New York City is renowned for its impressive natural resources, offering a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, swimming, boating, and camping. The city's park network is one of the largest in the country and provides access to these activities for all. However, the relationship between the compositional characteristics of the neighborhood and the measures of the park's facilities has been studied to understand how access to recreational activities varies in different communities. The Office of the State Comptroller has documented how outdoor activities contribute to the local economies of many rural areas of New York, as well as some communities on Long Island.
The state is also making investments to improve public access to land and water, improve camps and facilities, and increase public awareness about all the outdoor recreation opportunities available. To further explore this relationship, a study was conducted using data from geographical information systems (GIS) for parks in New York City. Core density estimation and distance measures were used to control for variation in neighborhood amenities. The results showed that access to recreational activities varies significantly across different communities in New York City.
For example, Prospect Park is building two new entrances to connect directly to low-income communities along its eastern end, including Flatbush and Crown Heights. Governors Island, a 172-acre oasis in the middle of New York Harbor, has become one of the city's most popular summer parks. The Public School Athletic League (PSAL) coordinates New York City's public high school sports competitions and educates students about physical fitness, character development, and socialization skills. In addition, the New York City Department of Health's Extreme Heat and Your Health website provides information on how to prevent heat-related illnesses both indoors and outdoors. With its diverse geographical landscape and numerous stadiums, amphitheaters, and sports venues, New York is an attractive location for a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities. Overall, this study highlights the importance of understanding how access to recreational activities varies across different communities in New York City.
By making investments to improve public access to land and water, improve camps and facilities, and increase public awareness about all the outdoor recreation opportunities available, New Yorkers can enjoy all that their state has to offer.
