Leeds and Bradford Parks Accessibility Index - User Guide

The Leeds and Bradford Parks Accessibility Index (PAI) provides a consistent framework for assessing and comparing accessibility across 54 parks. Built from individual survey responses collected through the Leeds and Bradford Access to Parks and Green Spaces Survey, aggregated to the park level and combined with spatial analysis, the index conceptualises accessibility through six dimensions (“the 6 A’s”: Availability, Accessibility, Accommodation, Affordability, Acceptability, and Awareness), grounded in users’ subjective experiences.

This user guide outlines the structure, interpretation, and appropriate application of the PAI, supporting practitioners and researchers in using the index to evaluate accessibility, identify inequalities, and inform decision-making. The guide emphasises transparent use of the index and its role in supporting evidence-based planning for more equitable parks and green space provision.