Living in an urban area can make it difficult to access spaces to play. There is a long history of inequitable policies that result in the unequal quality of parks and inequitable access and for people who are in low-income or non-white neighborhoods.
Across the city, parks in poor and nonwhite neighborhoods are smaller and have to serve far more people than in wealthy neighborhoods. The average park size is 6.4 acres in poor neighborhoods, compared with 14 acres in wealthy neighborhoods, according to an analysis by the Trust for Public Land.
New York City Has 2,300 Parks. But Poor Neighborhoods Lose Out. Winnie Hu & Nate Schweber., July 15 2020, updated July 28 2020., New York Times
The inequities of access to city parks in NYC are due to real estate developers creating neighborhoods prioritized around property value, buildings, and not families and children’s needs. In areas where it is most densely populated, where families and children live, is where the parks lack large green spaces. They are often hidden between buildings or are pocket parks, small areas designated as parks but are less than 1 acre and are often concrete.
a playground in Brownsville, Brooklyn, a majority Black, and low-income neighborhood.
John Jay Park in the Upper East Side, NYC. One of the whitest and most expensive neighborhoods in Manhattan.
How do we make play more accessible?
Micro-level: If you are working one-on-one with families you can introduce them to creative ways to play in their homes, and connect them with local libraries which can offer free tickets to museums. Connect them to transportation to larger park areas.
Mezzo-level: Advocate for community centers or green spaces that allow for easier access to outdoor space which does not require spending money.
Macro-level: Advanced city planning policies that prioritize the needs of children and families: living and outdoor space, recreation, transportation to activities.
