This project seeks to gain a better understanding of green space equity in Toronto by relating the distribution of Toronto’s green space to income and schools. To look into these relationships we undertook three primary analyses. Our first analysis used normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) imagery to find the net green space (public and private green space) within Toronto census tracts. With that information we used aspatial regression analysis to identify a positive relationship between the median income of Toronto census tracts and the proportion of green space and vegetation within those tracts. Our second analysis used buffers around Toronto schools to find the area of public parks within a half kilometer radius of schools. By doing so we identified 67 Toronto schools that have no immediate access to parks. Finally, we used a grouping analysis to see how different Toronto census tracts related with each other in terms of their median incomes, proportion of green space and number of schools. Putting these analyses together helps visualize green space equity within Toronto and provides a better understanding of how different socio-economic factors are related to green space distribution in the city.
Project by:
Sara Banai & Evan Morrow
Photo source: http://www.intelligentcommunity.org/toronto_ontario