Full Citation

Title: Examining Environmental Justice in Context of Federal and State Laws in Illinois: A GIS-Based Case Study

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2016

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Abstract: This study used GIS-based spatial analysis to examine the sociodemographic patterns of census block groups in Illinois, particularly those within a 5 kilometer (5km) radius of federally and state owned outdoor recreation lands. Using the environmental justice framework, this study aimed to determine any possible inequalities in access to federally and stated owned outdoor recreation lands in Illinois. Sociodemographic variables of race, gender, median household income, median household value, median retirement income, education, and occupation were examined. The socio-demographics of census block groups within a 5 km radius of federally or state owned outdoor recreation lands were compared to census block groups outside the 5 km radius. The results show a stronger presence of a high income retired population, and a high income white non-college degree holding population within 5 km of federally or state owned outdoor recreation lands. These populations have the best access to the use and non-use benefits of outdoor recreation lands, while populations located further from these lands, such as minorities and low-income populations, have limited access, if any, to the use and non-use benefits of these lands.

Url: http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1098&context=nerr

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Newton, Jennifer N; Porter, Rob

Publisher: The Pennsylvania State University

Data Collections: IPUMS NHGIS

Topics: Land Use/Urban Organization, Other

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