Parks provide communities with opportunities for recreation, social interaction, and improved mental health. However, access to parks is not always evenly distributed across neighborhoods. While some residents have parks within walking distance, others experience limited access. This project examines how the proportion of residents living within 0.5 miles of a park varies across census tracts in Seattle, with a focus on differences in racial composition.

Methodology: 

First, a 0.5-mile buffer was created around park locations to represent a reasonable walking distance. Buffers were dissolved to produce a continuous accessibility area across overlapping park service zones.    Next, census tract boundaries were clipped using the buffer layer to isolate areas within walking distance of parks. A spatial query (Select by Location) was then used to identify census tracts that intersect with park service areas, allowing for classification of accessible versus less accessible regions.      Demographic data were integrated using a spatial join based on GEOID identifiers. During this process, field types were standardized using the field calculator to resolve spatial join errors and prevent null values. Additional variables were created to calculate the percentage of White and Asian populations, enabling comparison between park accessibility and racial composition.

Result:

The analysis indicates that a large proportion of census tracts in Seattle fall within 0.5 miles of a park, suggesting generally high accessibility to public parks. This reflects the widespread distribution of parks across the city.                           However, spatial patterns reveal variation in accessibility when examined alongside racial comparison. Some census tracts with higher proportions of certain racial groups are located closer to park-dense areas, while others are relatively farther from accessible park areas.  The results suggest that although overall park access is high, accessibility is not uniformly distributed, and disparities exist across neighborhoods. These patterns highlight the importance of considering equity in urban planning and the potential development of transportation systems. 

[2002 - 2013]

The kernel density map and hot spot map reveal that residential building permits in Seattle over the past decade have become concentrated in particular urban areas that are surrounded by companies and transportation infrastructure. The heat map visualizes the density of building permits in Seattle that shows strong concentrations in central Seattle and northwestern parts of Seattle. Comparing the periods between 2002-2013 and 2014-present, I found that building permit activity in Seattle after 2014 has become less concentrated across the city while still being dense in northwestern Seattle. 

The hot spot analysis of net residential units highlights the actual density of residential development itself. The strongest hot spots are concentrated in the center of Seattle, particularly the downtown area, where a lot of buildings and companies are located. Smaller hot spots appear near the area and cold spots are located where the building permits activity is not very activated. However, comparing both heat map and hot spot map, I found that cold spots areas in northwestern parts of Seattle are where the high concentration of building permits appear in the heat map. This suggests that although many permits were issued in the area, it may have lower net residential units due to smaller scale development and other public infrastructures.

The map illustrates that winter temperatures across the United States are projected to increase between the historical period (1975 - 2005) and the future period (2071 - 2090). The use of a sequential color scheme effectively highlights the magnitude of temperature change, allowing viewers to easily identify regions experiencing greater warming. Brighter colors emphasize higher increase, reinforcing the map’s central argument. By adding an inset map, the viewers are able to see the zoomed-in specific regions that may be difficult to observe at the national scale.

Date of creation: 03/23/2023

- Les Voyageurs, by French artist

Bruno Catalano, in Marseille, France