Green Space Equity & Environmental Justice: A Comparative Study between North St. James Town & High Park-Swansea Communities in Toronto

Abstract

In cities shaped by unequal development and growing environmental pressures, urban green spaces are increasingly recognized not just as aesthetic luxuries but as fundamental components of livable, healthy, and equitable communities. While public parks and naturalized areas linked to a wide range of social, mental, and ecological benefits, the accessibility and distribution of these spaces are often influenced by systemic inequities embedded in urban planning, land use policy, and neighborhood development trajectories. This thesis investigates these disparities by comparing two socioeconomically and spatially distinct communities, High Park-Swansea (HPS) and North St. James Town (NSJ). Guided by social‑ecological systems (SES), political ecology, and community‑based participatory research (CBPR), the study asks how social fabric and planning histories shape the equitable distribution and lived experience of public green space. The research investigates green space quality, accessibility, and use in each neighborhood, focusing on how socio‑economic status, density, infrastructure, and community engagement intersect to produce divergent relationships with urban nature. Drawing on 63 surveys and 24 in‑depth interviews, it employs inductive coding and narrative analysis to identify themes related to accessibility, inclusiveness, safety, ecological quality, and psychological well‑being. Findings show that access to green space is not defined by proximity or quantity alone but is closely tied to perceptions of safety, historical marginalization, and belonging. HPS emerges as a neighborhood with relatively high green space coverage, affluent demographics, and strong stewardship, while NSJ is characterized by dense high‑rise housing, constrained green infrastructure, and heightened social vulnerability. An analysis of Toronto’s green space policies indicates that comprehensive goals are often undermined by weak enforcement, a lack of spatially disaggregated values, and limited community‑oriented design standards, contributing to a spatial politics of exclusion. Moreover, it explores how Toronto’s green space policies, while comprehensive on paper, often lack enforcement mechanisms, spatially disaggregated benchmarks, and community-oriented design standards. By mapping community narratives to broader structural trends, the study reveals how planning practices, past and present, contribute to a spatial politics of exclusion where certain communities are underserved by design. In doing so, it informs concrete recommendations for municipal planners, including the development of neighborhood-level green space equity indicators, integration of community-informed design criteria in development approvals, and policy tools that ensure green infrastructure investment is responsive to local needs. These insights hold relevance beyond the context of Toronto, contributing to global conversations on urban sustainability, environmental justice, and inclusive planning decisions.