Skip to main content

Utility

  • Admissions
  • Exploring Grad School
  • Current Students
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Faculty + Staff
  • Alumni
Give
COVID-19 UPDATES
Report Sexual Misconduct
Home

Main navigation

Search is currently disabled
  • Academics
    • Master of Science
    • Master of Landscape Architecture
    • Doctoral (PhD)
    • Dual-Degree Programs
    • Graduate Certificate Programs
    • Undergraduate Program
    • Courses
  • Research + Impact
    • Sustainability Themes
    • PhD Profiles
    • Student Research
    • The Centers, Institutes + Initiatives
    • Faculty Profiles
    • Labs
  • Admissions
    • Exploring Graduate School
    • Why Michigan?
    • How to Apply
    • Funding
    • Online Games
    • Visit Campus
    • International Students
    • For Admitted Students
    • Admissions FAQs
    • Rackham Graduate School Resources
  • Student Services
    • SEAS Student Center
    • Career Services
    • Financial Aid
    • Academic Advising
    • Student Organizations
    • Student Development
    • Forms, Handbooks + Policies
    • Quick Links
  • News
    • Community Highlights
    • In the Media
    • Stewards Magazine
  • Events
    • Co-Sponsorship Form
    • Submit Event
    • Admissions Webinars
    • Gallery
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Leadership
    • Demographics
    • Faculty Profiles
    • Administrative Departments + Staff
    • Facilities + Locations
    • Diversity, Equity + Inclusion
    • Art & Environment Gallery
    • Land Acknowledgement
    • History

Utility

  • Admissions
  • Exploring Grad School
  • Current Students
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Faculty + Staff
  • Alumni
Give
COVID-19 UPDATES
Report Sexual Misconduct
search icon Search

News

Image
Conservation Ecology
  • Academics
  • Research + Impact
  • Admissions
  • Student Services
  • News
    • Community Highlights
    • In the Media
    • Stewards Magazine
  • Events
  • About

Main navigation

  • Academics
  • Research + Impact
  • Admissions
  • Student Services
  • News
    • Community Highlights
    • In the Media
    • Stewards Magazine
  • Events
  • About
back to all news

When creating more equitable urban green spaces in Michigan, the shape of green space matters

Image
When creating more equitable urban green spaces in Michigan, the shape of green space matters
Caption
Urban green space equality distribution map. This figure shows the urban green space equality level for each census tract in our study area. From green to red, the equality level of urban green space decreases. High-equality spaces represent areas with relatively more equal access to urban green space within walkable distance, while low-equality spaces mean that residents have unequal access to urban green space.
By Lori Atherton | 
February 7, 2023

ANN ARBOR—Most Southeast Michigan residents do not have equal access to urban green spaces, according to a new University of Michigan study.

Researchers at U-M’s School for Environment and Sustainability analyzed data from seven counties in Southeast Michigan and looked at how far residents must travel to reach a park, community garden or some other form of urban green space.

For the study, an accessible urban green space was defined as one that is 300 meters or less from a resident’s home. The researchers found that access to urban green space is extremely unequal in 70% of the urban areas in the region.

“Because of the large, continuous green strips along rivers and remaining forest patches, the distribution of urban green space in areas with lower population density is relatively more equal than that in dense areas such as downtown Detroit,” said Jianxing Guan, a doctoral student at the school and lead author of the study.

Counterintuitively, the researchers found that the total area of urban green space was not an important indicator of equality. Instead, the shape of urban green space, the size of the largest green space in a census tract and the density of green space played more important roles in urban green space equality.

Based on their study, published online Feb. 6 in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning, the researchers offered specific and practical suggestions for urban green space planning strategies in Southeast Michigan.

For example, implementing several tiny green spaces within walking distance of residents instead of adding only one large park could provide more accessible urban green space, thereby promoting equality.

They also suggest designing green spaces with more complex shapes, since a longer perimeter can serve more surrounding communities. For two green spaces of the same surface area, a long, thin and irregular green strip is better than a square- or round-shaped park in terms of equality.

Vacant land in Michigan, which provides precious land resources in dense urban areas, could also be properly turned into urban green space, said Runzi Wang, an assistant professor of landscape architecture at SEAS and a study co-author.

“Redeveloping and greening these vacant lands not only can provide multiple benefits to city dwellers and revitalize the area but also improve equity by increasing the density of urban green space,” Wang said. “We hope that governments and jurisdictions could utilize the vacant lands to serve sufficient and equitable green spaces for residents and turn a double disadvantage into a win-win solution.”

The other authors of the study are Derek Van Berkel of the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability and Zhongyao Liang of Xiamen University in China.

Study: How Spatial Patterns Affect Urban Green Space Equity at Different Equity Levels: A Bayesian Quantile Regression Approach 

This article originally appeared on the Michigan News website.

seas logo
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Dana Building
440 Church Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(734) 764-6453
Email us
facebook
twitter
instagram
linkedin
youtube
flickr
planet blue global impact logo

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Intranet
  • Contact Web Team

© 2023 The Regents of the University of Michigan | Privacy Policy | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Produced by Michigan Creative