The role of urban parks in affecting health outcomes and the differences between vulnerable groups: Evidence from the central city of Beijing

Abstract

Urban parks have become a priority intervention for urban sustainability, but evidence of conducting urban park planning for public health and environmental justice is far from understood. Based on a case study in the central city of Beijing, this study estimated the area proportion of various green space types and the distribution characteristics within subdistricts, and conducted a series of multiple regression models to examine the role of urban parks in affecting health outcomes and the differences between vulnerable groups. The results indicated that urban parks had more significant health impacts than other green space types in terms of quantity, and were particularly important for older and low-income groups. For urban park distribution characteristics, accessibility was more important than availability and attractiveness in affecting health outcomes, especially for the older group. Specifically, urban park density and distance to urban parks were important for the older group, while the vegetation quality of urban parks only affected the health outcomes of the low-income group. The findings of this study suggest that urban parks should be given priority in green space planning practices, and that more accessible and free urban parks should be provided for public health and environmental justice.