Recreational Green Spaces Research Articles

Urban recreational green spaces dynamics and implications in the Bonaberi Neighbourhood of Douala IV Municipality, Cameroon

Globally, urban recreational green spaces constitute a major environmental resource of urban landscapes. These greeneries are suffering from shrinkages and transformations due to pressures on more urban land needed for housing, commercial and industrial purposes and uncontrolled urbanization. This study was conducted to assess the spatiotemporal variations and extent of transformations within the urban green spaces and their associated implications in the Bonaberi neighbourhood of Douala IV Municipality. To achieve this, empirical data was collected through field visits, in-depth interviews with urban authorities and mapping of urban green spaces for 2003 and 2022. Two hundred inhabitants were purposively sampled while local council authorities and other stakeholders were interviewed in the Douala IV Municipality. This was complemented by secondary data obtained from the Douala Urban Council. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques and results revealed that the rapid transformation and decrease of urban green spaces in terms of spatiotemporal nature is a function of expansion and uncontrolled urban settlements. The shrinkage in urban green spaces in the Douala IV municipality has resulted in loss of biodiversity, increase in urban heat islands, atmospheric pollution, unattractiveness of the environment, crimes, mental and physical health issues. This was x-rayed by the poorly arranged green spaces, littered with wastes and having multiple paths used by motorists, pedestrians and vendor activities. This study concludes that greeneries remain a vital environmental resource, thus, recommending effective application of planning policies to restrict their encroachment. Additionally, greeneries should be treated among the top priorities of the development agenda of urban planning authorities as enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goal 11.

HOUSING PRICES AS PAYMENT FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF URBAN GREEN SPACES: CASE STUDY IN KYIV

The purpose of the study is to analyze the impact of the availability of urban green spaces (UGS) and air quality on the cost of residential real estate in Kyiv. Additionally, it seeks to identify the level of awareness among city residents regarding the advantages of living close to UGSs in areas with relatively clean air and their willingness to pay a higher price for such housing. The QGIS software was employed to assess the pedestrian and time accessibility levels of recreational green spaces, and the results are depicted on the corresponding map. The least accessible for everyday recreation is the UGS in the central districts of the city, which traditionally have the highest population density and the most expensive residential real estate. The article analyzes the priority criteria for determining the housing cost, depending on the spatial localization relative to the city center and the comfort class of real estate. The distribution of housing across different tiers and the price range for the apartments in new constructions in Kyiv during 2015–2021 were also examined. To identify the correlation between the cost of residential real estate in the capital’s new buildings and the availability of green spaces nearby, we investigated the spatial distribution of prices in the largest residential complexes in the city. The results of spatial visualization obtained through Voronoi diagrams or Delaunay triangulation indicate significant disparities in the cost of housing located in the center of Kyiv or on the periphery. Logically, residential complexes with the highest apartment prices are located in the central districts of Kyiv and near the metro stations. However, most of these locations lack accessible green areas suitable for everyday recreation. Therefore, there is no positive correlation between housing prices and the presence of UGSs nearby. To achieve the research goal, we also conducted a sociological survey among Kyiv residents in various districts of the city. The survey results indicate that most Kyiv residents do not have the desire or are not currently willing to pay a higher price for the opportunity to live near a park or forest and breathe clean air, i.e., to enjoy the ecosystem services provided by UGSs fully. The scientific novelty of the research lies in determining the pedestrian and time accessibility of recreational green spaces in Kyiv, identifying trends in spatial clustering of the most expensive residential real estate in central city areas, and demonstrating the lack of a positive impact of the availability of green areas on the per square meter cost of housing in new developments. Additionally, the study reveals a remarkably low willingness of the city residents to pay a higher price for the opportunity to receive ecosystem services from available UGSs.

Зарубежные и отечественные практики ревитализации заброшенных промышленных зон города: направления и перспективы

Revitalization implies the revival of abandoned areas, filling them with new content, improving the quality of the urban environment. Unused industrial zones of the city are subject to revitalization, new architectural, urban planning and planning solutions are needed to restore such areas. The types of revitalization are considered. The key areas of revitalization of urban industrial zones are disclosed: for social and residential development, social and business development, eco-directed industrial facilities, recreational green spaces. Examples of domestic and foreign practices of revitalization of former production areas, construction of various objects of a new functional purpose are presented. A new direction of revitalization is the creation of innovative complexes with an ecological function - ecotechnoparks. The concept of creating such a technopark on the basis of the former plant has been proposed.

Establishing a Reliable Assessment of the Green View Index Based on Image Classification Techniques, Estimation, and a Hypothesis Testing Route

Sustainable development policies and spatial planning for maintaining greenery are crucial for all major cities in the world, and the measurement of green space indicators in planning practice needs to evolve in response to the demands of the times and technological drivers. This study explores an informal urban green space indicator, the green view index (GVI), which uses the visual perception of an observer to measure the quality of urban space by simulating the pedestrian perspective of the road in street-view image data and then calculating the proportion of vegetation in the road landscape. The GVI is different from macro indicators, such as public recreational green space, forest coverage, and green space rate, which are derived from planning data or remote sensing data in traditional urban planning; it starts from the bottom-up perception of individual residents and is more relevant to their subjective demands. At present, most international cities have made outstanding achievements in controlling public recreational green space, forest coverage, green space rates, and other macrolevel indicators of urban spatial quality; however, with the promotion of the concept of “human-oriented” urban planning, the potential restoration of urban spatial quality at the microlevel is gradually being recognized. To ensure the efficiency and reliability of this study, inspired by computer vision techniques and related GVI studies, a research method based on chromaticity was built to identify the proportions of green vegetation in street view images, and the credibility was improved by eliminating unreliable data. By using this method, we could evaluate a city at an overall scale instead of the previous block scale. The final research result showed that Shenzhen is friendly to human visual senses, and the GVI of the streets in developed areas is generally higher than that in developing areas. The geostatistical analysis of the green viewpoint data provides a more intuitive guide for researchers and planners, and it is believed to inform the planning and design of environmentally friendly, smart, and sustainable future cities.

Park Recreation Intention and Satisfaction of Blue-Collar Workers Based on the ACSI Model: A Case Study of Anning Industrial Park in Yunnan

The negative effects of long working hours and shift work on the physical and mental health of blue-collar groups should not be underestimated. Under intense stress, they have limited time to access recreational green space, and their own health is thus affected. In this study, a conceptual model of recreational satisfaction among blue-collar workers was established based on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The model explores the factors affecting their level of satisfaction when using recreational spaces. Anning Industrial Park in Yunnan Province was used as an example. User data were collected and analyzed using a questionnaire survey and structural equation methods. The results indicate that recreation intention, perceived park quality characteristics, and perceived value all had significant and positive effects on the park recreation satisfaction of blue-collar workers. This study applied social economics theory to the field of landscape planning, identified the typical characteristics of blue-collar workers and their green space use, and strived to optimize the UGS configuration and functional facilities through the evaluation of recreation satisfaction indexes, which provided guidance and reference for improving the service quality of green spaces.

Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in Recreational Greenspaces in North Central Florida, USA.

Tick-borne infections are an increasing medical and veterinary concern in the southeastern United States, but there is limited understanding of how recreational greenspaces influence the hazard of pathogen transmission. This study aimed to estimate the potential human and companion animal encounter risk with different questing tick species, and the bacterial or protozoal agents they carry in recreational greenspaces. We collected ticks bimonthly along trails and designated recreational areas in 17 publicly accessible greenspaces, in and around Gainesville, Florida, USA. We collected Amblyomma americanum, Ixodes scapularis, Amblyomma maculatum, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes affinis, and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris. Across the six tick species collected, we detected 18 species of bacteria or protozoa within the Babesia, Borrelia, Cytauxzoon, Cryptoplasma (Allocryptoplasma), Ehrlichia, Hepatozoon, Rickettsia, and Theileria genera, including pathogens of medical or veterinary importance. While tick abundance and associated microorganism prevalence and richness were the greatest in natural habitats surrounded by forests, we found both ticks and pathogenic microorganisms in manicured groundcover. This relationship is important for public health and awareness, because it suggests that the probability of encountering an infected tick is measurable and substantial even on closely manicured turf or gravel, if the surrounding landcover is undeveloped. The presence of medically important ticks and pathogenic microorganisms in recreational greenspaces indicates that public education efforts regarding ticks and tick-borne diseases are warranted in this region of the United States.

Recreational Green Space Service in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area: A Multiple Travel Modes Perspective

Recreational green space (RGS) offers the most intuitive place for urban residents to get in touch with nature. The service radiation of RGS is related to the travel mode, however, residents’ travel behavior has long been ignored in the study of RGS services. This paper considers the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), uses multi-source data, refines the spatial distribution of residents, extracts and classifies the RGS into three categories (township (TRGS), country (CRGS), and urban (URGS)), and analyzes the spatial distribution of the three types of RGS. Using the travel isochrone, the RGS services coverage (including spatial and population coverage) in 11 cities within the GBA is defined by multiple travel modes. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation of the RGS services in the GBA is conducted based on the residents’ transportation choice willingness and recreational selection. The results showed that: (1) TRGSs are mainly distributed in the suburbs, URGSs are mainly concentrated in the mid-western and southern regions, and CRGSs are mostly concentrated in the center of the GBA. (2) For daily travel (15-min and 30-min travel modes), the coverage of the RGS services is unevenly distributed, while under the 60-min travel mode, the RGS services can almost fully cover the residents in the GBA (SPURGS > 99%). (3) The RGS service of the central cities (Hong Kong, Macau) is better than that of the edge cities (Zhaoqing, Jiangmen), and the different city types should adopt different RGS planning and management strategies. This study provides a reference for RGS refined planning and maintenance in mega-urban agglomerations.

Recreational green spaces as the future for sustainable cities: Case of Karura Forest in Nairobi, Kenya

Urban areas have been experiencing unprecedented growth since the beginning of the 20th century. Rapid urbanization is likely to present various challenges relating to human health, food security, water and energy needs, aesthetic and recreational spaces. Thus, the United Nations Agenda 2030 premised on economic, social and environmental sustainability may not be realized. This paper focuses on the recreational facilities in Karura Forest located in the peri-urban area of Nairobi City. It uses both quantitative and qualitative research design. In-depth literature review was used to enrich research findings. Data was collected from a selected sample of 1150 Nairobi residents. It provides an inventory of recreational facilities and examines the contribution open and green spaces make to the residents. The preferences of these residents to visit the facilities are also documented. The study found out that about 77.6% of the visitors came from nearby high-income areas of Muthaiga, Nyari, Rosslyn, Peponi and Runda, about 21.4% came from middle-income areas of Parklands, Mlolongo, Athi River and Langata while only a paltry 1% came from the low-income areas of Kangemi, Ngara, Huruma and DeepSea slums. Most of the visitors were between 14 and 52 years of age. Findings are expected to inform policy and future urban planning for green spaces and their recreational value. To ensure sustainable development in the future, there is need to preserve the existing open and recreational green facilities in Nairobi. Both the County and National Governments should formulate and implement the Sustainable Kenyan Cities Policy to preserve open and green spaces in the rapidly growing urban areas of the country.
 
 

Dendroflora diversity in the coastal zones of the Dnipro river within the Northern steppe subzone of Ukraine

Coastal tree and shrub vegetation is an important component of river catchment ecosystems, it performs a wide range of ecological functions and ecosystem services; their effectiveness largely depends on species richness and diversity. Coastal habitats are among the main centers of biodiversity, but they often perform a function of centers of active anthropogenic activity and undergo significant transformation. The creation of a cascade of the Dnipro reservoirs (Kamenske, Zaporizhia (Dniprovske), Kakhovske reservoirs) has already caused the transformations of the Dnipro river flow regime and all biological components of the aquatic and wetland ecosystems in the Northern steppe subzone of Ukraine. In the current period, on the background of global climate change, dendroflora transformation on this territory is enhanced by the anthropogenic impact of industrial cities (Kamenske, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia). Assessment of dendroflora diversity in coastal zones was carried out within the protective strip of the Dnipro river (100 m): in native phytocenoses; semi-native vegetation associations; water protection plantings; public green spaces (excluding private plots and collections). It was determined that the dendroflora in the coastal protective strips of the Dnipro river within the Northern steppe subzone of Ukraine is characterized by significant taxonomic diversity and includes 184 plant species (excluding their decorative forms) belonging to 37 families. The highest species saturation was typical for the following families: Rosaceae (40 species), Salicaceae (23 species), Fabaceae (11 species), and Oleaceae (9 species). The dendroflora consists of 61 tree species, 78 shrubby species (including lianas) and 45 species that can be represented by both tree and shrubby forms. The highest species richness was recorded in public recreational green spaces: 181 species (98% of the total species number). The coastal tree and shrubby associations included 8 species that belong to rarity ones (the Red List of the Dnipropetrovsk region). The coenomorphic spectrum of dendroflora in coastal protective strips is dominated by culturants (70.7%), autochthonous silvants (19%), stepants (3.2%), silvomargoants (species of forest margins, 4.3%), pratants (1.6%), and paludants (1.1%). There is the dominance of mesophytes (55%) and species with a wide range of adaptations to the humidification conditions of hygrotopes in hygrospectrum (22.8%); mesotrophic species among trophomorphs (53.8%), and sciogeliophytes in heliospectrum (57%). In the dendroflora of the coastal zones of the Dnipro river, alien species completely predominated (71% of the species composition). Among them, 6.9% were invasive, mainly belonging to neophytes. In the current period, an increase in invasive activity is recorded in another 5.3% of adventive (potentially invasive) species. The significant taxonomic and ecomorphic diversity of dendroflora in the coastal zones of the Northern steppe subzone of Ukraine is associated with ecotone effects, active processes of the territory urbanization, and the use of a wide range of alien ornamental species in public green spaces of cities. It is advisable to increase the share of autochthonic and rare species participation in the composition of coastal protective and recreational plantings, which will contribute to the preservation of their gene pool and increase the native dendrological diversity in the Dnipro river basin. To reduce the threats of phytoinvasions, it is necessary to: i) prohibit the use of invasive species in the restoration of native floodplain forests; ii) conduct a preliminary assessment of environmental risks from the use of alien species; iii) monitor existing plantings with their participation.

Green Densities: Accessible Green Spaces in Highly Dense Urban Regions—A Comparison of Berlin and Qingdao

Recreational green spaces are associated with human thriving and well-being. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic a spotlight has been shed on the interconnection between access to these spaces, human well-being and social equity. Containment measures enacted in many cities effectively precluded people from reaching distant recreational areas during the pandemic and consequently, recreational areas close to home became particularly important. Urban density is often associated with building or population density with the assumption that if either parameter has a high value, the availability of open (green) space is low. Certain densities are associated with specific spatial qualities. Addressing challenges of sustainable development, a detailed evaluation of density is necessary to allow evidence-based arguments, planning and decision-making. In this study we develop a multi-scale analysis method for quantifying and assessing green infrastructures from settlement unit to building level to reach a differentiated view on density, arguing that density can be organized in different ways achieving very different qualities. For this purpose, we use geospatial-data analysis and in-depth neighborhood studies to compare two cities in Asia and Europe, revealing different ways of organizing density in the built environment and identifying a derivation of approaches for sustainable development in dense urban regions.

Sustainable Tourism in Cities—Nature Reserves as a ‘New’ City Space for Nature-Based Tourism

Visible trends in city tourism related to the development of sustainable tourism clearly imply an increase in the significance of green areas and the development of nature-based tourism. Natural areas in cities that ideally fit the assumptions of sustainable tourism are nature reserves—areas where protection of the valuable environment is a priority. This paper aims to highlight that nature reserves are green spots in cities that can be excellent sites for sustainable tourism. The choice of big cities was dictated by the fact that they have the highest requirement for recreational green spaces due to a high concentration of tourist traffic in historic city centres and a clearer need for sustainable forms of tourism. Sixteen nature reserves in five big Polish cities with a population of more than 100,000: Gdańsk, Łódź, Poznań, Toruń, and Warsaw were selected for the study. Field surveys were carried out in nature reserves to see whether basic tourism facilities providing information about nature, supporting education, and conservation of the natural environment existed in the publicly available areas of such reserves. The attractiveness of nature reserves to tourists and their suitability for developing sustainable tourism was evaluated through score-based valuation of the reserves. The valorisation index was used for a synthetic rating and classification of the reserves in terms of attractiveness. The results of surveys imply a possibility of using selected nature reserves in cities for developing sustainable forms of active tourism—in particular hiking and cycling, educational tourism and daily recreational activities of city residents. The sites in question can be regarded as attractive ecotourism products, and as such hold the potential to become a popular destination among tourists and eco-tourists in particular.

The Effects of Urban Green Space on Depressive Symptoms of Mid-Aged and Elderly Urban Residents in China: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

The aim of this study is to assess the impacts of urban green space on depressive symptoms among Chinese urban residents aged 45 and older. In total, 7397 urban respondents were included in this study. Each respondent participated in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study Wave 3 (2015). Environmental-level variables were retrieved from the National Bureau of Statistics database. Both unadjusted and adjusted methods were used in the multilevel regression analysis. Almost one-third of the sample population suffered from depressive symptoms (31.20%). The multilevel logistic regression model showed that green coverage ratio of city-built districts is negatively associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms among urban mid-aged (OR = 0.79, p < 0.05) and elderly (OR = 0.75, p < 0.05) residents, and the public recreational green space helps to reduce elderly people’s depressive symptoms (OR = 0.77, p < 0.05). This study adds insights about the impact of green space and other environmental factors on depressive symptoms among mid-aged and elderly urban dwellers. It is important to provide enough and accessible overall urban green spaces; additionally, attention should also be paid to specific green space forms such as public recreational green space.

A multiple scale, function, and type approach to determine and improve Green Infrastructure of urban watersheds

Green Infrastructure (GI) connects different types of green features via various scales, thereby supporting urban biodiversity and service provision. This study presents a methodology capable of identifying multiple functions to assess GI in less-developed countries, where such methodologies are lacking. GI was assessed based on a high-resolution land use classification using both landscape metrics and spatial data within an urbanized region of San José, Costa Rica, at different scales (watershed, neighbourhood, object). Results showed highly fragmented green spaces (often <10 ha), typically unable to support high levels of biodiversity, along with a low amount of green space per inhabitant (<7.4 m²) within the watershed. Substantially higher tree cover (x6) and tree density (x5) were found in the greenest neighbourhood in comparison to the least green neighbourhood. Potential areas for new GI in the form of green roofs (4.03 ha), permeable pavement (27.3), and potential retention areas (85.3) were determined. Several green spaces (n = 11) were identified as promising GI sites with the potential to increase provision (18.6 m²/inhabitant). The adopted methodology demonstrates the potential of GI for increasing recreational green space access, runoff reduction, and flood retentions while supporting biodiversity, validating its utility in guiding decision-making and policy generation.

Wastelands, Greenways and Gentrification: Introducing a Comparative Framework with a Focus on Detroit, USA

Vacant, abandoned or unproductive land parcels, sometimes called “wastelands”, offer opportunities to create new green spaces in cities. Such spaces may be utilized to add to the stock of urban nature, expand recreational green space, promote real estate or commercial development, or simply remain undefined. These various trajectories have significant implications for population health, ecosystem services and real estate values. However, they may also contribute to inequitable outcomes. Are disadvantaged communities, which may be paradoxically rich in wastelands, more advantaged when green space redevelopment occurs, or are they more at risk of green gentrification and associated displacement? To address this question, we first review some of the literature relative to wastelands, especially as they relate to processes of urban change such as depopulation, land use planning, regrowth and gentrification. We utilize historical redlining maps, the Detroit Master Plan and projected land use scenarios from the Detroit Future City (DFC) Strategic Framework Plan to identify areas of vulnerability or possibility within walking distance of the proposed Joe Louis Greenway (JLG). Finally, we consider how wastelands situated along the JLG may be reframed as flexible opportunity spaces, their potential leveraged to advance environmental justice, economic opportunity, and social equity, especially as the City of Detroit takes socioeconomic and racial equity as a key orienting principle—an alternative to green gentrification that we call green reparations.

Exploring the linkage between greenness exposure and depression among Chinese people: Mediating roles of physical activity, stress and social cohesion and moderating role of urbanicity.

Although a plethora of studies have investigated the association between green exposure and mental health in developed countries, it is only recently that academics and policymakers have paid attention to how this association works in rapidly urbanizing and developing countries. This study aims to explore biopsychosocial pathways linking residential greenness exposure to depression in the Chinese context using data from the 2016 wave of China Labour-force Dynamics Survey. Results from multilevel models along with mediation analysis show that exposure to residential greenness is negatively associated with depression, and that physical activity, stress and neighbourhood social cohesion altogether have a complete mediation effect on this association. Results from moderation analysis suggest that urbanicity moderates the relationship between greenness exposure and depression, and that the relationship is strongest at the upper level of urbanicity. Our findings suggest the necessity of increasing the provision of recreational green spaces and improving the quality of green spaces in Chinese less urbanized areas.

Preferences for forest proximity and recreational amenities revealed by the random bidding model

In the context of increased political focus on improving the quality of urban environments, knowledge of household preferences for recreational environments is needed. This research note seeks to reveal the willingness to pay (WTP) for forest proximity and its amenities in housing choice location based on the random bidding model. Four major findings are obtained: (i) The WTP for urban park proximity is globally non-significant compared with that of forest areas; (ii) When forests are recreational green spaces, the WTP is positive for more affluent socio-professional category (SPCs) and higher for the oldest households but negative for less affluent social groups; (iii) When forests are natural protected areas, the WTP is globally negative, especially for less affluent groups; and (iv) Forest amenities, such as hiking and biking paths, positively affect the WTP for almost all SPCs, especially the youngest households.

Mapping Methodology of Public Urban Green Spaces Using GIS: An Example of Nagpur City, India

Faced with a lack of fine grain data availability, in rapidly emerging urban centers of developing nations, the study explored a mapping methodology to create thematic map of public urban green space (UGS). Using GIS, a thematic map of Nagpur city, India was prepared. The objective was to prepare spatial data that are relevant for planners and policy makers, with detailed UGS typologies and to update the status of overall availability and distribution of hierarchical recreational green spaces in the city. The spatial and non-spatial data with added attributes gathered through fieldwork resulted in a holistic dataset, with high accuracy of thematic map (0.93 kappa coefficient). The recorded status of different typologies as well as the distribution of recreational UGS shows disparity in the distribution of UGS. The eastern part of the city grossly lacks UGS provisions, which is compensated by the western part with larger availability of natural green spaces. The mapping methodology is novel and effective for recording qualitative status, analyzing their spatial distribution and prioritizing the provisions of UGS. Future research integrating these spatial data with more qualitative research can provide a holistic view on benefits of UGS provisions and thus facilitate effective UGS governance aiming towards better green infrastructure and hence broader urban sustainability.

Assessment of Recreational Green Space Quality and Supply

This paper evaluates the experience quality of recreational green spaces in the functional urban area (FUA) of Salzburg. The assessment is based on the calculation of spatial indicators assigned to the three indices ‘nature and scenery’, ‘properties and infrastructure’ and ‘accessibility’. These are combined to give an integrated recreational value, which serves as an input to determine the reachability of green spaces with different quality levels in terms of walking and biking distances. The analysis covers all populated grid cells as the initial part of a supply and demand study. The results show a good supply in the city centre, although often not equally distributed over all indices, but a noticeable lack of reachable recreational areas along with an almost complete deficit of high-quality spots in more highly populated peri-urban areas. This study is a preliminary approach for an integrated green-space assessment at FUA level, addressing the lack of research on the recreational potential of the rural–urban hinterland. The findings will be used as a starting point for a more profound evaluation of supply and demand of green qualities, including other types of green land and further ecosystem services.

Guiding landscape transition for climatic change: planning in the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Australia

Melbourne Gardens comprises of 38 ha of living plant collections containing 48,000 specimens from 8,400 taxa originating from a broad geographical distribution across the globe. The plant collections provide conservation, reference, research, interpretation, education and aesthetic outcomes in what is a heritage and picturesque landscape. Melbourne's climatic predictions for 2090 indicate significantly hotter and drier conditions, with increased frequency of extreme events, particularly heat waves and flooding. In response to these threats and to manage the risk of diminishing water supplies and an aging plant population, a Landscape Succession Strategy (LSS) has been developed to transition the existing landscape towards the projected climate of 2090, whilst retaining heritage character, plant species diversity and recreational green space for future generations. Development of the LSS included assessment of landscape microclimates, auditing of living plant collections against future climates, and implementation of more efficient irrigation using soil moisture sensing technologies. While outcomes of the LSS are still emerging, early results are encouraging. A mean cooling effect of 1-2°C (up to 6°C on certain days) in some zones of the landscape has been identified; about 65% of the 5,000 plant taxa reviewed are potentially 'suitable' for 2090 climate conditions, although gaps in plant distribution and climate data have hampered this, and landscape water use research has informed water use efficiency. The long life spans of living assets and projected climatic changes require well-directed plant selection towards achieving an effective vegetation succession. Therefore, the LSS is a valuable planning framework to integrate the protection of the urban landscape against key climatic risks and provides a reference for other botanical gardens to consider as a climate adaption template to manage landscapes into the future.

Urban Green Space Perception and Its Contribution to Well-Being.

Individual perceptions are essential when evaluating the well-being benefits from urban green spaces. This study predicted the influence of perceived green space characteristics in the city of Szeged, Hungary, on two well-being variables: the green space visitors’ level of satisfaction and the self-reported quality of life. The applied logistic regression analysis used nine predictors: seven perceived green space characteristics from a questionnaire survey among visitors of five urban green spaces of Szeged; and the frequency of green space visitors’ crowd-sourced recreational running paths and photographs picturing green space aesthetics. Results revealed that perceived green space characteristics with direct well-being benefits were strong predictors of both dependent variables. Perceived green space characteristics with indirect, yet fundamental, well-being benefits, namely, regulating ecosystem services had minor influence on the dependent variables. The crowd-sourced geo-tagged data predicted only the perceived quality of life contributions; but revealed spatial patterns of recreational green space use and aesthetics. This study recommends that regulating ecosystem services should be planned with a focus on residents’ aesthetic and recreational needs. Further research on the combination of green space visitors´ perceptions and crowd-sourced geo-tagged data is suggested to promote planning for well-being and health benefits of urban green spaces.