How Racial Residential Segregation Structures Access and Exposure to Greenness and Green Space: A Review

Abstract

Objectives:

While racial residential segregation has played a role in structuring material conditions in communities of color, associations documenting racialized inequities in greenness tend to be decontextualized from the built environment it examines. This review aims to summarize the relationship between racial residential segregation and greenness, provide an overview of the measures used, and suggest for practices for recontextualization.

Data Sources

: English-language peer-reviewed literature published after 2000 examining locations in the United States was obtained from electronic databases Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science.

Review Methods:

Articles with the primary exposure of “racial residential segregation” and outcome of “greenness” or “green space” were considered for review. Articles were obtained from electronic databases and a snowball search through the references of potential articles. Full-text review identified study measures and results, and if authors contextualized their results in historical and present-day conditions, including laws, policies, and practices.

Results:

Studies consistently demonstrate an association between racial residential segregation and less exposure to tree canopy coverage, vegetation, and parks. When residents of color do enjoy greater access to parks, these parks tend to be more congested and contain less amenities than parks located in areas with predominately White residents. There remains ample opportunity to better document the historical mechanisms (i.e., redlining, White flight) in structuring exposure and access to greenness in these communities.

Conclusion:

Naming racial segregation as a determinant of access and exposure to greenness will better serve efforts to improve neighborhood conditions in a way that is centered around the needs of communities and uplifts existing community assets.