Beyond the Buffer: A Network-Based Assessment of Spatial Equity in Urban Green Space Accessibility in the Savannah Metropolitan Region
Faculty Mentor
Lin, Meimei
Location
Savannah Ballroom
Type of Research
On-going
Session Format
Poster Presentation
College
School of Earth Environment & Sustainability
Department
Geography
Abstract
Urban green space supports physical activity, social cohesion, thermal comfort, and overall urban livability. Yet access to public parks often varies across neighborhoods, potentially reinforcing broader socioeconomic disparities. Many accessibility assessments rely on Euclidean buffers, which overestimate access by ignoring barriers and the structure of the street network. This study applies a network-based walking framework to evaluate park accessibility in Chatham County, Georgia, using standardized planning thresholds of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 miles.
Using a routable street network, the analysis generates service areas around public parks at each distance threshold and measures the proportion of residents within accessible areas. The study then compares accessibility patterns with census-derived indicators of population density, income and poverty, and age composition to assess whether demographic disparities correspond with differences in network-based access. By maintaining a consistent distance metric rather than assumed travel speeds, the framework provides an objective and transportable measure of walkable park access.
The results identify variation in accessibility across census tracts and highlight areas that remain underserved across multiple walking thresholds. These spatial patterns allow park access to be interpreted within a broader equity framework while avoiding the distortions associated with straight-line buffer methods. Although network-based accessibility modeling has been widely applied in large metropolitan and international contexts, fewer studies have implemented standardized walking thresholds in mid-sized southeastern U.S. counties.
This project contributes a replicable, policy-relevant methodology for evaluating park access at the county scale. The findings provide an empirical foundation for identifying spatial disparities and informing future planning efforts aimed at improving equitable access to public green space in Chatham County and comparable regions.
Program Description
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Start Date
4-21-2026 10:00 AM
End Date
4-21-2026 12:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Spratling, Devon, "Beyond the Buffer: A Network-Based Assessment of Spatial Equity in Urban Green Space Accessibility in the Savannah Metropolitan Region" (2026). GS4 Student Scholars Symposium. 23.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2026A/2026A/23
Beyond the Buffer: A Network-Based Assessment of Spatial Equity in Urban Green Space Accessibility in the Savannah Metropolitan Region
Savannah Ballroom
Urban green space supports physical activity, social cohesion, thermal comfort, and overall urban livability. Yet access to public parks often varies across neighborhoods, potentially reinforcing broader socioeconomic disparities. Many accessibility assessments rely on Euclidean buffers, which overestimate access by ignoring barriers and the structure of the street network. This study applies a network-based walking framework to evaluate park accessibility in Chatham County, Georgia, using standardized planning thresholds of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 miles.
Using a routable street network, the analysis generates service areas around public parks at each distance threshold and measures the proportion of residents within accessible areas. The study then compares accessibility patterns with census-derived indicators of population density, income and poverty, and age composition to assess whether demographic disparities correspond with differences in network-based access. By maintaining a consistent distance metric rather than assumed travel speeds, the framework provides an objective and transportable measure of walkable park access.
The results identify variation in accessibility across census tracts and highlight areas that remain underserved across multiple walking thresholds. These spatial patterns allow park access to be interpreted within a broader equity framework while avoiding the distortions associated with straight-line buffer methods. Although network-based accessibility modeling has been widely applied in large metropolitan and international contexts, fewer studies have implemented standardized walking thresholds in mid-sized southeastern U.S. counties.
This project contributes a replicable, policy-relevant methodology for evaluating park access at the county scale. The findings provide an empirical foundation for identifying spatial disparities and informing future planning efforts aimed at improving equitable access to public green space in Chatham County and comparable regions.
