The Secret Ingredients

The PlayaroundNYC Map is the result of combining many different types of data into one unified visual representation of neighborhood playground support.

The first step was assigning playgrounds a quality rating. Currently quality is determined by nearness to major and minor truck routes. Major truck routes cause a slightly greater loss in quality than minor truck routes. Major truck routes affect playgrounds within 300 meters while minor truck routes only affect playgrounds within 200 meters. (Currently other kinds of traffic are not included, which means playgrounds near truck free highways like the FDR get a free pass.)

The second step involves sampling points regularly on the map. The nearest playgrounds, walking distance to these playgrounds, and the quality of these playground are then determined. These factors are combined to assign each point an overall rating which estimates how well that area is supported by playgrounds.

Next, the various support ratings are interpolated to generate the PlayaroundNYC playground support map.

What’s Missing

While the PlayaroundNYC Map provides a good overview to playground support within New York City, it is certainly not the final word on the matter.

There is the simple fact that data can never tell you the whole story (nothing can replace direct, real world experience). However, even in the confines of “the data” there are issues with the variety and depth of data applied to generate this map. It is important to note some of the places where the map falls short and where improvements can be made in the future.

• The map doesn’t take the population density into account. This means places like the Fresh Kills landfill are indicated as not being well served in playgrounds even though no one lives there (except mutants, and they don’t need playgrounds).
• Right now distances are “as the crow flies” not “as the stroller rolls”.
• Nearness to truck routes is the only factor determining the quality of a playground. The calculation of this statistic could be much more nuanced. The effects of other forms of traffic, pollution, type of playground equipment, playground/park inspection results as well as nearby facilities (e.g., bathrooms) can be incorporated as time permits and as this data becomes available.
• While walking is restricted to be intra-borough (with Queens/Brooklyn treated as a single entity), there is no distinction made between smaller islands and their parent mainland. This means the ratings on small islands do not take into account travel difficulty over water and vice-versa.