TY - JOUR
T1 - Engagement, representation, and safety
T2 - Factors promoting belonging and positive interracial contact in urban parks
AU - Powers, Samantha L.
AU - Webster, Nicole
AU - Agans, Jennifer P.
AU - Graefe, Alan R.
AU - Mowen, Andrew J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s)
PY - 2022/3
Y1 - 2022/3
N2 - Urban parks have been touted as spaces of diversity and democracy that have the potential to foster interracial contact among racially and ethnically diverse visitors. However, the extent to which they facilitate interracial contact and the factors related to contact are less understood. Using a quantitative panel study of racially and ethnically diverse U.S. urban residents (n = 931), this study investigated the influence of community diversity, motivations to visit parks, perceived engagement and representation, safety, and sense of welcome and belonging on interracial contact in urban parks. Results demonstrated more frequent and positive interracial contact when individuals perceived a greater sense of welcome and belonging and when they perceived more equitable engagement and representation. These results suggest that urban park agencies seeking to increase sense of welcome and belonging or frequency of positive interracial contact should focus on engagement and representation (as reflected through inclusive programs and events, input in decision making, and representation of racial and ethnic diversity) and safety.
AB - Urban parks have been touted as spaces of diversity and democracy that have the potential to foster interracial contact among racially and ethnically diverse visitors. However, the extent to which they facilitate interracial contact and the factors related to contact are less understood. Using a quantitative panel study of racially and ethnically diverse U.S. urban residents (n = 931), this study investigated the influence of community diversity, motivations to visit parks, perceived engagement and representation, safety, and sense of welcome and belonging on interracial contact in urban parks. Results demonstrated more frequent and positive interracial contact when individuals perceived a greater sense of welcome and belonging and when they perceived more equitable engagement and representation. These results suggest that urban park agencies seeking to increase sense of welcome and belonging or frequency of positive interracial contact should focus on engagement and representation (as reflected through inclusive programs and events, input in decision making, and representation of racial and ethnic diversity) and safety.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127517
DO - 10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127517
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85125114281
SN - 1618-8667
VL - 69
JO - Urban Forestry and Urban Greening
JF - Urban Forestry and Urban Greening
M1 - 127517
ER -