Green schoolyard investments influence local-level economic and equity outcomes through spatial-statistical modeling and geospatial analysis in urban contexts

TL;DR

This study uses spatial-statistical and geospatial analysis to evaluate how green schoolyard investments impact economic growth and equity, revealing benefits like increased property values but also highlighting issues of gentrification and unequal distribution of benefits.

Contribution

It integrates multiple spatial and statistical methods to analyze economic and equity outcomes of green schoolyard investments across different countries, emphasizing policy implications.

Findings

Green schoolyards increase property values by 2-5% in studied areas.

Benefits are disproportionately gained by wealthier neighborhoods.

Policy focus on equity and participatory planning can mitigate displacement risks.

Abstract

Investing in urban green schoolyards is becoming more popular around the world because they could enhance health, education, and community outcomes. There is still considerable debate regarding the impact of urban green schoolyards on economic growth, equity, and community stability, particularly when analyzed using spatial-statistical and geospatial methods. The current study focuses mostly on health or individual case results and avoids looking at broader economic and equality concerns. It also fails to effectively integrate all the methodological rigor and policy implications. Using GIS analysis and comparative spatial-statistical modeling, this study fills in the gaps by examining five essential recent studies, which included cases from the US, the Netherlands, and Australia. The study uses methods such as hedonic pricing, difference in differences, spatial econometrics, and participatory GIS to look carefully at changes in property values, equitable outcomes, and displacement risks in different metropolitan areas. Studies show that while investing in green schoolyards usually raises property values in the area (by 2, 5% in Denver and Los Angeles) and is beneficial for kids' health and development, these benefits are not equitably shared. Most of the time, wealthy neighborhoods obtain the biggest benefits. Displacement and gentrification are most likely to occur in areas with inadequate tenant protections. Examples from around the world show that policies that focus on equity, public ownership, and participatory planning are necessary to get the most out of everyone's benefits and keep people from being left out.