Development and validation of a scale measuring public perceptions of racial environmental justice in parks

Abstract

Advancing engagement and representation of racially and ethnically diverse communities in parks is an increasing priority for addressing environmental injustices. However, to date, few quantitative tools exist to assess and monitor the effectiveness of such practices. This study included the development, testing, and validation of a new scale focused on three integrated factors reflecting multiple dimensions of racial environmental justice: Park Engagement, Procedural Participation, and Ethno-racial Representation (PEPPER). The PEPPER scale performed well in a Pennsylvania state level pilot sample (N = 611) and subsequently in a national sample (N = 1,212) of racially and ethnically diverse park users, exhibiting strong model fit in first and second order confirmatory factor analyses as well as measurement invariance by race/ethnicity and park user status. Findings provide evidence of the measure’s potential utility as a tool for capturing public perceptions of racial environmental justice in park contexts.