Distribution Of Urban Green Spaces Research Articles

Urban Green-Space: Environmental Justice & Green Gentrification

In cities across the world, both in the global South and North, the distribution of urban green spaces exhibits stark inequalities. Affluent neighborhoods are often graced with abundant, well-maintained parks and green areas, offering residents a higher quality of life and environmental benefits. In contrast, communities with lower incomes and minority populations frequently face a scarcity of such spaces, and the green areas they do have tend to be of lower quality. This disparity not only reflects broader social and economic inequities but also has significant implications for public health, environmental justice, and social cohesion. Efforts to rectify this imbalance, while well-intentioned, can inadvertently lead to gentrification. Improving green spaces in underserved neighborhoods often makes these areas more attractive to higher-income groups, driving up property values and living costs. This process can displace long-term, lower-income residents, ironically exacerbating the very inequalities such initiatives aim to address. The resulting gentrification can also lead to increased homelessness among the most vulnerable populations. Thus, urban planners and policymakers face a complex, paradoxical challenge: how to equitably enhance urban greenery without contributing to gentrification and the further marginalization of low-income communities. This dilemma underscores the need for inclusive, carefully considered strategies in urban environmental planning that prioritize the needs and voices of all residents, especially those in historically marginalized communities.

Inequalities in urban green space distribution across priority population groups: Evidence from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand

Growing evidence has shown that urban green space (UGS) in neighbourhoods can substantially enhance residents' well-being. This study focuses on the possible inequitable UGS distribution among priority population groups of city-dwellers in the region of Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa New Zealand. UGS availability was calculated using coverage ratio of service area and Overlap/cumulative opportunity. UGS accessibility was measured using Gaussian-based two-step floating catchment area. Bivariate analysis, spatial regression, ordinary least squares estimation, and Moran's I were employed to explore the potential inequality between UGS distribution and priority population groups. The results revealed that most deprived neighbourhoods tended to have more UGS availability but less accessibility. Children, adolescents and elderly were likely to have less potential opportunity to choose different UGS to visit. Areas with a higher proportion of Māori had less UGS availability and Pacific populations had less accessibility. Neighbourhoods with a higher proportion of Asian people had more UGS availability but less accessibility. This study adds new evidence to UGS inequality in priority population groups by contributing a regional investigation in a developed country. The results can inform policy makers and planners on where and how to implement UGS and on which groups to focus on to prevent further disparities.

Is the spatial distribution of urban green space associated with crime in Chicago?

During past decades, much progress has been made to elucidate the relationship between the quantity of urban green space and crimes, but less is known about how their spatial distribution is associated with crimes. Therefore, this study aims to understand how the composition and configuration of urban green space are related to crimes in metropolitan cities in the United States. Our study performed landscape analysis using 756 census tracts for violent crimes and non-violent crimes in Chicago from 2017 to 2021 while controlling socioeconomic status. Spatial lag models showed that tree canopies were negatively associated with crime rates, while grass areas were positively associated with crime rates. In terms of the spatial distribution, there were more crime incidents in irregularly shaped green spaces compared to reguraraly shaped green spaces. On the contrary, disconnected tree canopies were more likely to have lower crime rates. Aggregated (i.e., a single large) also tended to have less crime rates. The results of our study provide some evidence of the role of the spatial distribution of urban green space on crimes and shed light on the ways to reduce crimes through effective urban green space planning

Correction: Assessing the morphological distribution of urban green spaces for the future sustainable greenery planning: a case study of Penang, Malaysia

Correction: Assessing the morphological distribution of urban green spaces for the future sustainable greenery planning: a case study of Penang, Malaysia

Investigating equitable access of children and seniors to urban green spaces and its relationship with neighborhood walkability: a case study of Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT This study investigates the distribution of urban green spaces for children and seniors in Tehran, delving into their connection with demographic attributes and the walkability of neighborhoods. The findings reveal an unequal distribution, confirmed by the Gini index for children (0.57) and seniors (0.62). Moreover, the Multiple Regression Analysis revealed that the apartment occupancy rate (r = –0.19) and migrant rate (r = –0.13) were inversely correlated with seniors’ access to green spaces, whereas the employment rate (r = 0.16), intersection density (r = 0.27), and land use mix (r = 0.20) exhibited positive associations. Additionally, concerning children, the findings indicated positive correlations between intersection density (r = 0.25) and land use mix (r = 0.12) and their access to green spaces. These findings underscore the importance of adopting a co-benefits strategy and taking into account demographic characteristics and neighborhood walkability in urban planning and decision-making to ensure fair access to urban green spaces for vulnerable populations. Implementing strategies like establishing green spaces in areas with lower walkability and improving neighborhood connectivity can greatly improve the accessibility of urban green spaces for both children and seniors.

Spatio-temporal patterns and accessibility of green spaces in Kumasi, Ghana

Urban green spaces (UGS) are a central part of cities and offer multiple ecological and social benefits necessary for a higher quality of life of inhabitants. However, rapid unguided urban growth together with planning policies on rezoning can lead to transformation of UGS to commercial, residential, and other uses. These processes of land use change result in inequities in the distribution of UGS in the city. Yet, data and metrics that capture changes in the geography of UGS is scarce within African cities. This paper addresses this need by examining the spatio-temporal geography of UGS at the neighborhood-scale in Kumasi, the next biggest city in Ghana. Five (5) UGS distribution indicators were computed from remote sensing data for 2013 and 2020 and compared across neighborhoods. Further, a GIS network analysis method was deployed to analyse access to parks in Kumasi. The results showed that between 2013 and 2020, green spaces in Kumasi became fragmented and disconnected despite a slight increase in quantity. The level of UGS fragmentation was found to significantly vary among the neighborhoods. Fragmentation and depletion in UGS were profound at the outskirts of Kumasi while majority of the population cannot access the nearest park under 30-min’ walk. These findings contribute to a complete and holistic understanding of the distribution and accessibility of UGS at the neighborhood level in cities and disparities in UGS exposure in the Global South. The findings provide important insights for urban policies while the data and methods serve as blueprints for local authorities, particularly in Ghana to track their progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11, target 7.

Which green is more equitable? A study of urban green space equity based on morphological spatial patterns

Urban green space (UGS) is an important factor in sustainable urban development. However, cities often experience unequal access to UGSs during the process of development, due to factors such as shrinkage and spreading. Many cities worldwide are facing urban shrinkage, which may lead to the deterioration of urban spatial environments and aggravation of inequities. In addition, due to urban land and financial constraints, it is not possible to maintain UGS equity by simply increasing the number of UGSs. Therefore, it is necessary to explore what defines a reasonable UGS structure from an equity perspective to support sustainable urban development. In this study, the UGS equity index of Yokosuka City was measured using the Gini coefficient. Morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) was used to understand the morphological structure of UGSs in different regions and to transform them into potential structural classes. Finally, a UGS equity prediction model was constructed by ridge regression to provide a UGS morphological structure that is conducive to equitable UGS development. The main results indicate that 1) UGS inequity exists in Yokosuka; 2) no relationship was found between population decline and UGS inequity in Yokosuka; 3) UGS distribution is more equitable in towns with higher land values and population aging; 4) Islet, edge, loop, and branch components play an important role in the equitable development of UGS, and their corresponding potential UGS morphology is fragmentation, complexity, internal connectivity, and partial connectivity, respectively. This study further improves the analytical framework for describing the morphological structure of UGSs based on MSPA from a morphological perspective and provides a spatial morphological strategy to support the equitable development of UGSs.

Exploring the Spatial Relationship between Street Crime Events and the Distribution of Urban Greenspace: The Case of Porto, Portugal

In post-pandemic, climate-changing societies, the presence of urban greenspace assumes paramount functions, at the same time that socio-economic crises and shocks augment vulnerabilities and insecurities. The recent literature on environmental criminology argues that the geography of crime is not random, and that the presence of greenery, due to its impact on well-being and the environment, can have positive associations with feeling safe; although the opposite effect can occur if spaces are not properly designed or maintained. In this paper, the case study of Porto, Portugal, is presented; one of the municipalities with higher crime rates, that also pledged to double the available greenspace in the near future. As a way to support decision-making, the aim of this study was to present an overall exploratory diagnosis of how street crime patterns, of different typologies, spatially co-exist with greenspaces. Using a 10-year street crime dataset at the segment level, descriptive quantitative methods with the support of GIS have been applied to plot crime’s spatial distribution over time, as well as the walking accessibility to greenspaces. The results confirm crime’s geographical non-randomness, with distinct categories occupying specific locations, even though there was a consistently proportional distribution in the different distance bands. On the contrary, the cumulative effect of the proximity to greenspaces was variable. Almost half of the city’s street crimes (46%) were within a 5 min walking distance of greenspaces, but they were much closer to smaller inner-city urban gardens, with higher densities of street crimes (hot spots), than to larger municipal parks, where lower densities (cold spots) were seen.

Assessing Distributional and Perceived Equity of Urban Green Spaces in Qingdao’s Historic Urban Area

Urban green spaces (UGSs) satisfy citizens’ physical and psychological demands and are considered an integral part of sustainable urban development. However, the distribution of UGS is often uneven, especially in historic urban areas with high building density and limited facilities, thus leading to issues of green inequity. This study examines two dimensions of green equity in Qingdao’s historic urban area, distributional equity and perceived equity, based on a fine-grained division of units and districts. Distributional equity is analyzed using the Gaussian two-step floating catchment area (G2SFCA) method and Gini coefficient to accurately calculate the equity in distribution and accessibility of UGSs. The perceived equity is assessed through the green view index (GVI) and location quotient of the streets, which represents citizens’ visual perception of green quality. Based on these analyses, a dual-perspective evaluation model of green equity is conducted, and the results show a significant imbalance of greenery supply and population demand in the historical urban area of Qingdao. This disequilibrium in green spaces leads to 62.20% of people living with low green equity, while only 8.12% experience high green equity. To maximize social justice, priority should be given to improving the 15 districts with low green equity; doing so could effectively reduce green inequity within historic urban areas where facilities and resources are relatively scarce, thereby improving the efficiency of urban renewal efforts.

Changing Patterns of Urban Green Spaces in Akure, Nigeria

Greenery and natural landscapes are vital to human well-being, especially in cities. Notably, the majority of people aspire to live in cities in search of opportunities and a better quality of life, which harms urban green spaces, also known as the "lungs of the city." Current debates on urban planning and sustainable development in Nigeria and around the world are fundamentally influenced by the rapid growth of urbanization and the ensuing domination of concrete spaces over natural spaces. This study examined patterns in Akure's urban green areas while taking into account the spatiotemporal pattern of vegetation cover between 1984 and 2022. The collected satellite imagery was analyzed using the ArcGIS application program, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to calculate the rate and patterns of urban green space. Over time, changes in the spatial distribution of urban green spaces and the growth of non-green spaces were monitored and estimated. The depletion's implications for planning were addressed. To educate and inform urban residents about the protection, conservation, and preservation of natural landscapes within urban landscapes, it is thought that examining and analyzing the physical planning and environmental consequences of unchecked depletion of urban green spaces will be useful for making sustainable environmental policy decisions in harnessing the resources potentials.

Accessibility analysis and optimization strategy of urban green space in Qingdao City Center, China

Rapid urbanization in China results in an uneven distribution of Urban Green Space (UGS) resources. This study aims to provide a scientific basis for optimizing the layout of UGS during the urban renewal process. This study takes Qingdao City Center of China as an example. Using the expanded model of Gaussian Two-Step Floating Catchment Area Method, different search thresholds are set based on the service scale and radius of UGS. This analysis delves into the distribution characteristics of UGS accessibility by walking. The results show that the accessibility of UGS in the Qingdao City Center presents an obvious circular structure, with Badaguan Block and Jinmen Block as the high-value core of accessibility that gradually decrease toward the periphery. There is a significant gap between the supply of UGS and the actual demand of the residential population, and 65.49% of residential quarters in Shinan District have lower accessibility of UGS than the average level of the whole district. According to the results of accessibility analysis, the optimization strategies and spatial intentions are proposed from three aspects: the renewal of existing spaces, the integration and utilization of resources, and the improvement of the UGS system.

Inclusive green environment for all? An investigation of spatial access equity of urban green space and associated socioeconomic drivers in China

The inequitable distribution of urban green spaces (UGS) has attracted increasing attention given the important role of green environments for sustainable development. However, many recent studies have yielded different results between cities in different geographic regions and development stages and even within the same city. Hence, this study addresses two research gaps in the green justice literature: (1) What are the spatial equity levels of different types of UGS, and what are their differences as well as spatial distribution characteristics? (2) What differences exist in the spatial equity levels of UGS in cities at various socioeconomic stages? On the basis of these gaps, we explain why contradictory findings have been found in the existing literature. This study focuses on three types of UGS in China, namely, community green spaces, street greenery, and public parks, and explores the driving effects of socioeconomic factors on the spatial equity of UGS in 263 Chinese cities. The results show that GDP and the population growth rate increase the spatial equity of community green spaces and street greenery. By contrast, economic development and increased in-migration can worsen the equity level of public green space accessibility. Our study provides evidence and insights for Chinese central and local governments to implement highly effective and sustainable greening programs to promote inclusive urban greening in Chinese cities.

The Function of Urban Green Space in Avoiding Disasters in Central Shanghai, China

Urban green space is an essential green infrastructure and spatial guarantee for sustainable development in Shanghai, China. Additionally, its spatial layout’s rationality directly influences the city’s disaster prevention and reduction effect. To use the buffer analysis method, this study selected the ArcGIS 9.0 software platform for making a quantitative analysis of disaster-proof green space service capacity in downtown Shanghai based on relevant construction standards and specifications. The results showed the following: (1) the distribution pattern of disaster-proof green space in downtown Shanghai is less homogeneously distributed in the central area but more homogeneously distributed in the edge area; (2) the service area of all disaster-proof green spaces in the central urban area of Shanghai accounted for 85.07% of the total area, with a service population of 12,516,600. Less than 15% of the area was still uncovered, meaning 2,196,700 people were unserved. These results suggest that the buffer radius of disaster-avoidance green space reaches 400 m. It covers the largest area and serves the largest population, accounting for more than 50% of the central urban area. The mismatch between urban green space distribution and population distribution patterns affected the service effect difference of green space for disaster avoidance. Therefore, new urban green spaces, stadiums, school playgrounds, and other open spaces could be added to enhance the (emergency) urban disaster avoidance ability of central urban areas; (3) the whole central urban area should form an urban mesh disaster avoidance system by combining points, lines, and surfaces with emergency and temporary shelters as first-level disaster avoidance points, fixed and central shelters as second-level disaster avoidance points, urban branch roads and secondary roads as disaster avoidance channels, and expressways and main urban roads as disaster-relief channels.

Uneven Distribution of Urban Green Spaces in Relation to Marginalization in Mexico City

The present study examines the spatial distribution and level of accessibility of urban green spaces (UGSs) within the context of Mexico City, with a particular focus on their relationship with marginalization. The study examined five distinct categories of UGSs based on their size and subsequently analyzed their total surface area per capita in relation to their correlation with the marginalization index. The data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis, and correlations were computed to investigate the relationships between variables. We found 1353 UGSs accessible for public use with a total area of 2643 ha. Seventy-four percent of them had <1 ha of surface area, and 51% were located in only three municipalities that were mostly middle- and high-income. These municipalities concentrated a higher area of green spaces per capita. We found a negative correlation between the marginality index and the area of UGSs per municipality; the lower the marginality index was, the higher the area of green spaces. These results suggest that a bad distribution of UGSs can increase environmental injustice since urban environmental services are unequally distributed, affecting particularly marginalized populations. This research is a valuable contribution to the existing body of knowledge regarding the accessibility of UGSs in Mexico City, particularly in connection to marginalized communities. It emphasizes the significance of this topic in the context of environmental justice, urban sustainability, and the formulation of urban policy decisions. By engaging with these concerns, individuals can strive to foster a city that promotes fairness and well-being for all of its residents.

Analysis on the Rationality of Urban Green Space Distribution in Hangzhou City Based on GF-1 Data

With its ecological, economic, and social benefits, urban green space (UGS) plays an important role in urban planning. Accordingly, it is also an important indicator in the evaluation of urban liveability. However, the extraction and statistical analysis of UGS are difficult because urban land use involves complex types and UGS exhibits fragmented distribution and common vegetation extraction models such as the NDVI model and pixel bipartite model. In addition, there are few studies that analyze UGS in Hangzhou with a pixel decomposition model. Therefore, applying the mixed pixel decomposition model with GF-1 data, the following three objectives were set in this study: (1) analyzing the temporal changes of UGS in Shangcheng District, Hangzhou from 2018 to 2020; (2) analyzing the spatial distribution characteristics of UGS in the six main urban areas of Hangzhou in 2020; (3) analyzing the rationality and influencing factors of UGS distribution in Hangzhou. In Shangcheng District, the overall UGS area increased from 2018 to 2020 due to the increase in forest area rather than grassland area. As for the main built-up area in Hangzhou, medium and high coverage of UGS were primarily observed, with an overall high level of greening and a relatively uniform vegetation cover. Only a few areas showed very low UGS coverage. Some differences were observed among administrative regions under the influence of topography, but the overall coverage is high. At the same time, the distribution of UGS in Hangzhou is closely related to policy guidance, the needs of urban residents, and the requirements of economic development. This research not only can provide a new way to analyze UGS features in Hangzhou but also provides scientific guidance for governments in urban planning.

Urban Green Spaces Distribution and Disparities in Congested Populated Areas: A Geographical Assessment from Pakistan

Urban green spaces are considered the most important element for keeping the balance between good environmental conditions, infrastructure development, and social sustainability in cities. Nevertheless, urban green spaces are declining in developing countries due to the fast diffusion of different human activities, raising the potential risk of social injustice and urban ecology meltdown. This study brings the example of Shahdara Town, a suburban area of Lahore, the second largest city and one of the most populated ones in Pakistan. In Shahdara Town, the scarcity of urban green spaces seems to achieve an unequal distribution of restorative places within crowded residential areas. By coupling the vegetation spectral index NDVI and Lahore institutional data to detect green spaces, this study maps the urban green area distribution and compares it with the population settlement pattern. An analysis was made to assess possible spatial relationships between green areas distribution, population density, and the social–economic profile of the residents. The distribution and accessibility of green spaces resulted insufficient for Shahdara Town’s population, highlighting local issues from a social perspective. The imbalanced provision of green spaces for densely populated areas is a big challenge for urban planners and policymakers because it jeopardizes the city life-quality and local ecological justice. Only the effort of conducting a good spatial assessment during urban planning processes can lead to a balanced and equal distribution of urban green spaces in developing cities, ensuring social and ecological justice for the population.

Capacity Assessment of Urban Green Space for Mitigating Combined Sewer Overflows in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area

Among the countermeasures against combined sewer overflow (CSO), urban green space (UGS) has been proven effective. However, few studies have examined the effects of UGS on CSO at the municipal scale. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a novel method for estimating the relation of the area of UGS to CSO based on a case study in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which includes 10 sewersheds. This method integrates surface runoff modeling, sewer network analysis, and response analysis for estimating CSO and its response to the UGS proportion in each sewershed. This method is based on public data of topographic features, land-related data, and rainfall characteristics. Specifically, the CSO discharge is estimated to be the difference between the rainwater inflow to a terminal treatment plant and the maximum capacity of the sewer systems in each sewershed. The results revealed that the amount of CSO increases exponentially with the intensity of rainfall. In addition, a response analysis showed that the increase in UGS proportion would mitigate CSO in all sewersheds, particularly in the case where the UGS proportion increased from 5% to 10%. Overall, the present method allows us to estimate CSO in relation to rainfall pattern and the distribution of UGS in a sewershed without actual CSO records.

Assessing the morphological distribution of urban green spaces for the future sustainable greenery planning: a case study of Penang, Malaysia

Assessing the morphological distribution of urban green spaces for the future sustainable greenery planning: a case study of Penang, Malaysia

Space Accessibility and Equity of Urban Green Space

Urban green space is an essential form of infrastructure for cities, providing a significant spatial guarantee for sustainable urban development, an essential ecological, social, and cultural function, and an important symbol of urban modernisation and civilisation. However, with the development of cities, urban problems are becoming more serious, such as the increase in impervious surfaces and urban heat islands and the decrease in urban green space and liveability. Therefore, this study integrates the theories and methods of landscape ecology and spatial syntax with GIS technology to construct a comprehensive model for examining the spatial accessibility of green spaces based on remote images and landscape pattern indices, using Fuzhou City as the study area. The study then incorporates demographic variables to explore the characteristics of an equitable distribution of urban green space at the street scale. The results show that the accessibility of green space in the urban areas of Fuzhou decreases from the centre to the periphery. From north to south, there is a trend of ‘low-high-low’, with the northern region exhibiting the lowest accessibility, followed by the southeastern region, and then the western region. In terms of spatial equity in green space, Fuzhou has a more significant share of surplus green space provision, both in terms of the number of streets and area. This shows that the surplus of green space in Fuzhou is greater than the deficit and that the distribution of space is fair. We hope this study will not only help people gain a deeper understanding of green space but also provide a reference for their rational planning and management, thereby improving the accessibility and equity of urban green space as well as their quality and configuration. We also expect it to provide valuable theoretical and technical support for the planning of ecological functions and sustainable development.

A Decision Support Tool for Green Infrastructure Planning in the Face of Rapid Urbanization

Multifunctional green infrastructure, a key component of compact sustainable cities, is challenged by the pressures associated with rapid urbanization. In this paper, we present a method that uses remote sensing, GIS modeling and stakeholder engagement to produce a decision support tool that communicates the availability and need for green infrastructure benefits. The case study presented is the City of Tshwane, South Africa, a Global South city facing rapid urbanization. We found that this method of mapping green infrastructure benefits can provide simultaneous oversight on multiple objectives for green infrastructure, including climate change adaptation, biodiversity, and equitable distribution of urban green space. We found that low-scoring benefit areas occur in dense urban areas where small-scale nature-based solutions or rehabilitation activities are required. Moderate benefit scores occurred in parts of the city that are vulnerable to urban expansion and densification activities, warranting the careful planning of green infrastructure provision, and that moderate-to-high-scoring areas can be protected as conservation areas. The results are discussed in terms of the role of decision support tools for urban planning practice. Composite indexes can provide important guidance to decision-makers involved in spatial planning and urban upgrading and expansion activities.