Course:GEOG350/2026/Spatial Inequality: Access to Recreational Spaces

Total length: Approximately 3,200-3,500 words plus visualizations, references, and process reflection

Introduction & Context (~300 words) - henry

Introduce your topic and its significance to Vancouver
Situate it within broader urban geography themes from the course
Preview the wicked problem characteristics that make this challenge complex

Stakeholder Landscape (~400 words) [Empathize] - henry

Map the key stakeholders affected by this issue
Describe how different groups experience the challenge
Identify whose voices are typically centered and whose are marginalized
Include a stakeholder map visualization

Problem Framing (~500 words) [Define] - maggie

Wicked Statement

Accessing equitable recreational spaces within Vancouver is a wicked problem, as it goes beyond the distribution of parks and community centres to include social, cultural, and economic dimensions of access. However, there is no singular solution to this issue. While the framework from the VanPlay Strategic Plan identifies gaps in infrastructure, it often overlooks the lived experiences of exclusion that shape how different groups access and interact with these spaces. In particular, precariously housed populations are frequently excluded from planning processes, limiting their ability to influence decisions that directly impact their daily use of public space. These challenges are further compounded by historical inequalities, diverse stakeholder needs, and competing definitions of access, making it difficult to develop solutions that are equitable, inclusive, and sustainable for all communities.

The issue of inequitable recreational spaces within Vancouver is a wicked problem by being a symptom of other problems complying throughout the city. There are multiple factors involved, it is not just the geographical location but the histories of inequality which continue to reproduce disadvantages to certain demographics in the city. This page will highlight the important characteristics related to making this issue a wicked problem such as the deep connection to systemic inequalities, various stakeholders with varying perspectives, and there is no single, clear solution to this issue.

Lefebvre's "Right to the City" and Understanding Recreational Spaces

Henri Lefebvre (1996) theorized the idea of “right to the city” which explains that even though society progresses with cities growing as a hub of resources, jobs, technology, and innovation, they will decrease in accessibility for many people. Furthermore, Lefebvre (1996) emphasizes the need for inclusivity and accessibility within urban spaces. This theory is an important lens to use through the examination of spatial inequality in connection to recreational spaces within Vancouver.

Vancouver’s uneven distribution of trees, parks, infrastructure, and land use reflects historical patterns of investment shaped by class, race, and gender, resulting in persistent social and environmental inequalities (VanPlay, 2019). This connects to Lefebvre’s “right to the city” because it underscores the need for all residents to equally participate and shape urban life, including access to recreational spaces. There are significant factors of income, physical location, accessibility, demographics, infrastructure and transportation. While recreational spaces are important for physical and mental health, their quality, location, and accessibility vary widely across Vancouver, which creates inequalities between communities (Fitzgibbons, 2020). Therefore, addressing these disparities requires rethinking urban planning to ensure equitable access to recreational spaces and to uphold every resident’s right to fully participate in and benefit from the city.

How Might We Questions

Articulate 2-3 "How Might We" questions that guide your analysis

Vancouver Case Study (~800 words) [Prototype] - ben & maggie

Focus on a specific neighbourhood, project, or development

Background on the Downtown Eastside (DTES)

Certain neighbourhoods in Vancouver have fewer parks, recreation facilities, and programs compared to others, creating geographic inequalities where some communities have limited opportunities for recreation and social activities. The examination of this Wicked Problem in Vancouver will be a comparative analysis between the DTES and varying neighbourhoods in the city.

The DTES neighbourhood exemplifies how spatial inequality and unequal access to the city are produced through histories of colonialism, capitalism, and urban planning. As one of Vancouver’s earliest settled neighbourhoods, it became increasingly stigmatized as “Skid Row” following economic decline (Liu & Blomley, 2012). Additionally, the media continues to construct DTES as a “problematic space” reinforcing existing power relations in society and further stigmatizing the DTES community (Liu & Blomley, 2012). This area has been regarded as “Canada’s poorest urban neighbourhoods” and part of this is due to the planning which often excludes existing residents within this neighbourhood (Tolfo & Doucet, 2022). Yet, the discourse of the DTES from the lived experiences of people living and working there are different. This Opinion Piece from the Vancouver Sun, highlights the strong community among residents and importance of including the voices of minority demographics into the conversation.

Spatial inequality is closely tied to uneven access to recreational spaces, particularly for low-income and precariously housed residents in the DTES. The Downtown Eastside Social Impact Assessment highlights how redevelopment and rising land values reshape public space, often prioritizing new users over existing communities (City of Vancouver, 2014). Further, overlooking and disregarding the current population residing there. While amenities may increase, precariously housed individuals are frequently excluded from planning processes, limiting their ability to influence how these spaces are designed, accessed, and governed, and reinforcing inequitable access to the city.

Incorporate local data and spatial analysis
Analyze political, economic, and social forces at work
Include maps, charts, or visualizations of local data

Comparative Perspective (~400 words) - ben

Connect Vancouver's experience to other Canadian or global cities
What can Vancouver learn from elsewhere?
What makes Vancouver's situation distinctive?

Ideas for Urban Action (~500 words) [Ideate]

Present 2-3 evidence-based approaches or interventions
Acknowledge trade-offs and potential unintended consequences
Discuss which stakeholders might support or oppose each approach
Avoid presenting a single "solution"—emphasize that wicked problems require ongoing engagement

Conclusion & Reflection (~300 words)

Summarize key insights
Reflect on what you learned through the Design Thinking process
Identify questions that remain open for future inquiry

References & Data Sources

Properly cited academic sources and local data sources

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