Playspace Greening in Low-Income Communities: Observations from U.S. Urban Park and Playfield Renovations

Abstract

Several frameworks exist that allow urban park coordinators managing renovations in low-income and minority communities to maximize productive playspace activation and minimize gentrifying impacts. Although many of these strategies have proven effective in previous studies, the extent to which these techniques are currently being employed has gone largely unexplored. Existing research has focused on longitudinal analysis at specific locations while case reviews provide only affirmative examples. To fill this gap, I examined the planning processes and equity considerations employed at 10 renovated urban parks in marginalized communities using a case study approach and semi-structured interviews. The research identifies established practices and emerging project planning techniques for park reactivation and gentrification mitigation, as well as potential barriers to equitable park planning.