DOCUMENTING LAND USE PRACTICES IN SOUTH KENSINGTON, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Alec Foster Normal, Illinois Alexander Olson Normal, Illinois Ian M. Dunham San Francisco State University, California Daniel Kunches Sierra Institute for Community and Environment, California Introduction Along with the distal nature that fuels cities' metabolism (Newell and Cousins), there is also local nature within cities. Although cities are often thought of as the antithesis of nature, in reality, they contain multiple natures across different scales, from single street trees and spontaneous vegetation sprouting from cracks in sidewalks to vast urban forests, parks, and wetlands (Bolund and Hunhammar). Indeed, in this century of cities, it is vital to ensure that the rapidly increasing urban populations, have access to urban nature due to the widespread social and ecological benefits it provides. Despite the importance of access to urban nature, parks, and greenspace, research has documented disparities in access to these urban environmental amenities based upon racialized and/or class- based demographics (Schwarz et al.; Boone et al.; Rigolon; Wen et al.). Differential access to these urban environmental amenities is an environmental justice issue, as fair access to resources is included in the Principles of Environmental Justice adopted in 1991 (First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit). As Pulido (2000) argues: “Coming to terms with white privilege compels researchers to understand not only how privilege repels environmental burdens, such as polluting industry, but also how it might attract more than its fair share of environmental amenities (p. 769).”