Publication Date

Spring 2003

Degree Type

Master's Project

Degree Name

Master of Urban Planning (MUP)

Department

Urban and Regional Planning

Abstract

A Rise in Population Diversity and its Effects on Parks and Open Space Planning In the last twenty-five years, the San Francisco Bay Region has seen a significant rise in the number of ethnic groups. Diversity is most apparent in Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, and Alameda County where the percentage of non-White populations now composes the majority of the total County population (a change that has been officially recorded as evolving only recently within the last 10 years). Table 1 describes the rise in ethnic diversity from 1990 to 2000 for the three aforementioned Bay Area counties.

As the makeup of the people in the Bay Area becomes more diverse, it is important to determine whether current planning and land use decisions are meeting the needs of the changing population. Recreation is considered a basic societal need that extends through generations regardless of income, ethnicity, social background, or personal belief Recreation provides a community the opportunities to meet and interact with others,introduce and develop leisure skills, pursue healthy and active lifestyles, and foster local community involvement and pride (City of Mountain View Recreation Division, 2002).

Urban planners and city officials are continuously challenged to provide adequate levels of service to resident populations, including user-friendly parks and recreation services, this pursuit, it is essential for planners and decision-makers to be aware of diverse personal In recreation preferences to better understand the effectiveness of park systems in providing the range of needed services. This is particularly important in urban and suburban communities with growing ethnic populations where residents rely heavily on local parks for leisure and open space enjoyment. Moreover, the heightened recognition and awareness to equitably distribute resources and services to all sectors of the community further reinforces the need to equitably distribute the environmental benefits of outdoor parks and community centers to address the diverse recreational needs of an entire community (Floyd and Johnson, 2002).

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