Assessing Equity in the Accessibility to Urban Green Spaces According to Different Functional Levels

Edorta Iraegui,Pedro Cabral,Gabriela Augusto

doi:10.3390/ijgi9050308

Edorta Iraegui, Pedro Cabral + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi9050308

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Abstract

Accessibility of urban residents to different services and amenities is a growing concern for policy makers. Urban green spaces (UGS) provide services and benefits that are particularly important for people having less mobility, such as children, the elderly or the poor. Practical experience has led to the classification of UGS in hierarchic systems reflecting the type and degree of benefits and services or functions they provide to users, which vary, primarily with their size. It is therefore necessary to ensure equity in the spatial distribution of different classes of UGS in the urban areas. In this work, we explore a methodology based in geographical information systems (GIS) to assess equity of access by different population groups to UGS according to its functional levels in the City of Barcelona, Spain, using a spatial clustering method. Results did not support the existence of overall inequalities in the access to UGS by the different groups of the population. However, indicators of spatial association revealed insufficiencies concerning accessibility to nearby UGS by seniors, children and the less wealthy in some parts of the city. This methodology may be used to inform urban planners dealing with the provision of UGS in an equitable manner to different socioeconomic groups of the resident population.

Highlights

Urban green spaces (UGS), such as parks, urban forests, public gardens or tree lined squares, are known to promote mental and physical health of urban residents [1,2]
In order to provide the urban residents with its benefits, UGS must be available and accessible, those offering possibilities of recreation, which are the main concern of this study
UGS accessibility is important for South European cities, such as Barcelona, where the aging demographics and climate conditions emphasize the importance of provisioning UGS for the local population

Summary

Introduction

Urban green spaces (UGS), such as parks, urban forests, public gardens or tree lined squares, are known to promote mental and physical health of urban residents [1,2]. UGS are green spaces in urban areas comprising a variety of vegetated spaces, both natural and semi-natural, from green balconies to urban forests [7]. Ecologists, economists, social scientists and planners, agree that UGS refers to open spaces in urban areas, primarily covered by vegetation, which are directly (e.g., active or passive recreation) or indirectly (e.g., positive influence on the urban environment) available for the users [9]. In order to provide the urban residents with its benefits, UGS must be available and accessible, those offering possibilities of recreation, which are the main concern of this study

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