Walking Accessibility to Parks: Considering Number of Parks, Surface Area and Type of Activities

Parks and green spaces are desirable destinations for diverse reasons including exercising, playing, relaxing, and socializing. In this paper, we demonstrate that simultaneously considering number of parks, surface area and type of activity provides an improved understanding of walking accessibility...

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Main Authors: Karl El-Murr, Arianne Robillard, Owen Waygood, Geneviève Boisjoly
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Findings Press 2021-10-01
Series:Findings
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.32866/001c.27479
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author Karl El-Murr
Arianne Robillard
Owen Waygood
Geneviève Boisjoly
author_facet Karl El-Murr
Arianne Robillard
Owen Waygood
Geneviève Boisjoly
author_sort Karl El-Murr
collection DOAJ
description Parks and green spaces are desirable destinations for diverse reasons including exercising, playing, relaxing, and socializing. In this paper, we demonstrate that simultaneously considering number of parks, surface area and type of activity provides an improved understanding of walking accessibility to parks in urban areas. Using open datasets and a configurable tool, we find that in Montreal, 95% of the population have access to three or more parks, 83% can access 3 or more playgrounds, and 10% can access 3 or more open air activities within a 1 km walk. The accessible surface area varies considerably across the region. The tool reveals distinct patterns that better reflect the diversity of needs and uncovering specific inequalities, and can therefore contribute to improved decision-making.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2652-8800
language English
publishDate 2021-10-01
publisher Findings Press
record_format Article
series Findings
spelling doaj-art-dff04ef5e164429ca3fdf090785184bc2025-08-20T03:45:23ZengFindings PressFindings2652-88002021-10-0110.32866/001c.27479Walking Accessibility to Parks: Considering Number of Parks, Surface Area and Type of ActivitiesKarl El-MurrArianne RobillardOwen WaygoodGeneviève BoisjolyParks and green spaces are desirable destinations for diverse reasons including exercising, playing, relaxing, and socializing. In this paper, we demonstrate that simultaneously considering number of parks, surface area and type of activity provides an improved understanding of walking accessibility to parks in urban areas. Using open datasets and a configurable tool, we find that in Montreal, 95% of the population have access to three or more parks, 83% can access 3 or more playgrounds, and 10% can access 3 or more open air activities within a 1 km walk. The accessible surface area varies considerably across the region. The tool reveals distinct patterns that better reflect the diversity of needs and uncovering specific inequalities, and can therefore contribute to improved decision-making.https://doi.org/10.32866/001c.27479
spellingShingle Karl El-Murr
Arianne Robillard
Owen Waygood
Geneviève Boisjoly
Walking Accessibility to Parks: Considering Number of Parks, Surface Area and Type of Activities
Findings
title Walking Accessibility to Parks: Considering Number of Parks, Surface Area and Type of Activities
title_full Walking Accessibility to Parks: Considering Number of Parks, Surface Area and Type of Activities
title_fullStr Walking Accessibility to Parks: Considering Number of Parks, Surface Area and Type of Activities
title_full_unstemmed Walking Accessibility to Parks: Considering Number of Parks, Surface Area and Type of Activities
title_short Walking Accessibility to Parks: Considering Number of Parks, Surface Area and Type of Activities
title_sort walking accessibility to parks considering number of parks surface area and type of activities
url https://doi.org/10.32866/001c.27479
work_keys_str_mv AT karlelmurr walkingaccessibilitytoparksconsideringnumberofparkssurfaceareaandtypeofactivities
AT ariannerobillard walkingaccessibilitytoparksconsideringnumberofparkssurfaceareaandtypeofactivities
AT owenwaygood walkingaccessibilitytoparksconsideringnumberofparkssurfaceareaandtypeofactivities
AT genevieveboisjoly walkingaccessibilitytoparksconsideringnumberofparkssurfaceareaandtypeofactivities