Examining Disparities in Walkability, Recreational Places and Aesthetics in the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts

Background: Walkability is a cornerstone of healthy and sustainable cities, yet research often emphasizes infrastructure while overlooking aesthetic and cultural features such as public art. These built environment components may not be equitably distributed across neighborhoods, raising concerns about disparities in access to health-promoting spaces.

Objective: This study examines whether sidewalks, recreational open spaces, pedestrian ramps, community gardens, and public art landmarks are equitably distributed across neighborhoods with differing levels of social vulnerability in Cambridge, Massachusetts (MA).

Methods: Using 2020 U.S. Census block groups as the unit of analysis, we integrated multiple geospatial datasets, including sidewalk polygons, recreational open spaces, pedestrian ramps, community gardens, and public art landmarks, and the overall Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). In QGIS, we calculated sidewalk coverage as the percentage of block group land area occupied by sidewalks, computed the total acreage of recreational open spaces, and counted the number of pedestrian ramps, community gardens, and public art landmarks per block group. These metrics were merged with SVI data. Statistical analyses in R Studio included descriptive comparisons, correlations, and regression models to test whether higher vulnerability was associated with lower walkability level, and fewer recreational and aesthetic amenities. 

Results: Across 87 block groups in Cambridge, MA, regression analyses showed that higher social vulnerability was positively associated with sidewalk coverage (β = 0.24, p = 0.04), indicating that more vulnerable neighborhoods had greater sidewalk presence. Conversely, social vulnerability was negatively but not significantly associated with open space acreage (β = –24.76, p = 0.087) and with pedestrian ramps (IRR = 0.62, p = 0.071). Community gardens and public art landmarks showed no significant associations with social vulnerability.

Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of considering both infrastructure and cultural features in equity-oriented walkability research. Findings can inform urban planning and public health strategies to reduce disparities in access to safe, walkable, and aesthetically enriched environments.