Salem Parks Equity & Service Area Report

In response to the City of Salem’s goal of identifying park service area delineation methods that would facilitate a more equitable and accessible park system for residents, Spatial Justice Seminar students analyzed equity and delineated potential park service areas in Salem. Throughout the term, students explored what spatial equity meant, reviewed precedent studies, completed observational-based research or spatial based research on Salem’s Park system, and then provided recommendations based on their findings. The spatial methods observed in the report are Euclidian distance, travel times, street network analysis using Thiessen polygons, and overlaying data. The nonspatial methods observed are surveys, intercept surveys, demographic data, and benchmarking. The most applicable precedent studies include the cities of Los Angeles, California, Fort Collins, Colorado, Eugene, Oregon, and Bellevue, Washington. Precedent studies integrated both spatial and non-spatial methods of data collection to have a comprehensive understanding of disparities in their park system.