Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Committee Chair/Advisor
Aby Sene-Harper
Committee Member
Corliss Outley
Committee Member
Charles Chancellor
Committee Member
Kristen Duncan
Abstract
Outdoor recreation has proven beneficial for youth, providing mental, social, and physical health benefits that last a lifetime. However, there is a gap in Black and Brown youth's participation in structured outdoor activities due to a multitude of structural factors. An overarching systemic factor that has affected these youths' participation in outdoor recreation is Gentrification, and its derivative, Green Gentrification, which specifically refers to how green amenities and infrastructure drive displacement of long-term communities. As a result of the displacement, Black and Brown youth are placed in a society where they are forced to navigate spaces that were intentionally designed against them. The purpose of this research is to examine how gentrification has shaped the experiences of Black and Brown youth in structured outdoor recreation and how recreational professionals have learned to navigate and adapt to these changes in their roles. The literature review provides a history of the racialized landscape in Greenville, as well as racialized spacing, gentrification, and Black and Brown communities' experiences in outdoor recreational activities. Overall, this dissertation will use a spatial analysis to better understand how gentrification has affected Black and Brown youths' experiences in outdoor recreation, as well as the recreation professionals tasked with planning and programming for a shifting demographics.
Recommended Citation
Smith, Cameron, "Reimagining Access: Gentrification, Race and Youth Engagement in Outdoor Recreation" (2026). All Dissertations. 4255.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/4255