Access to Recreation in San Francisco, CA

Abstract

This research presents an assessment of the equity of access to public recreation facilities among communities of San Francisco, California using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), database programming, and open sources of data. Urban parks and the recreation facilities contained therein are valuable public resources that contribute to healthy and well-adjusted citizenry and have significant positive impacts on the shared urban experience. This project utilizes the network analysis and spatial processing capacities of GIS alongside web technologies and open data sources to delineate pedestrian and transit service areas around each of over 300 documented recreation facilities and community centers in the City. These service areas serve as the basis for extended analysis of the distribution of resident recreation access in relation to local population densities among neighborhoods. The research delivers enhanced understanding of San Francisco public recreation opportunities and communicates project findings through several cartographic outputs.