Greener, fairer cities: making parks accessible for all

From quiet local parks to vast city greenspaces, nature has the power to connect, restore, and inspire. Yet for many people, these spaces remain out of reach.  

Dr Jennie Gray is helping to change that through her work as Research Fellow for the GreenAWARE project — short for Green Access, Wellbeing, and Resident Equality. Developed by Dr Vikki Houlden (School of Geography) with co-investigator Dr Anna Barker (School of Law), GreenAWARE aims to uncover and address the barriers that prevent people — especially those from underrepresented communities — from accessing and enjoying local parks and greenspaces. “We want to make greenspaces feel safer, more welcoming, and inclusive for everyone, regardless of where they live or their background,” says Dr Gray. 

Re shaping the neighbourhood - access and Inclusion in greenspaces 

GreenAWARE uses a mixed-methods approach, combining survey data, focus groups, and spatial analysis to explore both the personal experiences and broader social patterns that shape who uses greenspaces — and who doesn’t. By analysing these patterns across Leeds and Bradford, the project seeks to identify not just where the barriers exist, but why they persist. 

Working closely with Leeds and Bradford City Councils, the GreenAWARE team hopes to translate research into real-world change — from safer, better-designed parks to community-led initiatives that make local greenspaces truly inclusive. 

We want to make greenspaces feel safer, more welcoming, and inclusive for everyone, regardless of where they live or their background.

For Dr Gray, the GreenAWARE project is a natural progression of a long-standing passion for understanding the social and spatial inequalities that shape neighbourhood life. 

During her PhD at the University of Leeds, she developed a new method for identifying and predicting spatial and temporal patterns of gentrification, uncovering how neighbourhoods evolve and who gets left behind. Later, she created the Cash Inclusion Index for England and Wales, analysing the availability of cashpoints in areas where populations were most vulnerable to becoming cashless. 

“My research has always focused on how inequality is embedded in the spaces we live in,” Dr Gray explains. “From access to financial services to access to nature — these are fundamental parts of what makes a neighbourhood liveable.” 

Her academic journey into greenspace accessibility began during her undergraduate and postgraduate studies, where she conducted spatial analyses of greenspace distribution and the social barriers that deter certain groups from using them. 

Now, returning to Leeds, Dr Gray is excited to focus once again on tackling inequalities — this time by addressing who benefits from nature in the cities of Leeds and Bradford. 

 

Towards safer parks and improving mental health 

At its heart, GreenAWARE is about amplifying community voices. The project draws directly on the experiences of local residents — through online and mailout surveys, as well as focus groups — to build an evidence base grounded in lived reality. 

By centring diverse perspectives, the team is revealing how factors such as race, gender, disability, age, and socioeconomic status intersect to shape how people experience greenspaces. 

Parks and greenspaces play a vital role in supporting mental health, physical activity, connection with nature, and a sense of belonging, 

The findings will help local councils, planners, and public health teams design policies and interventions that make parks safer, more inclusive, and more reflective of community needs. 

“Parks and greenspaces play a vital role in supporting mental health, physical activity, connection with nature, and a sense of belonging,” Dr Gray says. “But not everyone benefits equally. By identifying who faces barriers — and why — we can help design cities that serve everyone.” 

Beyond local change, the research will also inform future national policy, offering practical evidence for improving greenspace access across the UK. It’s a project with implications for urban planners, environmental justice advocates, and academics alike. 

“I’ve always been passionate about nature,” she reflects. “There’s something grounding about being surrounded by greenery and the sounds of wildlife. It’s incredibly rewarding to work on a project that helps more people experience that — especially those who currently face barriers.” 

Through GreenAWARE, Dr Jennie Gray and her colleagues are reimagining what equitable access to nature can look like — one park, one community, and one story at a time.

Main photo by Alex Simpson on Unsplash, graphic by Image by studiogstock on Freepik and feature photo by Nindya A A on Unsplash