East Palo Alto Environment and Health is Undermined by a Lack of Parks and Open Space

East Palo Alto has some unique challenges in terms of community and environmental health. One issue is an accute lack of open space. East Palo Alto suffers from an acute shortfall of parkland.

Here is a chart that explains the situation:

East Palo Alto Parks

ACRES

Joel Davis

2

Jack Farrell

3.8

Bell Street Park (*This acreage is extremely over reported by the City of East Palo Alto--most of this land is now built upon, including the YMCA, the Ravenswood City School District Office and other buildings...less than an acre remains as actual parkland or open space.)

4.8 (probably more like .8)

Martin Luther King

5.4

Other

Total

16.0

East Palo Alto Population (old census data, current population probably exceeds 35,000 if including overcrowded and undereported housing conditions)

29,506

Desired Park Acres per 1,000 residents

3

Desired Park Acres total

88.5

EPA Park Acres Per 1,000 residents

0.54

Desired Park Acres per 1,000 residents

3

EPA Surplus / (Deficit) Acres per 1,000 residents

(2.5 or *less)

EPA Surplus / (Deficit) Acres total

72.5

Recommended EPA Park Acres

88.5

Actual Park Acres

16.0 or *less

EPA Surplus (Deficit - *subtract another 4 acres if factoring in the over-represented acreage reported by the City of EPA for Bell Street Park)

(72.5 or *less)

1. Community Service Dept.
2. 2000 Census

East Palo Alto has a parkland shortfall of approximately 72.5 acres.

East Palo Alto would need to add approximately 72.5 acres of parkland to meet the goal of 3 acres per 1,000 residents. (The Quimby Act Standard is a minimum of 3 acres per 1,000 residents.)

The parkland shortfall indicates a need for more parks, open space, and recreational opportunities.

Source: City of East Palo Alto, Bay Area Access Plan

This ratio provided by the City of East Palo Alto is woefully short of National open space adequacy standards that range from 6.25 to 10.5 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents.

Having adequate open space resources requires everyone to be informed to make intelligent choices that benefit all aspects of community development.

“Many cities feel they must choose between economic growth and open space protection. In most cases, however, no such choice is necessary. A city’s parks system not only provides health and environmental benefits, a sense of community, and a higher quality of life, it is also good for the bottom line. Parks can significantly increase property values, attract and retain businesses, attract and retain a talented workforce, revitalize cities and communities, boost the tourism industry, create jobs, and increase tax revenues. Parks also play a major role in economic development and economic growth.”

-Economics of Parks, Neighborhood Parks Council, San Francisco.

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"Incidental exercise or unprogrammed play outdoors in nature has, for the most part, been removed from the community and environment in East Palo Alto. Open space is being developed at such a rapid pace, and little consideration is given to the language in the EPA General Plan which includes an open space element. Many children do not have the opportunity to walk safely through the streets, because so many streets lack sidewalks in East Palo Alto. Trees are being cut down, or the lower limbs of trees are being sawed off, eliminating the possibility that children may climb them. The adjacent Baylands are in many ways not functional or safe habitats for children to play, and do provide extremely limited access to the water or open spaces. The removal of natural habitat for the children and families of East Palo Alto is lives is a tremendous loss."

-Wolfram Alderson, Collective Roots

Numerous studies and surveys have shown that, under the umbrella of quality of life, parks have been a key component in the economic success of cities.

Economics of Parks and Open Space, Trust for Public Land
The Economic Benefits of Parks and Open Space: How Land Conservation Helps Communities Grow Smart and Protect the Bottom Line.

Read this excellent report about how communities around the country are learning that open space conservation is not an expense but an investment that produces important economic benefits.

"Our environment and our health are inextricably linked, particularly among low-income urban populations. By paying greater attention to the built environment including homes, schools, parks, transportation and community design, we can reduce instances of chronic disease such as diabetes and asthma." -Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA).

"Being healthy means access to the resources needed to live a healthy life, and many health resources are fundamentally dependent on the design of our neighborhood environments. Accessible and safe parks are one essential ingredient to a healthy neighborhood, providing a place to exercise, play, spend time with friend and neighbors, or just relax and recuperate. Research tells us that parks matter for health; the effects of nearby parks range from increasing physical activity to improving mental health." -Rajiv Bhatia, MD, MPH, Director, Occupational & Environmental Health, San Francisco Department of Public Health, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCSF.