Access To Green Space Research Articles

Effective or useless? Assessing the impact of park entrance addition policy on green space services from the 15-min city perspective

This study investigates an innovative approach to enhance urban green space access by adding new park entrances rather than expanding the green space itself, aiming for sustainable urban development. Taking Shenzhen as a case study, we first developed a universal framework to identify potential locations for new entrances and used network analysis in ArcGIS to quantify green service improvements. Then, under the 15-min city concept, the impact on green accessibility and equity was assessed using the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method and Gini coefficient analysis. Results indicate that (1) new entrances enabled 21.10% of residents to access parks with an average reduced travel distance of 214.71 m, and increased the population within a 15-min walk to parks by 7.34%. (2) This strategy proved cost-effective, serving 27.66% of residents at 1/38 the cost of creating new green spaces. (3) Furthermore, the accessible green area within a 15-min walking or cycling increased by 0.18 km2 and 1.42 km2, respectively, without affecting green equity. Our findings support the policy of adding park entrances as a feasible and efficient urban strategy, supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 11, and the policy can be implemented across almost cities.

Disaggregation of Green Space Access, Walkability, and Behavioral Risk Factor Data for Precise Estimation of Local Population Characteristics.

Social and Environmental Determinants of Health (SEDH) provide us with a conceptual framework to gain insights into possible associations among different human behaviors and the corresponding health outcomes that take place often in and around complex built environments. Developing better built environments requires an understanding of those aspects of a community that are most likely to have a measurable impact on the target SEDH. Yet data on local characteristics at suitable spatial scales are often unavailable. We aim to address this issue by application of different data disaggregation methods. We applied different approaches to data disaggregation to obtain small area estimates of key behavioral risk factors, as well as geospatial measures of green space access and walkability for each zip code of Allegheny County in southwestern Pennsylvania. Tables and maps of local characteristics revealed their overall spatial distribution along with disparities therein across the county. While the top ranked zip codes by behavioral estimates generally have higher than the county's median individual income, this does not lead them to have higher than its median green space access or walkability. We demonstrated the utility of data disaggregation for addressing complex questions involving community-specific behavioral attributes and built environments with precision and rigor, which is especially useful for a diverse population. Thus, different types of data, when comparable at a common local scale, can provide key integrative insights for researchers and policymakers.

Nature-based climate shelters? Exploring urban green spaces as cooling solutions for older adults in a warming city

As cities grapple with the escalating challenges of urban heat and its impacts on vulnerable populations, particularly older adults, green spaces are increasingly promoted as effective urban cooling solutions. However, despite the extensive literature on people’s access to and preferences for urban green spaces, little is known about the perception and use of these spaces as nature-based climate shelters on hot days, especially by older adults. This study focuses on Barcelona, a Mediterranean city facing rising temperatures, to explore older adults' patterns of use and preferences for urban green spaces on hot days. The research aims to: 1) analyze heat coping behaviors, emphasizing visits to urban green spaces; 2) identify crucial characteristics of green spaces for older adults; and 3) assess variations in behaviors and preferences based on socio-demographic factors. The study leverages survey data from 291 older adult residents, combining face-to-face and online formats. Results indicate that 54 % of older adults use urban green spaces for cooling on hot days, with preferences for morning or evening visits. Factors influencing non-visitation include perceived lack of thermal comfort, noisiness or crowdedness, and proximity issues. Alternative heat coping strategies include staying at home, traveling to cooler areas outside the city, visiting blue spaces, or air-conditioned indoor facilities. Preferred green space characteristics include abundant shade, leafy vegetation, accessibility factors (e.g., walkability), urban furniture (e.g., benches), and water features. Socio-demographic differences reveal higher green space use among younger age groups and residents in certain districts. Mobility limitations and lower education levels influence preferences, with mobility-challenged individuals prioritizing accessibility aspects. Lower-educated respondents are more likely to report barriers to accessing green spaces. These findings highlight the need for tailored urban planning strategies, considering sociodemographic variations, to mitigate heat-related health risks for older adults. By prioritizing green space accessibility, enhancing its quality, promoting its cooling benefits, addressing cooling inequalities and integrating climate considerations in urban green planning, cities facing increasingly pressing heat challenges can create climate-resilient and inclusive green environments that prioritize the well-being of their aging populations.

Urban green space access, social cohesion, and mental health outcomes before and during Covid-19

Physical activity offers significant mental health and social wellbeing benefits but social distancing and quarantine requirements during the pandemic along with disparities in access to parks and other urban green spaces limited the ability of some to pursue outdoor activities like recreational walking, jogging, or hiking. This paper asks: (1) how access to different types of urban green space varies by race and income, (2) how green space usage changed, and (3) how greenspace usage impacted mental health during the early phase of the pandemic. Using data from a household survey as well as anonymized GPS data generated by mobile devices, we explore these question in Richmond, Virginia. At the pandemic's onset, visits to green spaces declined regionally, but increased for low-income groups as a proportion of all visits. Structural equation modeling results suggest that mental health was directly influenced by social cohesion and race, with evidence of an indirect effect of greenspace usage on mental health through its impact on social cohesion. Social cohesion's effect on mental health was positive while respondents who identified as White were less likely to report positive mental health. We also find a strong, positive effect of greenspace use and satisfaction on social cohesion.

Is ward-level calculation of urban green space availability important?—A case study on Vellore city, India, using the histogram-based spectral discrimination approach

How much green space is available for individuals is a major question that city planners are generally interested in, and the present study aimed to address this issue in the context of Vellore, India, through two approaches, namely, the per capita and the geographical area approach. In existing studies, urban green space (UGS) was only calculated at the macro level, i.e., for the city as a whole. Micro-or ward-level analysis was not attempted before, and the present study carried out the same to get a clear picture of the amount of greenery available in each ward of a city. For this purpose, a two-step approach was proposed where the histograms of Google Earth (GE) images were analyzed first to check whether the green cover types such as trees, shrubs/grassland, and cropland were spectrally different. Then, classification techniques such as ISODATA, maximum likelihood, support vector machine (SVM), and object-based methods were applied to the GE images. It was found that SVM performed well in extracting different green cover types with the highest overall accuracy of 93% and Kappa coefficient of 0.881. It was found that when considering the city as a whole, the amount of UGS available is 42% of the total area, which is more than the recommended range of 20–40%. Similarly, the available UGS per person is 97.84 m2, which is far above the recommended 12 m2/person. However, the micro-level analysis revealed that some of the wards have not satisfied the criteria of per capita and percentage area, though the city as a whole has satisfied both the criteria. Thus, the results indicate the importance of calculating the urban green space availability at the ward level rather than the city level as the former gives a closer look at the surplus and deficit areas. The results of terrestrial LiDAR survey at individual tree level revealed that if trees are located adjacent to buildings or roads, it results in fewer heat islands compared to the case where there are no trees.

Place-Based Differences in the Association Between Greenspace and Suicide-Related Outcomes Among Young People

PurposeThis study investigated place-based differences in the association between greenspace and suicide-related outcomes (SROs) among young people, guided by the following two objectives: (1) Contextualize place-based differences in the association between greenspace and SRO prevalence among young people at the community level in five different urbanities (urban, suburban, micropolitan, small towns, and rural/isolated communities) and (2) identify which greenspace metrics (quantity, quality, or accessibility) are most protective for SROs at the community level. MethodsPublicly available greenspace datasets were used to derive greenspace quantity, quality, and accessibility metrics. SRO emergency department visits for young people were identified from 2016–2019 in North Carolina, USA. Generalized linear models investigated the association between greenspace metrics and community-level drivers of SRO prevalence. Shapely additive explanations confirmed the most important greenspace variables in accurately predicting community-level SRO prevalence. ResultsThe prevalence of SROs was highest in communities with the least amount of public greenspace; this association was most pronounced in suburban communities, with SROs 27% higher in suburban communities with low quantities of greenspace (PRRUrban: 1.11, confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–1.13; PRRSuburban: 1.27, CI: 1.10–1.46; PRRSmallTowns: 1.21, CI: 1.05–1.39), and in communities with the worst greenspace accessibility (i.e., furthest distance to nearest greenspace) (PRRUrban: 1.07, CI: 1.04–1.10; PRRRural&Isolated: 1.95, CI: 1.54–2.49). DiscussionOur analysis provides place-based, community-specific findings to guide targeted greenspace interventions aimed at addressing the rising prevalence of SROs among young people. Our findings suggest that greenspace quantity interventions may be most effective in urban, suburban, and small-town communities, and greenspace accessibility interventions may be most useful in urban and rural/isolated communities.

Association of Psychiatric Emergency Visits and Warm Ambient Temperature during Pregnancy: A Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Study.

Acute exposure to high ambient temperature and heat waves during the warm season has been linked with psychiatric disorders. Emerging research has shown that pregnant people, due to physiological and psychological changes, may be more sensitive to extreme heat, and acute exposure has been linked to increased risk of pregnancy complications; however, few studies have examined psychiatric complications. Our objective was to examine the association between acute exposure to warm ambient temperatures and emergency department (ED) visits for mental disorders during pregnancy. A time-stratified case-crossover design with conditional logistic regression was performed on psychiatric ED visits for pregnant patients in North Carolina, from May to September 2016 to 2019. Daily average ambient temperature was the main exposure and was linked to daily visits by maternal zip code of residence for prenatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD), severe mental illness (SMI), mental disorder of pregnancy (MDP), suicidal thoughts (SUIC), and any psychiatric disorder (Any). Effect modification by trimester, residential segregation, economic segregation, urbanicity, and availability of greenspace was also investigated. Each increase in same-day exposure to warm ambient temperature on case days was associated with an increase in incidence rate ratio (IRR) for any psychiatric disorder [IRR = 1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.14] including anxiety (IRR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.30), bipolar disorder (IRR = 1.28; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.67), and suicidal thoughts (IRR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.65) compared to control days. In general, the associations were strongest for warm season temperatures on the same day of exposure or for temperatures averaged over the 3 or 6 d preceding the ED visit. The greatest risk of an incident ED admission for PMAD (RR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.39), particularly for anxiety (RR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.59), and any psychiatric disorder (RR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.28) occurred following cumulative exposure to hot temperatures the week before admission. Higher psychiatric burden from temperature was observed in urban areas and on extreme heat days. For this pregnant population in the southeastern United States, short-term exposure to high ambient temperatures during the warm season was associated with a greater risk of ED visits for an array of psychiatric disorders. Findings show that climate-related increases in ambient temperature may contribute to psychiatric morbidity in pregnant people. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13293.

GIS Application For Mapping and Analyzing Urban Green Open Spaces (Case Study of Sragen City)

Abstract Green open space in cities is one of the environmental controls. In residential spatial planning, green open space is very necessary in the form of green belts and passive or active parks. Sustainable development must be supported by adequate residential green space, which must fulfill the function of absorbing CO2, increasing the volume of groundwater and being useful as a flood controller. The availability of green open space for the community can increase the aesthetic value of a city’s environmental area and can function as an economic value [9]. This research aims to determine the extent of green open space in Sragen City. From this research, we can analyze the development and need for green open space in Sragen City to study and develop a green city and a balanced environment. This research is aimed at understanding the area of green open space in Sragen City. From this research, we can analyze the development and need for green open space in Sragen City to study and develop a green city and a balanced environment. Sufficiency of green open spaces Needs Based on Area and City Area Sragen City’s green open spaces do not meet the minimum requirement of 30%. Of the green open space, the city forest managed by environmental services is included in it with an area of 2,500 m2. However, Sragen City’s green open space looks large because it includes moorlands, residential forests, state forests, and ponds. Meanwhile, 130.17 Ha is land managed by the Sragen City Regency Government. This research uses primary and secondary methods. To obtain a map of the green open space area of the research area, Quickbird image analysis is required. From the results of the research, it was concluded that the management and efforts to provide sufficient green open space were adequate, but in terms of area, the proportion of green open space that was determined was still not sufficient. There are seven types of green open space in Sragen City, namely in the form of urban forest green open space, green lane green open space for roads, pedestrian, open space, river border green open space, cemetery green open space, private and community property building green open space, as well as plantation and resident’s yard green open space.

Valuing urban green spaces for enhanced public health and sustainability: A study on public willingness-to-pay in an emerging economy

Statement of problemRapid urbanization threatens urban green spaces (UGS), impacting ecological sustainability and public health. Research gapThere is a notable research gap in understanding public willingness to pay (WTP) for UGS in developing countries, including Brazil, which this study addresses. PurposeThis study aims to explore the association between public WTP for UGS and the recognition of their health benefits in Brazil, contributing to urban sustainability and public health. MethodEmploying a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates statistical quantitative analysis of WTP through surveys with qualitative insights into public perceptions of UGS benefits. Results and conclusionsThe findings reveal a significant willingness among the public to pay for UGS, driven by the recognition of their health benefits. The study underscores the importance of UGS for urban well-being and sustainability, highlighting a strong correlation between health benefits recognition and WTP. Practical implicationsThe results inform urban planners and policymakers of the critical value placed on UGS by the public, suggesting the need for inclusive urban development policies that prioritize green space accessibility and maintenance. Future directionsFurther research is recommended to explore innovative funding mechanisms for UGS to ensure equitable access and sustainability, alongside the impact of educational programs on public support for UGS.

Impact of Outdoor Recreation Programs on Mental Health in Tanzania

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of outdoor recreation programs on mental health in Tanzania. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study show that programs, often designed to immerse individuals in nature through activities like hiking, camping, and outdoor sports, have been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Engaging with nature fosters a sense of calmness and relaxation while promoting physical activity, which in turn contributes to improved mood and overall well-being. Moreover, participation in outdoor recreation programs encourages social interaction and a sense of belonging, which are crucial factors in combating loneliness and enhancing mental resilience. Studies also indicate that spending time outdoors can lead to increased mindfulness and a greater appreciation. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Biophilia hypothesis, attention restoration theory and stress reduction theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing impact of outdoor recreation programs on mental health in Tanzania. Designing outdoor recreation programs that are tailored to the specific needs and preferences of target populations can optimize their effectiveness. Implementing policies that prioritize the preservation and accessibility of green spaces in urban and rural areas is crucial for promoting mental health at the population level.

Environmental Justice in the Context of Access to Urban Green Spaces for Refugee Children

Accessible and high-quality urban green space (UGS) can provide significant benefits to refugee children for their development, health, and well-being. However, few studies have examined the actual accessibility of UGS from refugee children’s perspectives (i.e., with restricted walking radius, particular vulnerability towards barriers such as traffic infrastructures and disconnected road forms) and related them with other environmental or social burdens under the context of environmental justice. It is necessary to explore related evidence and investigate the underlying causes since refugee facilities are primarily located in areas with restricted social and environmental resources strongly related to attributes of environmental justice. This paper investigated (1) availability, accessibility, and attractiveness of UGS in 30 refugee accommodation locations in Berlin using GIS and Space Syntax, (2) environmental burdens using the Berlin Atlas of Environmental Justice, and (3) neighbourhood characteristics. Findings indicate that 63% of refugee accommodations have availability of green space that is above average official standards, but from refugee children’s perspectives, 60% of the locations have limited access to UGS, lower attractive green spaces, and most locations face multi-environmental burdens. Currently, little guidance focuses on ensuring equal access to and the usability of UGS for specific socioeconomic and demographic groups, such as refugee children. Therefore, this paper has contributed empirical materials to begin such research and develop inclusive decision-making strategies in environmental and health policy to ensure the provision and high quality of UGS for refugee children who need it.

Multi-method analysis of urban green space accessibility: Influences of land use, greenery types, and individual characteristics factors

Urban green spaces (UGS) are an important foundation for supporting sustainable urban development and benefiting the well-being of residents. However, access to green spaces is a complex and dynamic process. Existing studies have mainly used a single method to assess UGS accessibility, and research on influencing factors has less focused on a multi-variable perspective. In this study, we innovatively integrated four methods—Container, Distance, Gravity, and 2SFCA—to assess UGS accessibility at the LSOA level in Inner London. We examined the impact of urban land use patterns, green space types, and individual characteristics on UGS accessibility. Then, Spearman's correlation analysis and the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model were used to check the relationship between multiple variables with UGS accessibility. The main findings are as follows: (1) The UGS accessibility results based on the multi-method reflect the variation in the distribution of UGS in Inner London, with more than 80% of LSOAs having below-average UGS accessibility; (2) UGS accessibility is significantly influenced by multiple factors, particularly race, income, education, crime, office, residential, and non-park (multiple green space types beyond parks). This study highlights inequalities in UGS accessibility and suggests strategies for policymakers to improve the integration of UGS in urban planning.

Psychological ownership to enhance public green space loyalty

Urban nature is increasingly acknowledged as being one of the suppliers of citizen health and well-being. However, currently, many publicly accessible green spaces (GS) remain underused. The present study (N = 232) examines the impact psychological ownership (PO) can have on GS attendance intention and attendance behavior (GS loyalty) while controlling for place attachment (PA). Contrary to previous research, PA showed no significant impact on GS loyalty, but an increase in PO was significantly and positively related to both intentional and behavioral loyalty. If PA is one of the most studied attitudinal factors in place loyalty research, results suggest that people's sense of PO has a potentially more interesting role to play when trying to enhance GS attendance, although PA should probably not be overlooked to move an individual from intention to action.

Towards a better understanding of capitalization of urban greening: Examining the interactive relationship between public and club green space accessibility

With the inequalities in accessing urban green space being intensified worldwide, the capitalization of urban green space (UGS) is increasingly becoming an important concern for achieving inclusive and sustainable urban development. Although the relationship between greening and capital investment has been widely investigated, little is known about the role of residential club green space in the capitalization of urban greening, particularly in cities with well-established markets for gated communities (GCs). To address this gap, this study put together multiple official data and open data to systematically examine the interrelation between club green space and urban parks in terms of accessibility and affordability. The results demonstrate that club green space profoundly influences residents' daily exposure to urban green space, particularly for walking modes. Additionally, residents’ general willingness to pay for accessing UGS may create a mutually reinforcing effect between club green space and urban parks. As the housing premiums reflect, club green space complements high-level parks (city and district parks) but substitutes small-scale parks (community and pocket parks). Park quality and neighborhood population density may amplify the substitution effect of club greens, while the level of neighborhood aging shows a contrary effect and is reflected mainly in walking accessibility. Foregrounding the often-overlooked residential club green space in UGS studies, this research offers a novel and useful perspective to enrich the understanding of capitalization of urban green spaces, especially in GCs-dominated urban contexts, thus informing green space planning and policy-making.

An assessment of urban park accessibility using multi‐source data in Hefei, China: A social equity perspective

AbstractUrban parks are vital to enhance human well‐being and encourage sustainable urban development. However, the supply–demand match between the layout of urban parks and various social groups needs to be addressed. Therefore, this study quantitatively evaluates urban park accessibility using house‐level data from the social equity perspective in Hefei, China. A real‐time navigation route measurement based on the Amap application programming interface was taken advantage of to calculate green space travel time costs‐accessibility, and a combination of the Gaussian‐based two‐step floating catchment area method and measurement model to analyze supply–demand accessibility. On the other hand, housing price was used to indicate dwellers' socioeconomic status. The Gini coefficient, Lorenz curve, and bivariate correlation were adopted to explore the inequality of green space accessibility among residential communities. The results reveal a spatial inequality of green space between communities in the central portion of the Hefei and those in peri‐urban areas. We further found a spatial mismatch between green space resources and population distribution. At the same time, there is a significant correlation between green space accessibility and housing prices, which means the disadvantaged urban strata with low economic income face a supply shortage, while wealthier communities benefit more from green space accessibility. Hence, based on the evaluation results, the author proposes feasible optimization strategies for constructing urban parks in Hefei and can inform policy decisions regarding future park construction.

Urban Green Spaces’ Influence on Civilization Diseases—Meta-Analysis and Critical Review

This study investigates the influence of urban green spaces on the prevalence of overweight/obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. The search was run in the PUBMED database, using the search algorithm including combinations of keywords associated with the two concepts: civilization health problems and urban green spaces. A meta-analysis (for 48 studies) and critical review (for 26 studies) were performed. The meta-analysis results show that the presence, accessibility, and quality of green spaces are associated with the decreased prevalence of overweight/obesity (OR 0.86 (95% CI 0.77–0.95), p < 0.001, I2 99.7%), diabetes (OR 0.83 (95% CI 0.79–0.87), p < 0.001, I2 67.5%), and hypertension (OR 0.77 (95% CI 0.63–0.92), p < 0.001, I2 84.9%). In the children population, the influence of green spaces on overweight is unequivocal (OR 0.88 (95% CI 0.72–1.03), p < 0.001, I2 99.6%) and there is no influence on diabetes control. A green space’s direct influence on systolic or diastolic blood pressure is unequivocal. A green space is associated with a decreased prevalence of civilization diseases. Its positive influence, however, is not so strong in children. The short-term influence of green spaces on blood pressure (e.g., taken as a proxy for mental stress) is unequivocal.

Revealing urban greenspace accessibility inequity using the carrying capacity-based 3SFCA method and location big data

Equitable access to greenspace is increasingly essential for sustainable cities worldwide. However, the traditional 2SFCA (Two-Step Floating Catchment Area) method ignores the match between recreation visits and carrying capacity and thus fails to detect the greenspace accessibility inequality. We measured the greenspace capacity based on location big data and further proposed a 3SFCA-based measurement method for the accessibility inequality of greenspaces. The results demonstrated that (1) the carrying capacity (carrying area and greenspace type) is the main driving factor for greenspace accessibility; (2) the spatial inequality (Gini coefficient=0.67) in the greenspace accessibility existed at three scales (community > subdistrict > district); (3) the high demand for comprehensive parks by residents leads to general inequalities in greenspace access, while the low supply of community parks causes unequal access to greenspaces for disadvantaged groups; (4) 2SFCA overestimated 85 % of the greenspace recreation carrying area, leading to a significant overestimation of the community park accessibility and disadvantaged groups’ accessibility to greenspaces; (5) the 3SFCA revealed that the visitor number (2,993 p) exceeded the carrying capacity (2,987 p) of greenspaces, and community parks faces interference from recreational usage. These findings help to plan more equitable greenspaces and promote sustainable development in cities and society.

Pathways linking greenspace to behavioural problems in Polish children

BackgroundPrevious cross-sectional studies have found a beneficial relationship between greenspace and children's behaviour. Nevertheless, evidence on the mechanisms underlying this association remains scant. We examined whether the availability of greenspace was related to fewer behavioural problems in Polish children and investigated potential mechanisms. MethodsData were obtained from the case-control NeuroSmog study, in which children with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were tested from October 2020 to September 2022. The analytic sample comprised 679 children aged 10–13 years. Parents reported internalizing, externalizing, and total behavioural problems using the Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL), as well as information about the presence of a domestic garden and potential mediators: greenspace perception, neighbourhood social cohesion, and physical activity. Tree and grass covers were extracted in 500 m and 1 km buffers around lifelong residences. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine the psychosocial pathways linking the greenspace metrics to behavioural problems. ResultsGreenspace was only indirectly related to fewer behavioural problems. Specifically, tree cover was related to greater levels of physical activity which, in turn, was related to fewer internalizing and total behavioural problems. Tree cover and presence of garden were related to greenspace perception which, in turn, was associated with higher neighbourhood social cohesion which, in turn, was linked to fewer behavioural problems. The patterns of associations in children without ADHD were very similar to those in the full sample except that the associations from garden to greenspace perception and from physical activity to total behavioural problems were no longer significant. The only association persisted among girls was from neighbourhood social cohesion to behavioural problems and among boys were from tree cover to physical activity and tree cover and garden to greenspace perception. ConclusionTrees and garden, but not grass, are linked to fewer behavioural problems through greenspace perception, neighbourhood social cohesion, and physical activity in Polish children.

Urban Green Space Research Progress and Hotspots Evolution Analysis: Visual Analysis based on WOS

Background and objective: Over the past few decades, urban green space research has emerged as a pivotal field within urban planning, ecology, and environmental science, achieving substantial advancements. This study endeavors to elucidate the trajectory of development and evolving hotspots in urban green space research through a visual analysis of the Web of Science (WOS) database.Methods: This study employs CiteSpace software to visualize the dataset, encompassing the analysis of keywords, abstracts, institutions, authors, references, and more, presenting the knowledge structure graphically. Additionally, it utilizes the LLR tag extraction algorithm to generate a keyword co-occurrence map and conduct clustering and grouping.Results: The findings reveal that the preeminent contributors in urban green space research include Haase, Dagmar, and Nizamani, Mir Muhammad. Furthermore, the collaborative network among researchers underscores the significance of interdisciplinary and cross-border cooperation in advancing urban green space research. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identifies prevalent themes such as land surface temperature and health, highlighting the current focal points of urban green space research.Conclusion: This study discerns heightened attention to topics encompassing the thermal environment, ecosystem services, biodiversity, green space accessibility, and vegetation. These themes mirror societal concerns regarding the influence of urban green spaces on climate change and spatial planning, thereby delineating avenues for future research.

Resident Preferences for Urban Green Spaces in Response to Pandemic Public Health Emergency: A Case Study of Shanghai

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a quintessential public health crisis, profoundly impacting the utilization patterns of urban green spaces through stringent quarantine and lockdown measures. However, existing research inadequately addresses specific concerns regarding future urban green spaces and tends to oversimplify population divisions. This study delves into the needs and preferences of Shanghai residents affected by the pandemic and quarantine measures, focusing on various aspects such as specific types of green spaces, facilities, landscape elements, and landscape and spatial types. Multifactorial population clustering was also performed. This study delineates the following conclusions: (1) It is imperative to afford residents access to green spaces at least once a week, even during quarantine periods. (2) Residents exhibited a preference for accessible green spaces equipped with essential amenities, favoring unobstructed vistas and plant-centric ecological landscapes during the pandemic. Additionally, there is a notable preference for private green spaces among residents. (3) Post-pandemic, the “affluent” group displays a heightened overall demand for green spaces, the “middle-class” group shows a conspicuous inclination towards specific green space landscape elements, while the “low-income” group consistently exhibits a low preference for green spaces during and after the pandemic. This study underscores the necessity of developing human-centric green spaces to promote equity and resilience in the face of future emergencies, rooted in residents’ preferences amidst public health crises.