economic inequalities for decades. Exclusionary policies and individual discrimination together have produced patterns of racial segregation that pose challenges to economic, physical, and social mobility today. Among these challenges is the focus of this report: stark disparities in equitable access to green spaces. To guide this capstone project, our team created and utilized five core principles of green space equity that were developed from leading theories:

1. Acknowledge and confront systemic oppression; 2. Discard universal approaches to localized issues; 3. Recenter community in process design and decision-making; 4. Build community power and capacity; and 5. Commit to sustained green space equity.

Following in the spirit of these principles, and to better understand the dimensions of equity and access in terms of green space access in the region, our team conducted interviews with various stakeholders and conducted supplementary research, resulting in a shared problem statement. This problem statement identified three major dimensions to accessibility (1) Social accessibility, (2) Green space availability and transportation accessibility, and (3) Embedding equity in the planning process. This report contains detailed analyses conducted across these three dimensions, resulting in key strategies for how the region can pursue greater equity in green space.

Our analysis of social accessibility to green spaces included exploring the connection between locations and regional demographic patterns, as well as investigating perceptions through interviews and a pilot survey. While there are many green spaces in the region, they are not equitably distributed geographically, making them inaccessible to many residents in the region. Additionally, our interviews and survey highlighted how marginalized communities face racial profiling, discrimination, and threats of physical harm when accessing green spaces, further reinforcing inequities in access along lines of race and identity.

To determine the geographic disparities in access to green space, our team performed a Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis of availability by population, transportation accessibility of green spaces and natural areas more specifically, and transportation access to green space and natural areas for the region’s Black population. Our analysis found that green space is less common in areas with higher percentages of Black populations. When differentiating between green spaces and natural areas, the differences are more stark: for the region’s Black residents, walkability, bikeability, and public transit access to natural areas is low. If looking at green space with a broader definition which includes neighborhood parks, accessibility for Black residents through transportation modes of walking, biking, and public transit access is much higher. Finally, our transportation network analysis revealed the regional differences in access to green space by walking, biking, public transit, and cars. When looking at natural areas only, access is much lower, especially within Detroit’s city limits. Our transportation analysis reveals the need for expanded bicycle and pedestrian networks, as well as better public transit connectivity. Faculty Advisor: Robert Goodspeed GSI: Shubhayan Ukil