Small Urban Green Spaces Research Articles

Working hours influence preferences of residents for micro features of small urban green spaces

This study investigates whether duration of working hours affect residents’ preferences for the micro-features of Small Urban Green Spaces (SUGS), and explores differences across genders and visitation purposes. Little is known about this subject, yet it is crucial for creating more equitable green spaces. In phase 1, participants (n = 209; 30.9 ± 6.73 years, 59.3%male) were categorized by average daily working hours (0–8 h, 8–10 h, 10 h+), and rated 41 micro-feature images on their importance for visiting SUGS. Phase 2 included the top ten features ranked from phase 1, with participants (n = 256; 30.8 ± 5.12 years, 35.2% female) completing the Kano model survey to identify and explain the importance of features and different types of needs. Findings reveal a clear trend: extended work hours pivot resident preferences towards green space attributes promoting physical activity. For residents of 0–8 h valued aesthetic elements like sculptures and vegetation, while lighting became paramount for those with 8–10 h, and for those working over 10 h prioritized facilities for active engagement, such as playground equipment and slow runway. These distinctions provide valuable guidance for designing SUGS with diverse feature combinations that cater to the needs of residential areas with varying socio-economic backgrounds and occupational lifestyles, thereby enhancing urban livability.

Enhancing Urban Development Control Through the Warsaw Natural System: A Case Study in Warsaw, Poland

This study delves into the Warsaw Natural System (WNS) in Warsaw, Poland, and its efficacy in regulating urban development within the city. The paper is divided into three main sections, each addressing a distinct aspect of urban development control. Firstly, the paper examines how WNS effectively manages outward urban expansion through the strategic use of wedge-shaped green spaces. Empirical evidence demonstrates the WNS's success in curbing urban sprawl and maintaining a balanced spatial layout. Secondly, the study investigates how the WNS controls inward urban over-development by employing small urban green spaces interconnected throughout the city. The analysis highlights the effectiveness of this approach in creating fragmented urban development, and preventing excessive density. Thirdly, the paper explores how the WNS contributes to the resilience of urban development by enhancing functional diversity within urban green spaces, and how this diversity enriches the lives of urban residents and sustains the WNS's spatial pattern, offering long-term control over urban space development. In addition to its strengths, the study also identifies existing shortcomings within the WNS and proposes recommendations for future improvement, aiming to enhance its effectiveness in controlling urban development. This research provides valuable insights into sustainable urban planning practices and underscores the importance of adaptable green infrastructure in shaping cities for the future.

Transforming urban landscapes: The societal impact of small urban green spaces in Tehran, Iran

Urban areas around the world grapple with the issue of derelict and abandoned spaces (DAS). This study, set in Tehran, Iran, delves into the potential of these spaces when transformed into Small Urban Green Spaces (SUGS). Through a comprehensive approach involving Electroencephalogram (EEG) and psychological assessments, the study examines the impact of SUGS on the psychological well-being of urban residents. Results reveal distinct physiological and emotional responses to these green spaces, indicating their significant role in enhancing mental health and societal welfare. The findings demonstrate the value of incorporating SUGS in urban planning, providing critical insights for sustainable urban development and the revitalization of cities: (1) Various kinds of leftover spaces evoked unique physiological reactions and preferences in the participants; (2) Proactive efforts to transform spaces present a practical approach for growing populations; (3) Observing SUGS resulted in significant alterations in gamma wave power, indicating a robust connection between empathy and gamma activity; (4) Participants experienced considerable improvements in feelings of comfort, relaxation, and perceptions of color, beauty, appeal, cheerfulness, as well as overall mood states.

Exploring climate-adaptive green-space designs for hot and humid climates: Lessons from Japanese dry gardens

The number of studies on green spaces’ cooling effects has significantly increased in recent years, driven by the rising occurrence and severity of heat waves. Nevertheless, our current understanding of optimal green space designs for mitigating heat stress remains limited. This study delves into the historic Japanese dry gardens to examine the design strategies employed by ancient Japanese people in addressing hot and humid climates while crafting a thermally comfortable environment for garden visitors. We selectively investigated the thermal condition and spatial design of four compact dry gardens (<1500 m2) in Kyoto, Japan as we aimed to propose design strategies for small urban green spaces which are the major urban green spaces in Japan. The results indicated that the thermal condition in all the resting areas of the gardens was dramatically ameliorated to a “warm” condition when nearby open areas were “extremely hot.” This enhancement was achieved through the provision of extensive shade, primarily in the form of roofs, covering approximately 80% and 70% of the areas within 5 and 10 m radii around the resting areas, respectively. Nonetheless, we observed spatial heterogeneity in thermal conditions among the resting areas, which were influenced by the varying degrees of greenery cover within a 20 m radius. This study demonstrates that Japanese dry gardens were designed climate accordingly and can effectively reduce summer heat stress. It highlights the value of historic gardens as urban green spaces providing regulating ecosystem services and as a strategic design reference for guiding climate-adaptive green space designs.

Small Urban Green Spaces: Insights into Perception, Preference, and Psychological Well-being in a Densely Populated Areas of Tehran, Iran.

In metropolitan areas worldwide, abandoned properties are prevalent, prompting a need for small urban green spaces (SUGS) to meet the growing demand. Understanding residents' preferences and perceptions of transformed spaces is vital for effective urban design. This study delves into residents' preferences and perceptions regarding the transformation of such spaces into SUGS and their impact on psychological well-being. By examining how these preferences and perceived health benefits shape the value of transformed spaces, the research aims to inform effective urban design strategies. The participants underwent visual stimulation, with psychological reactions recorded through Electroencephalogram (EEG) readings and assessed via Questionnaire. Machine learning techniques analyzed EEG sub-band data, achieving an average accuracy of 92.8% when comparing leftover and designed spaces. Results revealed that different types of transformed spaces provoke distinct physiological and preference responses. Specifically, viewing SUGS was associated with significant changes in gamma wave power, suggesting a correlation between enhanced gamma activity and increased feelings of empathy. Moreover, participants also reported enhanced comfort, relaxation, and overall mood, and a strong preference for SUGS over untransformed spaces, emphasizing the value placed on these areas for their health benefits. This research highlights the positive impact of even SUGS on mental health, using EEG data to assess emotional states triggered by urban spaces. The study concludes with a call for further research to investigate the long-term benefits of SUGS on well-being, alongside an exploration of the gamma band as a neural marker for emotional restoration in urban green spaces. This research highlights the crucial role of urban design in fostering psychological well-being through the strategic development of green spaces, suggesting a paradigm shift toward more inclusive, health-promoting urban environments.

Fostering small urban green spaces: Public–private partnerships as a synergistic approach to forming new public life in Taipei City

This article investigates the production of small green spaces through public–private partnerships in Taipei, focussing on spatial and social aspects in the context of infrastructure studies. Infrastructure is deeply intertwined with everyday life; although it is not always noticed, it is integrated with various social and structural systems. The densely populated city of Taipei in East Asia relies heavily on green spaces of all types for public life, with small green spaces particularly essential for urban dwellers. This research aims to clarify the relationship between small green spaces and the daily life that takes place within green urban governance. Additionally, it examines how they are connected through the appropriation of both formal public spaces and informal participation. By researching 14 small green spaces produced by public–private partnerships in Taipei, this article analyses both spatial and social dimensions. This includes investigating aspects such as time, space, land use, and the diverse range of experiences that occur within small green spaces. The findings indicate that small green spaces reflect the multifaceted groupings of urban infrastructure, serving as ecological and social complements to larger infrastructural elements. Public–private partnerships, particularly in Taipei City, which has faced unforeseen problems such as epidemics and rapid expansion, provide increased flexibility and social benefits that extend beyond the physical boundaries of the spaces.

Study on Microclimate and Thermal Comfort in Small Urban Green Spaces in Tokyo, Japan—A Case Study of Chuo Ward

Small urban green spaces are abundant in densely populated urban areas, but little is known about their impact on the urban heat island effect and thermal comfort. Therefore, this study selected as research sites four small urban green spaces in a typical high-density built-up area, Chuo Ward in Tokyo, Japan. The ENVI-met software 5.1.1 simulation method was used to analyze these sites’ microclimate and thermal comfort conditions. The following are the results: (1) Small urban green spaces significantly reduce urban air temperatures, particularly during hot weather, with temperature reductions ranging from 2.40 °C to 2.67 °C, consistently lower than the highest temperatures in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward, mainly between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. (2) Thermal comfort analysis indicates that small urban green spaces can significantly improve urban thermal comfort during the day, particularly around noon, by reducing one or two thermal comfort levels compared to typical urban street blocks. However, these differences gradually diminish throughout the evening and night, and thermal comfort inside and outside green spaces becomes more uniform. (3) Green space size is not the only factor influencing thermal comfort; the layout of plants within the green space and the layout of the surrounding buildings also have an impact. Despite their small size, even small green spaces can significantly enhance comfort. This study highlights the need to promote urban sustainability through the extensive integration of small green spaces in dense urban environments. Small green spaces can serve as a high-frequency, low-cost solution for environmental sustainability by addressing the increasingly severe urban heat island effect as well as environmental challenges that in the urbanization process.

Acoustic environment and its restorative potential in small urban green spaces

Small urban green spaces (SUGS) in dense city areas have been widely demonstrated to have restorative benefits to surrounding residents. However, residents' usage and experience of SUGS were indicated to be adversely influenced by adjacent traffic noise, whilst natural sounds inside could provide restorative soundscape resources. Thus, this study investigated the acoustic quality and its restorative potential in 12 SUGS in Qingdao via field measurements and questionnaire surveys. The results show that: (1) The noise level of SUGS largely ranged in 50-60 dBA, with dominant road traffic noise. Three perceptual soundscape dimensions were identified: appreciation, diversity and dynamics. (2) Scenic SUGS featured more natural sounds, lower noise levels, and more appreciation; residential SUGS featured more human sounds and worse soundscape evaluation; and business SUGS featured higher noise levels. (3) The acoustic environments in scenic SUGS showed much more restorative potential than residential and business ones, and the restorative potential of SUGS was highly influenced by sound levels (LAeq, L10, and L90), sound sources (traffic noise and natural sounds), and soundscape qualities (appreciation and diversity). The findings were expected to provide references for the sustainable planning and design of small urban green spaces in dense cities.

Constructing a multi-functional small urban green space network for green space equity in urban built-up areas: A case study of Harbin, China

Ensuring equitable access to green spaces in urban built-up areas is not only vital for fostering environmental justice but also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there is a noticeable gap in the current body of research regarding the role of small urban green spaces, especially their multifunctionality from an ecosystem services perspective. Taking the urban built-up area of Harbin as an example, this study first applied the Analytic Hierarchy Process to classify the supply and demand of green space into three types. Then, the article further analyzes the potential functional positioning of the newly added green spaces, including ecological and social functions, using Minimum Cumulative Resistance and Point of Interest. Finally, multi-criteria decision models are used to explore the priority and functional positioning of green space and construct a multi-functional and highly-efficient small urban green space network. The results indicate a significant imbalance in green space supply and demand, with severe and medium mismatch areas accounting for 30.17 % and 48.50 %, respectively. By assessing the multifunctionality of small green spaces, we propose guidelines that include five types of areas: Concentrated Development (85.85 km2, 16.94 %), Backup Development (70.74 km2, 14.31 %), Maintenance (304.49 km2, 61.51 %), Protection (14.94 km2, 3.02 %), and Optimization (20.89 km2, 4.22 %). Finally, the article proposes a 277.60 km multifunctional small urban green space network. By examining small urban green spaces, this study crafts a pivotal framework for enhancing green space equity in urban built-up environments, providing valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners. The approach has significant implications for developing multifunctional green networks in varied urban contexts and offers a model for wider application, serving as a reference for achieving green space equity in developing countries globally.

Exploring the use and perceptions of inner-city small urban parks: A case study of Budapest, Hungary

Globally, accelerating urbanization has led to a severe shortage of urban green spaces. This scarcity is particularly acute in inner cities with high population densities and ratios of built-up areas. To explore park visitors’ usage and perceptions, we present the results of a survey of 681 individuals from different socioeconomic groups conducted in four small urban parks in Budapest, Hungary’s capital. The survey results found that people living near the block parks were their primary users, but many people from distant areas also visited the parks due to their good accessibility. In addition, findings show that the green components of the parks were generally more satisfactory to users than other amenities, indicating higher quality expectations for cultural ecosystem services in small urban green spaces. However, perceptions of park safety varied across socioeconomic groups, suggesting that views of safety did not necessarily reflect actual park security. Finally, while most respondents stated they would not want to contribute to park maintenance, young people, particularly neighborhood newcomers, showed greater willingness to volunteer for such work.

The Residual Spaces of Developmental Urbanism as Opportunity for Green Cities and Improvement of Human Wellbeing

City densification and greening are two priority urban-policy objectives, for the coming years, aimed at making cities more resilient to climate change, slowing the spread of urbanization and improving the quality of life in cities. These are sometimes contradictory objectives that require fine and deep analysis to create approaches and methods that combine them. The most recent research has presented so-called small urban green spaces (SUGSs) as a viable alternative to achieve this double objective. This was the starting point of this research, which used GIS digital analysis and microscale fieldwork to study the possibilities of greening an excessively dense and low-quality urban space in the city of Pamplona (Spain). The results thereof showed that the urban structure of this neighbourhood contains a large number of small spaces with no specific use or function—residual, surface and vertical spaces—and that are simply undefined remnants between buildings and streets, or party walls that were never built. Only these surface spaces occupy a total area that is twice the size of the existing green spaces. Based on these results, this work explores the possibility of increasing the green areas of the neighbourhood through new SUGSs and the creation of a green corridor that increases environmental and social connectivity and the quality of life in the studied space.

Estimation of the Urban Temperature Reduction Effect in Low-rise Residential Areas using CFD Simulation based on the Shape of the Green Space

Purpose: Rapid urbanization has exacerbated the influence of the urban heat island effect in existing cities, particularly, in low-rise and densely-populated areas. Accordingly, small urban green spaces have been employed to lower the temperatures in urban areas and improve the quality of life. However, the current research on the quantitative analysis of the size and shape of urban green spaces, which maximize the temperature-reducing effect, is insufficient. Therefore, a quantitative analysis was performed in this study to determine the impact of the shape of an urban green space on the cooling effect of vegetation and range of impacts based on three elements: the area, perimeter, and shape index of the urban green space. Method: A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was performed and used to analyze the impact of the shape of the urban green space on the temperature-reducing effect and range of impacts by examining eighteen urban green spaces in three target areas. To this end, programs such as STAR-CCM+ and GIS were employed. Results: The analysis results show a meaningful relationship between the green space area and range of the cooling effect of the vegetation, and indicate the importance of the perimeter of the vegetation in reducing the temperature of the central and surrounding areas of the urban green space. Moreover, although the shape index is not a decisive factor, slender and intricate shapes were found to have a higher cooling effect for a short distance. Therefore, this study contributes to the establishment of a guideline for the development of a pleasant environment in existing cities.

Importance of Urban Green Areas in the Context of Current and Future Global Changes: Lessons Learned from a Case Study in Bratislava (Slovakia)

As one of the largest cities in Slovakia, Bratislava needs to proceed with the greenery concept with regard to mechanisms for adapting to climate change. The potential of developing new areas can be seen in public, semi-public, and private spaces. In this sense, the aim of our research was to map the current situation of urban greenery in the city, identify the capacity for enhancement of small urban green spaces, and present the option of participating in the development of green areas in the selected places to the city’s inhabitants. The condition of urban greenery was analysed and described, with a special emphasis on the untapped potential of green areas on housing estates. Using examples from abroad, cases of successful revitalisation of urban greenery areas on housing estates are given, and the main problems faced by the selected region were assessed. Apart from the above-mentioned main aim, there was the intention to discover new trends for using greenery in the urban environment, to compare past and present conditions, or to present new options and possibilities for designing greenery. A proposal to set up a new system of private and semi-public green areas is viewed as a possible promising result. As another required step, we analysed the effect that different types of information media have on the strengthening of relationship between the city and its inhabitants, i.e., to improve the communication dialogue by establishing an online platform on greenery issues and to increase attention as well as inhabitants’ participation in public life.

Planning small for winning big: Small urban green space distribution patterns in an expanding city

While major urban areas are expanding, becoming more crowded, vegetated lands areshrinking. Built-up densification limits the planning of large urban green spaces,depriving urban dwellers of the benefits provided by such structures. In this context,small public urban green spaces (SPUGS) become of high value for urban landscapes,and their distribution throughout the city should aim to compensate the lack of largergreen areas. The driving forces of SPUGS distribution may be linked to the urbanfunctions they are usually paired with.The current study aimed to determine which are the urban functions that benefit ofhigher amounts of SPUGS in their proximities and to map the distribution and densityof SPUGS within Bucharest, helping us expose the green deprived communities.Results revealed that multi-dwelling residential areas are the ones with higher share ofSPUGS within walking distance. Nevertheless, analysis on SPUGS deprivation withinthe city showed that communist planned residential neighbourhoods are greener thanthe ones developed in the past three decades. Healthcare and commercial functionswithin the city recorded smaller shares of SPUGS in their proximity, highlighting thatvulnerable groups (such as ill people) are exposed to less vegetation, and that publicplanning documents are not encouraging developers to allocate more land for greenfeature development.These results are relevant for projecting the quality of outdoor environmentsthroughout Romania’s capital and for assessing potential future managementchallenges. The outcomes of this research provide local policy makers and plannerswith the vulnerable areas in which immediate action for expanding the greeninfrastructures should take place. At the same time, the methodological approachdescribed in the study proved to be efficient in assessing the distribution of SPUGSthroughout the city and the determinants of this distribution. It can be easily replicatedin other cities by scholars and planners.

Understanding the relationship between small urban parks and mental health: A case study in Shanghai, China

The literature to date has mainly explored the impact on public mental health of green spaces around residential areas, large urban parks, family gardens, blue spaces, national parks, etc., while few studies have examined the association of Small Urban Green Spaces (SUGS) with public mental health. The role, function, and service radius of SUGS in urban people’s lives are quite different from those of general green spaces, and the relationship and mechanism linking general green spaces to mental health cannot be fully applied to small parks. This work was conducted to: 1) investigate the relationship between SUGS and mental health; 2) understand what factors affect mental health; 3) determine what kind of SUGS is more conducive to improving mental health. SUGS’ designs and physical characteristics were evaluated with the Natural Environment Scoring Tool (NEST) and user information for 10 SUGS (1–5 ha) in Shanghai in 2021 was collected via a questionnaire. We developed a multilevel model for exploring the factors affecting mental health from two aspects: the individual level and the park level. This study found that SUGS and mental health were positively associated. In addition to individual–level variables like income, marital status, social cohesion, and use frequency, park–level variables such as usability, aesthetics–natural features, and civilized environment are also conducive to improving mental health, while entertainment facilities in SUGS have a negative association with mental health. There was no evidence that visit frequency, stay time, social cohesion, or physical exercise act as a mediator between park features and mental health. This study provides empirical evidence for the positive correlation between SUGS and mental health and presents a means of promoting public mental health with efficient SUGS planning and management.

Verification of Psychophysiological Effects of Satoyama Activities on Older Adult Volunteers and Young People in Post-COVID-19 Society: A Case Study of Matsudo City, Japan.

Many scholars have focused on Satoyama, which is characterized by mountains or villages away from the urban spaces. Our objective is to verify its psychophysiological effects on people performing usual Satoyama activities in ignored, small urban green spaces to help people find ways to stay healthy in post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) society. In this study, 12 older adult volunteers from the “Forest around the Mountains” Nonprofit Organization and 12 young people from the university were invited as study subjects. They were asked to observe nature for 10 min and work for 30 min in the small green space “Forest around the Mountains”. The Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition (POMS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventor (STAI) were used as psychological scales to detect their psychological restoration and blood pressure before and after the Satoyama activity. Their heart rate during the activity was used as the physiological indicator. The study showed that, as Satoyama volunteers, the older adults group had significant restorative psychophysiological effects during this experiment compared to the younger group; their systolic and diastolic blood pressure dropped significantly after Satoyama activities, On the other hand, the young group have been in the normotensive range before or after Satoyama activities The psychological indicators such as Anger-hostility, Confusion-bewilderment, and Tension-anxiety were significantly lower in the younger group but were still significantly higher than the indicators of the older adults. In general, this study found that Satoyama activities benefited young and older participants, especially older adults with high blood pressure. Satoyama activities in small urban green spaces are thus necessary and worth promoting in the post-COVID-19 era.

An assessment of microclimatic conditions inside vegetated and non-vegetated small-scale open spaces in the Athens urban environment

&lt;p&gt;This study is aimed at quantifying the contribution of small urban green spaces to mitigate adverse bioclimatic conditions within the urban environment of Athens during summer and investigate their thermal profile during a warm, a cold and a transitional period. Six green and non-green sites inside a typical urban cluster in the city of Athens were selected and monitored. Descriptive statistics data were calculated and evaluated for air temperature values and air temperature differences measured at a reference site. Statistical analysis was carried out in order to examine potential statistically significant differences. Results showed that vegetated sites showed a stronger cool island pattern compared to non-vegetated open spaces during the warm period whereas the effect is minimized during the cold period. During the transitional period vegetated and non-vegetated shaded locations was found to present similar heat island patterns.&lt;/p&gt;&#x0D;

The relevance of urban agroforestry and urban remnant forest for avian diversity in a densely-populated developing country: The case of Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Urban green spaces can contribute to conserve some of the original avian diversity in urbanized landscapes. However, the relative contribution of urban agriculture vs. urban forest remnants to the preservation of the avifauna in large cities, particularly in developing countries in the tropics, remains poorly documented. We assessed bird assemblages in the densely-populated capital city of Port-au-Prince in Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world. From early January to late April 2018, 10 censuses per site were conducted in 16 urban green sites, consisting of 8 unexploited, private forest patches and 8 agroforestry plantations, embedded within the urban landscape and ranging in size between 1 and 11 ha. Overall, 32 and 34 different bird species were recorded in forest patches and agroforestry sites, respectively, including two endemic species listed as vulnerable by IUCN, Corvus leucognaphalus and Amazona ventralis. There was a large overlap (85 %) in the composition of avian assemblages between urban agroforest sites and urban forest remnants. However, pairwise compositional dissimilarity increased with increasing distance between sites. Finally, both species richness and diversity in the 16 sites were negatively correlated with the percentage of built habitat in a 500-m radius around each site. We discuss our results in relation to the importance of small urban green spaces in countries suffering from high levels of deforestation and severe poverty.

QUALITY OF DESIGNS AND FEATURES OF SMALL URBAN GREEN SPACES IN PETALING JAYA TOWN, MALAYSIA

Small Urban Green Spaces (SUGS) mushroomed in dense cities as a scaled down version of larger parks. In the past, SUGS are often abandoned, or their quality is often overlooked. The purpose of this study is to explore the design and features to make a good quality SUGS. Five experts were approached with a weightage evaluation to rate its quality based on selected criteria's; Accessibility, Attractiveness, Functionality, and Safety. Each criterion had a variable to measure the construct. Findings from the expert evaluation showed that SUGS were rated medium or low overall quality. The variables that obtained the highest score and attained high-quality ratings were Obstacles (Safety criteria), General Maintenance (Attractiveness criteria), and Play Area (Accessibility criteria). Interview with park users revealed that they preferred the "presence of trees," "well-maintained environment," and "walking path accessibility." The least preferred attributes were "poor maintenance," "dangerous walking path," and "negative perception of safety." Overall, to ensure the quality of SUGS attention should be placed on the Accessibility of its features (e.g., walking path and play area), the attractiveness of the park (e.g., vegetation and maintenance), the functionality of the features (e.g., sports facilities) and perception of Safety (e.g., absence of obstacles).

Wooded areas promote species richness in urban parks

Urban green spaces can have an important role in biodiversity conservation. However, they are not often a focus of biodiversity studies, although their global area is raising. We investigated the impact of habitat characteristics of urban green spaces on an ecologically important group of insects—ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). We tested three questions: 1) does ant species richness positively correlate with park size and the extent of wooded areas? 2) Is ground temperature the best predictor of ant activity? 3) Will communities be dominated by thermophilic, dry-tolerant, generalist species? Using pitfall traps, hand collecting, and baiting we sampled 7595 ants belonging to 30 species, across eight localities in urban protected areas of the city of Zagreb, Croatia. Parks with larger wooded areas had high species richness, but park size was not a good predictor of species richness. Ant activity was largely influenced by temperature. Five out of eight localities had similar ant community composition. The remaining three localities each had unique ant communities with no overlap with any other locality. Overall, in addition to typical urban species, we recorded species of conservation interest. Thus, small urban green spaces have the capacity to support and conserve diverse ant communities, but their habitat characteristics need to be considered in urban planning.