Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Urban greenspaces are critical to health promotion, wellbeing, and social connection, yet access remains inequitable, particularly for racialized and marginalized communities. This research examines systemic barriers to greenspace access that perpetuate social and health inequities in cities. The Park Perceptions and Racialized Realities project centers the lived experiences of racialized residents in underserved neighborhoods in Toronto, Canada. Using participatory, arts-based methodologies, such as photovoice and collaborative sensemaking, the project co-creates knowledge with communities to address environmental justice challenges. Findings reveal that while greenspaces hold significant potential for mental health promotion, social connection, and community resilience, access is hindered by exclusionary planning, systemic racism, and structural inequities. Participants highlighted persistent issues, including safety concerns, uneven greenspace maintenance, and exclusion from decision-making processes. This presentation explores actionable, co-created recommendations to inform urban policy, planning, and public health processes that center equity, inclusion, and systemic change. Strategies like Green Social Prescribing are discussed as innovative, community-led solutions to bridge health systems, urban planning, and nature-based interventions for marginalized populations. The work responds to CIHR's focus on health equity, integrated knowledge translation, and collaboration by fostering community partnerships that address social, environmental, and structural determinants of health. By prioritizing equity-driven, intersectional approaches, this research advances strategies to promote inclusive, accessible, and health-promoting urban greenspaces. The project shows how community-engaged methodologies can transform policies and systems to create healthier, more equitable environments for all, particularly those facing systemic exclusion.