Racialized residents facing systemic barriers in accessing Toronto greenspaces

The importance of greenspace was highlighted during the pandemic and a new report led by York University finds racialized residents face structural and systemic barriers to accessing Toronto’s greenspaces.

Eighteen racialized residents from Jane and Finch, along with St. James Town, took photographs as part of the study and is currently on display at Corner Commons, a Jane and Finch parking lot. The exhibit is meant to expose what’s lacking in greenspace in neighbourhoods that are predominantly filled with people of colour.

“I love greenspaces. I see that Jane and Finch has a ton of greenspaces that are being neglected to be quite honest,” says area resident Constance Boakye.

Boakye took part in the study, taking photographs of what she believes is wrong in her neighbourhood when it comes to public green areas, including a photo of a makeshift basketball court.

“As you can see, this is not really a place for a basketball net. However, because we want to be able to play, we want to have the resources in our community, they’ve come up with one where the kids can play and also have fun like other people in other communities,” she says.

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York University PhD candidate Nadha Hassen led the research project, helping to collect more than 200 photos and videos documenting resident’s experiences which highlighted issues of access, safety, inclusivity, mental health and well-being.

“This report is really about the fact that greenspaces are not created and maintained equally or equitably across neighbourhoods in Toronto,” says Hassen. “Specifically, if we think about people who are racialized, so Black, Indigenous and people of colour, we don’t all experience greenspace or public spaces in the same way.”

“We heard so much from residents that they need access to high-quality greenspace, benches that aren’t broken, basketball nets that aren’t messed up, having the amenities… that you actually have clean drinking fountains. This is not too much to ask for,” she adds.

Sayem Khan has been living in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood for more than 10 years.

“This community has been near and dear to me and my family and has given me everything,” says Khan.

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He adds he is grateful to call this place home and took a photo of a nearby ravine to share what has helped him through difficult times.

“This is something that I would want to showcase to people from all walks of life that we have this natural wonder in our community. Our community is a resilient and strong community, although they face numerous challenges because of socioeconomic status,” says Khan.

Some of the key findings identified by residents in the report include:

• Prioritizing equitable access to high-quality greenspaces in racialized neighbourhoods
• Ensuring the inclusion and maintenance of amenities that racialized residents are asking for
• Directing resources equitably
• Ensuring accountability by evaluating and tracking greenspace changes
• Winterizing outdoor public greenspaces and creating more free indoor community spaces that can be accessed during the cold season
• Improving safety for all, particularly for racialized women.

The goal is to discuss the report with decision makers to show them exactly what community members are seeing in their neighbourhood greenspaces and to bring real improvements.

“I wanted to showcase that there has been a lack of funding for this community and I wanted to showcase that there can be something that can be done,” says Boakye.