Inequity in Access to Sustainable Urban Parks in South Tucson, AZ

This study highlights the poor conditions of urban parks in South Tucson, a predominantly Hispanic area, and provides actionable solutions for enhancing equity in urban park access and quality. This was done by comparing the parks in the study area to the parks in East Tucson, an area predominantly Caucasian. The samples were selected using stratified random sampling. The case study method was used to make a comparison between three parks in south Tucson, namely Santa Rosa, Mirasol, and Ormsby Parks, and those in East Tucson, namely Roy P. Drachmann Agua, Morris K. Udall, and Michael Perry Parks. Findings show that parks in east Tucson had more amenities, were better maintained, were larger, and had a higher proportion of green spaces and more facilities than those in south Tucson. The author recommends that park authorities ensure that the parks in South Tucson are well-maintained and have enough amenities and green spaces to meet the needs of the residents. Also, the residents should collaborate to identify park development priorities to ensure they have a voice in creating sustainable parks in their communities. Lastly, the principles of environmental justice should be included as a criterion for the distribution and maintenance of public parks for underserved populations.