An Assessment of Neighborhoods Walkability within the City of Nogales, Arizona

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the walkability of neighborhoods surrounding six elementary schools in Nogales, Arizona. Methods: This descriptive study used a walkability tool to assess the walkability of the six neighborhoods in Nogales, Arizona. Evaluators used the tool to rank the following variables: high importance (pedestrian facilities, pedestrian conflicts, crosswalks), medium importance (maintenance, path size, buffer, universal accessibility, aesthetics), and low importance (shade). A mean and standard deviation for the total score from all schools was calculated and compared to a standard walkability score for good neighborhood walkability using a one sample t-test. Results: Walkability scores for each neighborhood ranged between 44.5 (Vasquez de Coronado Francisco) and 83 (Lincoln). There was no significant difference found for mean scores for high and low importance items. The mean score for buffer was significantly lower than other medium importance items (p<0.05). The total walkability score (67.4) for all schools was not significantly different from the standard walkability score (70). Conclusions: The neighborhoods surrounding elementary schools in Nogales, Arizona met walkability standards. Interestingly, the neighborhoods around older schools scored higher than those around newer schools.