2018 Conference

Individual Paper Presentation

Urban parks are not immune to environmental injustice; the unequal distribution of environmental ‘harms,’ like toxic dumps, can also describe the distribution of undesirable parks to socially- and economically-depressed communities. Injustice occurs because certain communities may have less-desirable parks as well as less decision-making power about parks. I study how to promote environmental justice through participation in decision-making and park programming. Using interviews and observations in two major cities known to have ‘the best’ urban park systems as determined by the Trust for Public Land, I uncovered both formal and informal mechanisms that allow public participation in decision-making about improving recreational programming and infrastructure. Presently, data collection is half-complete; I anticipate completion and progression into final analysis at conference time. Thus, I will present complete mechanisms and seek input for improvements. Merging biology and urban planning, my second step is applying the participatory decision-making mechanisms to understand if environmental programming could be another way to realize environmental justice in urban parks. I focus on programs surrounding pollinators because of strong legislation and research in both cities; further, pollinators deliver environmental services and programmatic experiences as well as a gateway to participation in decision-making. I examine pollinator research via existing citizen science projects: volunteer participation in scientific data collection and at times, decision-making about research design. I assess projects, on participation and conservation benefits delivered, using existing citizen science frameworks and the same framework used to assess decision-making for recreation programming. By understanding if citizen science in parks can be a way to realize environmental justice through programming and participation in decision-making, my presentation will conclude by gauging the potential for environmental programming to bring environmental justice to urban parks. When community members become park decision-makers, urban parks become the nexus of community health, offering environmental and health benefits for all.