from access to agency: enhancing equitable park access through community-centered landscape design in historically underserved urban neighborhoods

Abstract

Across the U.S., efforts to address inequities in urban park access have primarily focused on large-scale planning—mapping park distribution and using quantitative data to guide where new green spaces should be allocated. While important, this approach often overlooks the power of design itself. Unlike planning metrics, the design of a park—its layout, features, and cultural relevance—can deeply influence who feels welcome and who benefits.

This project shifts the focus to the human scale, exploring the qualitative aspects of park design that foster inclusivity and encourage use in historically underserved communities. By analyzing outcomes from community-driven projects and identifying equity-focused design strategies, it reveals how thoughtful design can transform access into genuine belonging.

The project centers on a proposed park in Albina, a historically Black neighborhood in Portland, Oregon whose rich cultural legacy has been shaped—and challenged—by decades of displacement and environmental pressures. Bounded within the city’s center by industrial zones and Interstate 5, the neighborhood presents both a critical need and a powerful opportunity for a park that restores connection to nature, especially for youth.

Grounded in spatial and historical research, and informed by precedent studies and literature, the project introduces a set of neighborhood-centered design principles. These principles drive a site-specific proposal to empower local residents through access, representation, and agency in their urban landscape.