Urban park use during the COVID-19 pandemic:Are socially vulnerable communities disproportionately impacted?

The COVID-19 pandemic altered human behavior around the world. To maintain mental and physical health during periods of lockdown and quarantine, people often engaged in outdoor, physically distanced activities such as visits to parks and greenspace. However, research tracking outdoor recreation patterns during the pandemic has yielded inconsistent results, and few studies have explored the impacts of COVID-19 on park use across diverse neighborhoods. We used a mixed methods approach to examine changes in park use patterns in cities across North Carolina, USA, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an emphasis on impacts in socially vulnerable communities (based on racial/ethnic composition and socioeconomic status). First, we surveyed a demographically representative sample of 611 urban residents during August 2020 to assess their use of outdoor park spaces before and during the pandemic. Second, we used cell phone location (i.e., geo-tracking) data to document changes in park visits within 605 socioeconomically diverse urban census tracts before (July 2019) and during (July 2020) the pandemic. Data from both methods revealed urban park use declined during the pandemic; 56% of survey respondents said they stopped or reduced park use, and geo-tracked park visits dropped by 15%. Park users also became more homogenous, with visits increasing the most for past park visitors and declining the most in socially vulnerable communities and among individuals who were BIPOC or lower-income. Our results raise concerns about urban park use during the COVID-19 pandemic and suggest pre-existing health disparities in socially vulnerable communities might be exacerbated by inequitable access and utilization of parks and greenspace

A scoping review of equitable climate adaptation research in U.S. cities

As cities continue to prepare for climate change by developing adaptation plans, previous research has examined the content, creation, and considerations of equity and justice in these plans, particularly across United States cities. Climate adaptation activities create the potential for undue harm on marginalized populations, therefore it is important to understand the state of knowledge on equitable climate adaptation as cities begin implementing their plans. We conducted a scoping review of 15 journal articles on equitable adaptation in United States cities to document theoretical frameworks used and major findings. Studies included in our sample primarily used three different theoretical frameworks, including environmental justice theory, neoliberal urban governance, or just sustainabilities, to analyze how plans were created and their contents. Studies we analyzed indicate that cities were successful at identifying problems or challenges but struggled with articulating how to best engage residents and community members or to grapple with systemic issues. We also developed best practices for adaptation based on recommendations from the studies: have clear implementation guidelines, invest in frontline communities, regulate the private sector, work with community-based organizations, and develop regional planning initiatives. Overall, the state of knowledge is such that cities have taken the first step of creating adaptation plans, but how these plans are implemented will make the true difference for equitable outcomes

Peer-To-Peer Accommodation and Gentrification: The Moderating Role of Community Resilience

The current study examined the relationship between Airbnb performance, community resilience, and gentrification to understand how community resilience may moderate the Airbnb-induced gentrification. Based on the linear panel and geographically weighted regression analyses, the study examined factors that significantly contributed to gentrification and identified areas in Florida that were more susceptible or resistant to Airbnb-induced gentrification. The findings from this study provided insights into the role of community resilience indexes in addressing Airbnb-induced gentrification. Greater vulnerability and inequality exposed the regions to more gentrification, whereas higher socio-economic status and better community involvement protected them from gentrification. The impact of community resilience differed geographically, calling for location-specific approaches to mediate Airbnb-induced gentrification