The San Diego Foundation has released its Parks for Everyone report. It found not everyone living in the region has the same access to parks and playing fields.
The report from The City Project and The San Diego Foundation uses geographic, demographic, and economic data to map and assess the overall accessibility of the region's green space.
It also looks at the equity of green space access. “Green space” refers to all parks, natural open spaces, beaches, playing fields, trails and recreational facilities.
The analysis shows that certain groups of people, based on income level, race and ethnicity, have less access to these resources.
Dr. Emily Young is the senior director of the San Diego Foundation's Environment Program.
Young said there are communities considered "park poor" in San Diego County. Those are areas with fewer than three acres of green space for every 1,000 residents.
“It's generally those neighborhoods that are south of I-8,” said Young. “Particularly those communities where you have high levels of poverty and a higher proportion of people of color. And incidentally, in those same neighborhoods you have some of the highest rates of childhood obesity in the county."
Young said the report will help guide the creation of trails, parks and other recreational facilities in places lacking green spaces.
She said projects are already underway in the Tijuana River Valley and the Otay River Valley among other areas.
The study included 18 incorporated cities in San Diego County, unincorporated areas of San Diego County, and the 17 federally-recognized Native American tribal nations within the county.
