Date of Award

Spring 5-18-2024

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

Environmental Studies

Advisor(s)

John van Buren

Abstract

This paper examines inequities in New York City’s green spaces, and it discusses the discrepancies in the quality and sizes of parks in lower- versus higher-income and white versus non-white areas. Although organizations herald the city’s parks as some of the best and most accessible in the country, marginalized residents face unsafe and insufficient surroundings. Chapter One considers the state of NYC’s green spaces. The chapter uses quantitative data collected by city agencies and non-profits to illustrate the disparities in the conditions of parks among various communities. By framing the issue using ecosystem services, the paper emphasizes the importance of widespread green spaces for New Yorkers and their environment. In Chapter Two, the thesis delves into the city’s history and the events that led to the current state of its parks. Chapter Three investigates the issue regarding environmental economics, and it discusses the benefits of green spaces for society. While some ecological aspects are simpler to quantify in monetary terms, the chapter assigns values to features that standard economic analysis often fails to include. Using the lens of environmental justice, Chapter Four explains how the unequal state of parks across the city results from and reinforces a racist and classist system. This chapter explores the differences in stakeholder involvement across neighborhoods and various barriers to access, including but not limited to the physical dimension. In Chapter Five, the paper proposes avenues to improve and expand the city’s green spaces. Policy recommendations focus on the NYC government, and they call for increases in funding, programming, infrastructure, and regulations that improve conditions, inspire greater park usage, and prevent the displacement of marginalized residents.

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