title: Socioeconomic and race/ethnic disparities in observed park quality.
abstract: Though park presence and access disparities are well studied for their associations with physical activity (PA), disparities in the availability and quality of amenities and facilities within parks have been infrequently examined.
  
  
  
  Five hundred forty-three parks from 472 block groups in the Seattle, WA and Baltimore, MD regions were audited using the Environmental Assessment of Public Recreation Spaces (EAPRS) to assess presence and quality (e.g., condition, cleanliness) of amenities (e.g., restrooms, seating) and facilities (e.g., fields, courts). General linear model regressions investigated Census 2000-derived neighborhood race/ethnicity and income main effect and interactive relationships with 7 park quality summary scores: 1) trails, 2) open space, 3) sports facilities, 4) PA facilities count, 5) PA facilities quality, 6) aesthetics, and 7) overall amenities, controlling for park size. The regions were analyzed separately due to differing race/ethnicity distributions.
  
  
  
  In the Seattle region, neighborhood income was significantly negatively associated with sports quality score (p < .043), PA facilities total count (p < .015) and the overall amenities quality score (p < .004) (unexpected direction). In the Baltimore region, neighborhood race/ethnicity (percent White/non-Hispanic) was significantly positively related to the open spaces quality score (p < .011) (expected direction). A significant income-by-race/ethnicity interaction was found for PA facilities quality (p = .014), with high-percent minority neighborhoods having higher quality parks in high- vs. low-income neighborhoods, yet was opposite in mostly White/non-Hispanic neighborhoods. The other income-by-race/ethnicity interaction was for overall amenities quality score (p = .043), where scores in high-percent minority neighborhoods were best in high- vs. low-income neighborhoods. There was little difference in scores within mostly White or mixed neighborhoods by income.
  
  
  
  Patterns of association of neighborhood race/ethnicity and income with park qualities differed between regions. In the Seattle region, "equitable differences" were found, where lower income neighborhoods had better park quality on average. In the Baltimore region, park quality was more consistently negatively associated with income and race/ethnic diversity, and complex interactions of race/ethnicity by income were detected. These findings emphasize the need to explore other factors that may explain variations in park quality, like local policy, citizen involvement in park decision-making, park funding and allocation, sources of funding and park priorities.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, 3900 5th Ave Suite 310, San Diego, CA, 92103, USA. jkengelb@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Jessa K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Engelberg
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, 3900 5th Ave Suite 310, San Diego, CA, 92103, USA.
authors.forename: Terry L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, 3900 5th Ave Suite 310, San Diego, CA, 92103, USA.
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geremia
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, 3900 5th Ave Suite 310, San Diego, CA, 92103, USA.
authors.forename: Kelli L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children's Research Institute, University of Washington, 2001 Eighth Avenue, Suite 400, Seattle, WA, 98121, USA.
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Saelens
authors.affiliation: Perelman School of Medicine and School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, 801 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Glanz
authors.affiliation: School of Community and Regional Planning, University of British Columbia, #433-6333 Memorial Road, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada.
authors.forename: Lawrence D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, 3900 5th Ave Suite 310, San Diego, CA, 92103, USA.
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sallis
mesh_terms: D015142:Baltimore; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D000068316:Parks, Recreational / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014861:Washington
keywords: Disparities; Inequalities; Park facilities; Park quality; Physical activity