A New Index to Estimate Playspace Inequity

Isaac Castillo
Kevin Paul
KABOOM!

Playspace inequity refers to the systemic lack of access to quality playspaces near where kids live and learn. Although literature points to systemic racial and economic disparities in access to playspaces, no high-quality national dataset of playspace inequity currently exists. Entities like park systems and school districts tasked with building and maintaining playspaces sometimes have incomplete or outdated data on their locations and quality. The playground-focused nonprofit KABOOM! created the Playspace Inequity Prioritization Index, which is a geospatial tool that helps estimate where playspace inequity is most likely occurring to better inform investment, maintenance, and programming decisions.