The document discusses equity in parks and provides indicators to evaluate equity, including environmental justice, public health, accessibility, economic development, and sustainability. It uses two parks in Saint Paul, one in a higher-income neighborhood and one in a lower-income neighborhood, to compare the parks based on these indicators. The document also describes experiments comparing accessibility to a destination park via bus and bicycle from the two starting parks. Overall, the document aims to explain equity indicators and how to evaluate parks through an equity lens to help build understanding of how parks can better serve all communities.

1. 1
What does it look like to
have equity in parks?
Most of the factors surrounding equity within the park
system are interrelated. Equity could be used as a guide
for determining areas that exemplify our growing park
system and areas that need improvement. Because it
is a topic of growing concern, this will act as a guide in
gaining a basic understanding of some ways to identify
the equity spectrum in parks. While observing the current
effectiveness of the park system this booklet aims to explain
our chosen equity indicators and provide readings and
visuals of how to break down the complex subject of equity
in parks. The identified readings, videos, and podcasts
attempt to build a better understanding of how these
indicators play a role in the equity story.
Prepared by Alexandra Olson for the Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation August 2015

2. 2
WHY EQUITY?......................................................... 3
Explanation on park leadership and where we can go
WHERE TO START................................................... 4
Thoughts on how to begin thinking about equity in parks
VISUALIZING EQUITY...................................... 5-10
A breakdown of equity indicators
Environmental Justice.............6
Public Health......................... 7
Accessibility...........................8
Economic Development........ 9
Sustainability.........................10
TO THE FUTURE.................................................... 11
Questions to guide thoughts on how equity can be addressed
ACCESSIBILITY EXPERIMENT..................... 12-15
Destination Park .......................12
Comparing Parks .................. 13
Access via Bus .........................14
Access via Bicycle ........................15
EXPLORATION LIST ............................................ 16
Readings, Podcasts, and videos to dive deeper
REFERENCES .........................................................17
Table of Contexts

3. 3
The Twin Cities park systems can be looked at as a place that tries to integrated best
practices at a city level. The Trust for Public Land’s parkscore is an impressive 84 out
of 100 for both Saint Paul and Minneapolis placing them first on the list of the 75
largest cities in the United States. The groups most affected by unequal access to parks
through distance, programming, infrastructure or amenities offered are often face many
social disparities. Evaluating the how effective our parks are currently serving these
communities will help find ways to continue to provide spaces that have and continue
to move the equity conversations.
Studies have shown that interactions with green spaces“promotes psychological
restoration, enhanced mood, improved attention, and reduced stress and anxiety”
(Wolf, 2014). When park access can begin to bridge gaps in health disparities
between different socioeconomic classes, a high importance should be placed on
the amenities offered throughout the city (Wolf, 2014).
The seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul region has been an innovator in creating
a shared and equitable future (PBS Newshour, 2015). When the Minnesota
Legislature created the Fiscal Disparity tax and put it into law in 1971, it was
intended to improve equity by reducing stresses on lower income and newly
developing neighborhoods that lacked the wealth seen in affluent neighborhoods
(Metropolitan Council, 2015). That same ideology can be used to improve on the
strong building blocks that have created the current park system.
We are seeing a demographic shift in people of color moving from 17% of the
population in 2000 to 24% in 2010 (Policylink, 2014). As obesity rates in the Twin
Cities rise to a disproportionate 19% in the white population to 39% in the black
U.S. born population the need for places people feel comfortable participating in
physical activities could help reduce these numbers (Rose, 2013).
Many of these families currently reside in lower income neighborhoods. Because
these neighborhoods have higher rates associated with a lack of physical activity
the need to have more attention on the educating and allowing access to high
quality spaces could positively affect the families living here.
Leadership of the Twin Cities
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4. 4
To achieve an equitable park system everyone must be able to enjoy the same degree of access to quality parks that are free of health hazards and
provide an environment that promotes physical activities to be enjoyed by all cultures and ages.
The quality of the parks that are well loved can be used as a bar for the programming, infrastructure, and maintenance for many low income
predominantly minority neighborhoods that have some level of deprivation amplification.
The parkscore is a great start when addressing the concerns of a city, but“poorer neighborhoods may not be disadvantaged by the location of
specific resources, it may be that they are disadvantaged in terms of quality; for example outdoor playgrounds may be less attractive, have less
equipment or have equipment in greater need of repair, or be seen as more dangerous, in poorer areas”(Macintyre, 2007).
Keeping social equity at the forefront of progress and linking it to important metrics that benefit all citizens can move the park system toward
a sustainable system that promotes the health and enjoyment of the people around it. To continue to be seen as a leading and innovative city
anticipation of the community needs could be used to start conversations on the direction and growth of the future.
How do we move toward success?
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5. 5
Visualizing Equity
It can be confusing trying to understand the how
to look at a park and identify the ways that it is
addressing equity. The complexity of the subject
has been broken down into five indicators
that have been identified as areas that leaders
in the field are currently talking and writing
about. Going through each indicator there is a
description of how it relates to the issue of equity
in the park system alongside photographs from
a sampling of parks in Saint Paul. These photos
show a spectrum of how well the Saint Paul park
system is meeting these indicators and where
there could be improvement to strengthen these
ideas.
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6. 6
Environmental Justice
Environmental justice defined by the EPA as the“fair
treatment and meaningful involvement of all people
regardless of race, color, national origin, or income
with respect to the development, implementation,
and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations,
and policies”(EPA, 2015). New studies highlight the
importance of extending environmental justice
efforts beyond old parameters such as: dealing
with environmental hazards, toxins and sites such
as brownfields, factories, and old dumping sites.
Whereas the original environmental justice alliance
focused on prevention of illness due to industrial
pollutants, the new alliance would be principally
aimed at managing and preventing chronic disease,
including mental illness and those brought on by
sedentary lifestyles and choices.
Chemical Treatment Near Water Runoff Education Water Runoff Hazards
Plant IntegrationPollinator PlantingsErosion
Watershed Education
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7. 7
Public Health
Public health impact is vital when examining how
parks and other green spaces should be located,
planned, and operated. All of these spaces impact
public health by filtering air pollution, reducing stress,
providing positive emotional responses, and providing
healthy foods (Alcock, 2013). These effects, and more,
can be heightened in communities currently most
impacted by the negative health impacts of the low
income and systematic inequities. The effects of low
income status on health can include higher rates of
health disparities and chronic stress due to poverty,
joblessness, and reduced education opportunities
closely relating to differences in lower and upper
income levels (Wolf, 2014).
Local Playground Health Warnings
Bike Tune UpEnvironmental Information
Trail Information Bike Tune Up
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8. 8
Accessibility
Accessibility to parks could be defined by physical
location of a park and how one gets to it, but it can
also be used to identify a creative and diverse range
of experiences attractive to a wide range of people
through programming or amenities. Open spaces
for games, playgrounds, community centers, access
points, and programming should work around the
interests of the community while filling in the gaps
that draw in users from different cultures.
Each community must have physically accessible spaces.
These parks become an information hub to the rest of
the city to may users. If a destination park is the next step
there should be information available at this local level to
more the users forward.
At a system wide level, destination parks and open
spaces must be accessible from a variety of transit modes
and income levels. If we focus on providing resources
that connect target communities to promote equity
within and beyond the local parks to groups without
traditional access. Analysis and intervention to address
accessibility requires greater collaboration between park
organizations and with other interest groups such as
traffic planners and bus services.
Trail AccessTrail Access Car Access
Local Access Facility Access
Facility Access
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9. 9
Economic Development
Promoting equity within and beyond the parks,
particularly in urban locations is important, but being
able to incorporate economic development in the
proper way in can be a force working for the good of the
neighborhood instead of just for the companies.
Workforce development can help create neighborhoods
of opportunity throughout the city. Recreation and
conservation create opportunities for workforce
development through both public job training and
private employment organizations. Robust parks can
also be positioned to help support or even incubate
local business in the environmental, recreation, and
entertainment sectors and beyond. These types of
economic endeavors can help offset gentrification,
tourist activity, or other socioeconomic changes that
may accompany opens space improvement.
Rentals Renovation
River Entertainment
River Industry
Advertising
Artist Support
Local Business Support
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10. 10
Sustainability
Future parks must be supported by a wider coalition of
people from a variety of backgrounds looking at both
the community and global issues that will continue
to effect our homes. Designing programming to
adjust and react to changes while adapting usefulness
through the changing context of the city will test the
effectiveness on these places over time.
Understanding the way a park can evolve and draw
people in, as well as, deter individuals from using the
space pushes us to meet our unknown needs and
redesign the way people interact with and use parks.
We can design spaces that meet the needs of users for
more than just a generation. Spiritual, recreational, and
visual aspects of the park space can be used to round
out the way our parks can support unique experiences.
Local Business Support New Technology
Access to ResourcesEducation
New Plantings Restoration
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11. 11
Questions can be used as a tool to direct how we
understand the needs of any given space. The questions
provided are a starting point when discussing the needs
and wants of the communities and park system.
Who are the users and how do they use the parks?
Are the parks set up inter-generationally? Inter-racially?
Who are the parks“marketed”towards?
Are they for the populations currently using the space?
Are they trying to draw in a new demographic and what
does that mean for the residents?
How are people getting to the park systems?
Is public or alternative transit a prioritized option?
How far are park users traveling?
Are the parks within walking distance meeting the needs
of the users?
What type of park is it?
What are the desired outcomes for programming and
amenities?
Who is using the park during different times of the day?
Gaining a better understanding of the types of green spaces that could create more
shared spaces for the community would be a starting point for efforts concerning
how urban planning can be prioritized. Biophilia suggests that natural environments
have direct contributions to human health so becoming a biophilic city would be a
forward step in the continued support of a greener and healthier city.
Saint Paul is in a strong position to push the connections of the green and blue spaces
of the city. Through the lakes and the Mississippi River there are many opportunities
to create connections through education, infrastructure, and conservation. Increased
public transportation, bike paths, tours, and parklets could provide opportunities
to educate and encourage people to build environmental values and relationships
within the community. As communities develop deeper values for these green and
blue spaces the national park could provide a connection at the city’s heart similar to
the daylighting of the rivers in Oslo, Norway where they plan to create quiet zones
and connections between the river and the city (Clancy, 2014).
Forward Thinking
Time to ponder
Harriet Island
Griggs Playground

12. 12
Destination Park
Located along the Mississippi river, Harriet Island offers visitors free
access to a part of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
an area maintained in part by the National Park Service.
Centrally located in the heart of Saint Paul, Harriet
Island serves as a main access point to the Mississippi
River. It offers visitors may different ways to enjoy the
outdoors including biking, hiking & walks, history &
culture, boating & canoeing, picnicking, and tours
through the National Park Service. It also plays host to
a number of cultural festivals, sponsored runs, family
friendly events, weddings and more.
As the park stands, it is used by a wide variety of
residents and visitors of the city. However, Harriet
Island is still not easily accessible by bus and can be
confusing to get to when not using a car.
We used this location as point to evaluate the way-
finding experiences of travellers from two chosen
locations. We selected two communities within
comfortable biking distance to Harriet Island, our
destination park. We started the routes at Edgecomb
Park and West Minnehaha Community Recreation
Center. These Parks are in neighborhoods located on
opposite ends of the economic spectrum.
Old Growth TreesFamily FriendlyPublic BikesRiver Entertainment
Water AccessOpen Event Space
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13. 13
Macalester
Groveland
Baseball Field Playground Bus Access Recreation Center
When comparing West Minnehaha Community Recreation Center with Edgecombe park we can find our equity
indicators in various forms. These parks are located in neighborhoods that are opposite the socioeconomic
spectrum.
West Minnehaha Community Recreation Center has been a part of the neighborhood since 1937 providing a
space for the community to host events, local school teams, and public recreation. It was designed and built
during Clarence“Cap”Washington’s tenure, who was regarded as the nation’s first African-American Municipal
Architect (McClure, 2015). It is also home to the Frogtown Neighborhood Association.
Edgecombe Recreation Center is tucked away in a quiet residential section of the Macalester-Groveland
neighborhood. It host many activities mainly for its younger visitors that include summer programs, classes, and
camps. It is also the home of the MacalesterGroveland Community Council.
The two parks both demonstrate a positive presence and a gathering place for ideas in the communities. Each park
was seen as a great starting point in the equity discussion and was used as a point in our accessibility study on
commuting between these neighborhoods to Harriet Island.
Public Art
Baseball Field Playground Bus Access Recreation Center Public Art
Thomas-Dale
(Frogtown)
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14. 14
North End
Payne-Phalen
Dayton's Bluff
Thomas-Dale
Summit-University Downtown
West Side
Battle Creek-Highwood
Greater East Side
St. Anthony Park
Hamline-Midway
West Seventh
Merriam Park, Lexington-Hamline
Highland
Como
Macalester-Groveland
Summit Hill
Median Income
(Thousands of Dollars)
32 705540
86
78
50
21
PercentWhite
Bus route used
in study
Bus stop within quarter
mile of park
Other bus route
Actual route taken
Access Via Bus
When traveling by bus the
rides were similar. Each trip
was close to 30 minutes,
and to get closer to the
park both trips would have
needed to transfer to cross
the river. Neither bus route
offered a route straight to
Harriet Island and both
dropped the rider off with
a walk across a bridge and
unclear way-finding to
the park itself. There was a
notable difference in the
sidewalks of the bus stops
of the two communities.
Map Prepared by Benjamin Levin and Soren Walljasper for the Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation August 2015
Thomas-Dale
Mac-Groveland

15. 15
Median Income
(Thousands of Dollars)
32 705540
86
78
50
21
PercentWhite
Seperated Bike Trail
Bike Blvd.
On Road Bike Path
No Bike Path
North End
Payne-Phalen
Dayton's Bluff
Thomas-Dale
Summit-
University
Minnehaha Rec Center
Edgecumbe Park
Harriet Island
Downtown
West Side
Battle Creek-
Highwood
Greater East SideSt. Anthony Park
Hamline-Midway
West
Seventh
Lexington-
Hamline
Highland
Como
Macalester-
Groveland
Summit Hill
Bike lane on Minnehaha Ave discontinues
through Thomas-Dale.
A lot of shattered glass and potholes
on the road, making for a stressful ride
Path of Least Resistance:
Sidewalks are narrow and discourage walking
Green space along the street limited
Evaluating Accessibility of Different Neighborhoods in St. Paul
Bike lane is under construction on
Como Ave, However general conditions
improved from Minnehaha Ave
Confusing signage and Autocentric
design around Capitol Hill. Lack of bike lanes makes riders
feel unsafe while biking through
Downtown
to stop more than they go.
It’s extremely hard to feel like
one is getting a good workout
Getting from the bike path across
the river is the biggest challenge
with few stops. It’s designed for biking.
Although a large portion of the ride
considered a“Bikeway,”meaning that
the street is consciously designed for
bicycle and pedestrian safety and ease
This map sets out to
identify pitfalls in
the bike routes
between Harriet
Island and two
neighborhoods,
Thomas-Dale and
Macalester-
Groveland. These
neighborhoods
are on opposite
ends of the socio-
economic spectrum,
Thomas-Dale being
low-income and
racially diverse while
Macalester-
Groveland has
higher income
Access Via Bike
The suggested bike
route on Google maps
does not account
for the closer of the
Wabasha bridge, so
the rider had to go
out of the way to get
across the river. Biking
between the two
locations required a lot
of stopping while on
city streets making it
difficult to get a good
workout. However the
bike lane on Como
avenue created a good
condition to follow.
There was little green
space on the Frogtown
ride creating a less
than desirable view.
Map Prepared by Benjamin Levin and Soren Walljasper for the Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation August 2015

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Further Explorations
Environmental Justice
“Environmental Equality Briefing”- Nature Sacred
“What Makes a Biophilic City?” - Landscape Architects Network
“Places to Play: Environmental Justice and the Distribution of Urban Parks and
Recreation in Los Angeles - American Institute of Architects
Public Health
“Park Improvements and Park Activity: A Natural Experiment.”- American Journal
of Preventive Medicine
“Green Space, Urbanity, and Health: How Strong Is the Relation”- Journal of
Epidemiology & Community Health
“The Health and Social Benefits of Recreation” - parks.ca.gov
“Reflect &Restore”- Nature Sacred
Accessibility
“Why Are Our Parks So White?”- The New York Times
“National Parks Try to Appeal to Minorities.”- The New York Times
Episode 09: 99% Private -99percentinvisible.org
Episode 51: The Arsenal of Exclusion - 99percentinvisible.org
Economic Development
Economic development - www.planning.org
“Planning the Urban Forest: Ecology, Economy, and Community Development”-
American Planning Association
Economic Benefits of Green Spaces - Projectevergreen.org
Sustainability
Biophilic Cities: Integrating Nature into Urban Design and Planning - Beatley,
Timothy
The Nature of Cities - Throughline Productions
How Public Spaces Make Cities Work - Ted.com/
Creating 8-80 Cities, From Thinking to Doing - TEDxCarlton
Below is a curated list of readings, videos, and podcasts that have been
identified to further understand the way these equity indicators are
impacting the park system. This list is meant to be a way to quickly
understand how these indicators are being studied and talked about.
Lower Landing
Mattoks Park
Irvine Park
Keller Park
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17. 17
References
Readings:
Alcock, Ian et al.“Longitudinal Effects on Mental Health of Moving to Greener and Less Green
Urban Areas.”Environmental Science & Technology 48.2 (2014): 1247–1255. CrossRef. Web.
American Planning Association.“How Cities Use Parks for ... Economic Development.”Planning.
org. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2015.
Beatley, Timothy. Biophilic Cities: Integrating Nature into Urban Design and Planning.
Washington, DC: Island Press, 2011. Print.
Clancy, Joseph.“What Makes a Biophilic City?”Landscape Architects Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 9
July 2015.
EverGreenAdmin.“Economic Benefits of Green Spaces.”Project EverGreen. N.p., n.d. Web. 20
Sept. 2015.
“Green Space, Urbanity, and Health: How Strong Is the Relation? -- Maas et Al. 60 (7): 587 --
Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.”N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Aug. 2015.
“Inequality Isn’t Just Bad for the Economy — It’s Toxic for the Environment | Grist.”N.p., n.d.
Web. 28 July 2015.
Johnson, Kirk.“National Parks Try to Appeal to Minorities.”The New York Times 5 Sept. 2013.
NYTimes.com. Web. 23 June 2015.
Minnesota Compass Disparities Overview. N.p. Web.
Nelson, Glenn.“Why Are Our Parks So White?”The New York Times 10 July 2015. NYTimes.com.
Web. 15 Aug. 2015.
“Places to Play: Environmental Justice and the Distribution of Urban Parks and Recreation in
Los Angeles - AIACC.”N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.
PolicyLink.“Minnesota’s Tomorrow: Equity Is the Superior Growth Model.”policylink.org. N.p.,
2014. Web. 9 July 2015.
Rose, Jonathan M. Disparity Analysis: A Review of Disparities between White Minnesotans and
Other Racial Groups. N.p., 2013. Google Scholar. Web. 30 June 2015.
State of California Resources Agency.“The Health and Social Benefits of Recreation”parks.
ca.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2015.
“St Paul, MN Parkscore.”26 Mar. 2015. Web. 9 July 2015.
US EPA, OECA.“Environmental Justice.”Announcements & Schedules. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 July
2015.
Veitch, Jenny et al.“Park Improvements and Park Activity: A Natural Experiment.”American
Journal of Preventive Medicine 42.6 (2012): 616–619. ScienceDirect. Web.
Wolf, Kathleen.“Environmental Equality Briefing.”Nature Sacred. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 June
2015.
Wolf, Kathleen, and Elizabeth Housley.“Reflect & Restore.”n. pag. Google Scholar. Web. 22
Aug. 2015.
Videos:
“How Public Spaces Make Cities Work with Amanda Burden.”Ted Talks Psychology. N.p., n.d.
Web. 20 Sept. 2015.
TEDx Talks. TEDxCarlton - Gil Penalosa - Creating 8-80 Cities, from Thinking to Doing. N.p.,
2011. Film.
The American Dream Is Alive in the Twin Cities, but Not for Everyone. PBS, 2015. Film.
The Nature of Cities. Boulder, Colo: Throughline Productions, 2009. Film.
Podcasts:
“99% Private.”99% Invisible. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.
“The Arsenal of Exclusion.”99% Invisible. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.
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