Data and code for analyzing unequal access to social, environmental, and health amenities in United States urban parks

Metadata:

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

Below you will find a list and description of the files included in this data publication.


VARIABLE DESCRIPTION FILE (1)

1. \Data\_variable_descriptions.csv: Comma-separated values (CSV) file containing a list and description of variables found in all data files. (A description of these variables is also provided in the metadata below.)

Columns include:

Filename = Name of data file

Variable = Name of variable

Units = Units (if applicable)

Precision = Precision (if applicable)

Description = Description of variable



DATA FILES (7)

1. \Data\Access_ANOVA_Data.csv: CSV file containing the difference in representative access to parks for each racial/ethnic group and Census division. These data are used to conduct an analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare how access to parks varies by racial and ethnic groups within and between Census divisions.

Variables include:

CB_Divisions = Census division
Division 1 - New England
Division 2 - Middle Atlantic
Division 3 - East North Central
Division 4 - West North Central
Division 5 - South Atlantic
Division 6 - East South Central
Division 7 - West South Central
Division 8 - Mountain
Division 9 - Pacific

Race = Race category
Hispanic_Diff
White_Diff
Black_Diff
AIAN_Diff (American Indian and Alaska Native)
Asian_Diff
NHPI_Diff (Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander)
Other_Diff
Multi_Diff

Difference = Difference between total city demographics and demographics within walkshed (negative implies underrepresentation, positive implies overrepresentation)


2. \Data\Access_Summary_Data.csv: CSV file containing the average representative access, standard deviation of access, standard error of access, and sample size (number of parks) for each racial group in each Census division.

Variables include:

CB_Divisions = Census division
Division 1 - New England
Division 2 - Middle Atlantic
Division 3 - East North Central
Division 4 - West North Central
Division 5 - South Atlantic
Division 6 - East South Central
Division 7 - West South Central
Division 8 - Mountain
Division 9 - Pacific

Race = Race category
Hispanic
White
Black
AIAN (American Indian and Alaska Native)
Asian
NHPI (Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander)
Other
Multi

Average_Difference = Average of difference between total city demographics and demographics within walkshed across an entire Census division

SD_Difference = Standard deviation of the calculated difference between total city demographics and demographics within walkshed across an entire Census division

sample_size = Number of observations

SE_Difference = Standard error of calculated difference between total city demographics and demographics within walkshed across an entire Census division


3. \Data\Nature_Cities_Data_Park_Analysis_1_23_2024.csv: CSV file containing the park trait characteristics (e.g., canopy cover, trail length, etc.), trait characteristics of the urban area the park is located within, and information on the percentage and number of racial ethnic groups within the parks’ walkshed and within the urban area.

Variables include:

PARK_ID = Unique identification number given to a park by Trust for Public Lands
Urban = Urban area, from Census

Park_Percent_Hisp = Percent of residents within a walkshed of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (Hispanic) (1 equals 1%) (percent)

Park_Percent_NH_White_alone = Percent of residents within a walkshed of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (White) (1 equals 1%) (percent)

Park_Percent_NH_Black_alone = Percent of residents within a walkshed of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (Black) (1 equals 1%) (percent)

Park_Percent_NH_AIAN_alone = Percent of residents within a walkshed of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (American Indian and Alaka Native) (1 equals 1%) (percent)

Park_Percent_NH_Asian_alone = Percent of residents within a walkshed of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (Asian) (1 equals 1%) (percent)

Park_Percent_NH_NHPI_alone = Percent of residents within a walkshed of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander) (1 equals 1%) (percent)

Park_Percent_NH_other = Percent of residents within a walkshed of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (other) (1 equals 1%) (percent)

Park_Percent_NH_multirace = Percent of residents within a walkshed of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (multirace) (1 equals 1%) (percent)

CB_Divisions = Census division
Division 1 - New England
Division 2 - Middle Atlantic
Division 3 - East North Central
Division 4 - West North Central
Division 5 - South Atlantic
Division 6 - East South Central
Division 7 - West South Central
Division 8 - Mountain
Division 9 - Pacific

Park_Area_M2 = Area in square meters (square meters)

Trail_Count = Number of trails, (Trust for Public Lands)

Trails_Length_M = Length of trails in meters, (Trust for Public Lands) (meters)

Playground_Area_M2 = Playground area in square meters, (Trust for Public Lands) (square meters)

Water_Percent = Amount of water, as a percent of total land cover. Amount of water (Water_M2) calculated based on USGS National Land Cover Database at 30m resolution (percent)

Water_M2 = Amount of water in square meters, calculated based on USGS National Land Cover Database at 30m resolution (square meters)

Park_LST_Mean = Average land surface temperature (unsure of time period) within a park (degrees Celsius)

Park_Noise_Mean = Average of the Noise variable within a park (decibles)

Park_Noise_Impact = Average of the Noise Impact variable within a park (NA)

Park_TC_Mean = Average tree cover calculated based on USFS Tree Canopy Cover dataset within a park (percent cover)

Urban_Noise_Mean = Average of the Noise variable within a the entire urban area (decibles)

Urban_TC_Mean = Average tree cover calculated based on USFS Tree Canopy Cover dataset within a an entire urban area (percent cover)

Urban_LST = Average of the Noise variable within a the entire urban area (degrees Celsius)

Park_Minus_Urban_Noise_Mean = Difference between the calculated value for the average noise within a specific park and the average noise for the urban area the park is located within (decibles)

Park_Minus_Urban_TC = Difference between the calculated value for the average tree cover within a specific park and the average tree cover for the urban area the park is located within (percent cover)

Park_Minus_Urban_LST = Difference between the calculated value for the average land surface temperature within a specific park and the average landsurface temperature for the urban area the park is located within (degrees Celsius)

Hisp = Estimated population of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (Hispanic) for the urban area (as defined by the census) that the park is within

NH_AIAN_alone = Estimated population of the corresponding racial/ethnic (American Indian and Alaka Native) group for the urban area (as defined by the census) that the park is within

NH_Asian_alone = Estimated population of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (Asian) for the urban area (as defined by the census) that the park is within

NH_Black_alone = Estimated population of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (Black) for the urban area (as defined by the census) that the park is within

NH_multirace = Estimated population of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (multrace) for the urban area (as defined by the census) that the park is within

NH_NHPI_alone = Estimated population of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander) for the urban area (as defined by the census) that the park is within

NH_other = Estimated population of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (other) for the urban area (as defined by the census) that the park is within

NH_White_alone = Estimated population of the corresponding racial/ethnic group (White) for the urban area (as defined by the census) that the park is within

OBJECTID = Unique ID assigned to each urban area for the purpose of this analysis

Total_Pop = Total number of residents within the walkshed - calculated based on Census information

Percent_Low_Income = Percent of residents classified as low income - variable from Trust for Public Lands and not used in the analysis (percent)

Percent_Med_Income = Percent of residents classified as medium income - variable from Trust for Public Lands and not used in the analysis (percent)

Percent_High_Income = Percent of residents classified as high income - variable from Trust for Public Lands and not used in the analysis (percent)

Total_House_Holds = Total number of households within the park walkshed- variable from Trust for Public Lands and not used in the analysis


4. \Data\Park_Traits-Above_or_Below_Summary_Table.csv: CSV file containing summarized data from “Trait_Comparison_Data.csv”, which are grouped by racial group and Census division.

Variables include:

Race = Racial/ethnic group, from Census definitions
Hispanic
White
Black
AIAN (American Indian and Alaska Native)
Asian
NHPI (Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander)
Other
Multiracial

Trait = Corresponding trait (e.g., tree canopy, land surface temperature)
Heat (LST)
Noise
Playgrounds
Trail Length (m) [meters]
Tree Canopy
Water

Classification = Categorical classification denoting the specific trait is above or below average (based on the "Diff" variable)

Average_Rep = The average representation (percent of residents within a walkshed of a given race) that live within walksheds of parks with corresponding classification (above or below) (percent)

sample_size = Number of parks that fall within the corresponding category (above or below)

SE_Rep = Standard error of the average representation (percent)


5. \Data\Trait_Comparison_Data.csv: CSV file containing a subset of “Nature_Cities_Data_Park_Analysis_1_23_2024.csv” that also includes information on whether or not a park has greater (above) or less (below) of a specific trait than the urban area it is within.

Variables include:

Urban = Urban area, as defined by the Census

PARK_ID = Unique identification number given to a park by Trust for Public Lands

CB_Divisions = Census division
Division 1 - New England
Division 2 - Middle Atlantic
Division 3 - East North Central
Division 4 - West North Central
Division 5 - South Atlantic
Division 6 - East South Central
Division 7 - West South Central
Division 8 - Mountain
Division 9 - Pacific

Diff = Difference between the measured trait of a given park and the average value of that trait for the urban area the park is within. Negative indicates the park is below average, positive indicates the park is above average

Classification = Categorical classification denoting the specific trait is above or below average (based on the "Diff" variable)

Trait = Trait being measured
Size
Trails_Length_M

Race = Racial/ethnic group, from Census definitions
Hispanic
White
Black
AIAN (American Indian and Alaska Native)
Asian
NHPI (Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander)
Other
Multiracial

Representation = Difference between total city demographics and demographics within walkshed across an entire census division


6. \Data\Trait_Comparison_Figure.csv: CSV file containing summarized data from “Trait_Comparison_Data.csv” grouped by racial group level used to create figure 3 in Winkler et al. (2024).

Variables include:

Race = Racial/ethnic group, from Census definitions
Hispanic
White
Black
AIAN (American Indian and Alaska Native)
Asian
NHPI (Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander)
Other
Multiracial

Trait = Trait being measured
Heat (LST)
Noise
Playgrounds
Trail Length (m) [meters]
Tree Canopy
Water

Classification = Categorical classification denoting the specific trait is above or below average (based on the "Diff" variable)

Average_Rep = The average representation (percent of residents within a walkshed of a given race) that live within walksheds of parks with corresponding classification (above or below) (percent)

sample_size = Number of parks that fall within the corresponding category (above or below) (count)

SE_Rep = Standard error of the average representation (percent)


7. \Data\Trait_Division_Figure_Data.csv: CSV file containing a subset of the summarized data from “Park_Traits-Above_or_Below_Summary_table.csv”, which includes the four largest racial groups. These data were used to create figure 4 in Winkler et al. (2024).

Variables include:

Race = Racial/ethnic group, from Census definitions
Hispanic
White
Black
Asian

Trait = Trait being measured
Heat (LST)
Noise
Tree Canopy

Classification = Categorical classification denoting the specific trait is above or below average (based on the "Diff" variable)

CB_Divisions = Census division
Division 1 - New England
Division 2 - Middle Atlantic
Division 3 - East North Central
Division 4 - West North Central
Division 5 - South Atlantic
Division 6 - East South Central
Division 7 - West South Central
Division 8 - Mountain
Division 9 - Pacific

Average_Rep = The average representation (percent of residents within a walkshed of a given race) that live within walksheds of parks with corresponding classification (above or below) (percent)

sample_size = Number of parks that fall within the corresponding category (above or below)

SE_Rep = Standard error of the average representation (percent)



SUPPLEMENTAL FILES (2)

1. \Supplements\Full_Analysis_Nature_Cities_Park_Equity.R: R code used to conduct generalized linear mixed models exploring how different dependent variables (park traits; e.g., canopy cover, average temperature) vary based on percent of surrounding residents in different racial and ethnic groups while controlling for factors including Census division and urban area as well as park size. Also contains code to run analysis of variance to compare difference in trait availability in parks by racial/ethnic group as well as the code to create figure 3 and figure 4 in Winkler et al. (2024).


2. \Supplements\Supplementary_Material.pdf: Portable Document Format (PDF) file containing a table of source information used in the creation of these data.

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

Winkler, Richelle L.; Clark, Jeffrey A.G.; Locke, Dexter H.; Kremer, Peleg; Aronson, Myla F.J.; Hoover, Fushcia-Ann; Joo, Hogyeum Evan; La Rosa, Daniele; Lee, KangJae Jerry; Lerman, Susannah B.; Pearsall, Hamil; Vargo, Timothy L.V.; Nilon, Charles H.; Lepczyk, Christopher A. 2024. Unequal access to social, environmental, and health amenities in urban parks. Nature Cities. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44284-024-00153-2

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20241108

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Baltimore Field Station

Contact_Person: Dexter H. Locke, PhD

Contact_Position: Research Geographer

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: 5523 Research Park Drive

Address: Suite 350

City: Halethorpe

State_or_Province: MD

Postal_Code: 21227

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 310-463-6202

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: dexter.locke@usda.gov, dexter.locke@gmail.com

Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of original publication date. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999