Indicator ES.2.c Acres of public open space per 1,000 population

ES.2.c Acres of public open space per 1,000 population

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Data Source

Open Space data accessed from San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, August 08, 2009.

Map and table created by San Francisco Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section using ArcGIS software. Table data is presented by planning neighborhood. Detailed information regarding census data, geographic units of analysis, their definitions, and their boundaries can be found in the HDMT at the following links:

http://www.thehdmt.org/etc/Geographic_Units_of_Analysis.September_2009.pdf

http://www.thehdmt.org/data_map_methods.php

Explanation and Limitations

Public open space refers to lands that are publicly owned, publicly used, and publicly accessible.

According to the National Recreation and Parks Association Guidelines, the national standard acreage of open space is 10 acres per 1,000 people. As a whole, San Francisco is currently below the standard with approximately 9 total acres of open stace/1,000 residents. The majority of San Francisco neighborhoods also do not meet the national standard.

Acreage per population alone is not the only measure in appraising access to open space. Other elements of accessibility include travel time, safety, park maintenance, and usability.

Different sources calculate and define open space differently, for example, what is "usable" open space, and whether or not to include regional and/or private parks.

The San Francisco Open Space Element in the General Plan dictates severe restrictions on open space development. Policy 2.2 states "Despite general agreement on the need to preserve public open space, over the years developments may indeed be proposed on public land designated as open space in this plan. It is anticipated that the most persuasive arguments in favor of development will be based on the "public value" of the proposed development. The public value will differ among proposals, and a determination, of this value as compared with the value of open space will be difficult. In order to assist in this determination, four types of potential development proposals have been identified. If proposals for these types of development occur, the following policies should be applied: Nonrecreational Uses, Recreation and Cultural Buildings, Supporting Facilities, and Surplus Public Land." For further definitions and information go to Recreation and Open Space Element (ROSE) in the General Plan. Currently, the ROSE is being revised by the San Francisco Planning Department.

Why is this a Community Health Indicator?

Parks and natural open space areas promote physical activity and social interaction. Areas with natural vegetation also have direct effects on physical and mental health. One review of studies showed that access to places for physical activity combined with outreach and education can produce a 48% increase in the frequency of physical activity.a Exposure to greenery and the natural world has additional benefits to health. More generally, living in proximity to green space is associated with reduced self-reported health symptoms, better self-rated health, and higher scores on general health questionnaires.b Trees and green space also improve the physical environment by removing air pollution from the air and mitigating the urban heat island effect produced by concrete and glass.c
  1. Kahn EB. The effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity. Am J Prev Med. 2002;22(4):73-107.
  2. Vries S, de Verheij RA, Groenewegen PP, Spreeuwenberg P. Natural environments - healthy environments? An exploratory analysis of the relationship between green space and health. Environment and Planning A. 2003;35(10):1717-1731.
  3. Parks for People: Why America Needs more City Parks and Open Space. San Francisco: The Trust for Public Land, 2003.