Greenspace Access in the Denver Metro Region: Historical Housing Policy Impact on Modern Greenspace Distribution

Abstract

Access to safe, high quality, urban green spaces is widely recognized as a determinant for physical health, mental well-being, and social cohesion. Existing literature has demonstrated that race, age, gender, and socioeconomic status frequently dictate the allocation of resources and shape disparities in access to greenspace. These disparities are also often refelctive of historical housing policy and zoning decisions. This paper examines greenspace access in the Denver Metro Region (DMR) and the City and County of Denver (CCD) through a social justice lens, with particular attention to the relationship between historical housing policy and contemporary trends in greenspace distribution and accessibility. Using a case study approach, this paper uses spatial analysis, demographic trends, and historical housing policy archives, to highlight connections between discriminatory policy and modern unequitable greenspace distribution. Findings indicate that communities of color, low income communities, and older populations are increasing concentrated in areas with poor access to greenspace and parks. These disparities also align with areas that employed discriminatory housing policy, zoning, and covenants. This paper argues that traditional standards-based greenspace appropriation perpetuates harmful trends while community-informed models may lead to more equitable distributions of greenspace.