Access to urban green spaces and environmental inequality in post-socialist cities

Abstract

Access to urban green spaces and environmental inequalities are increasingly on the agenda in contemporary cities due to increasing density of people, widening social inequalities, and limited access to Urban Green Spaces (UGS). This is even so in post-socialist cities where recent urban sprawl and suburbanisation could be strongly linked to the scarcity of adequate green spaces in the inner-parts of cities. This paper examines the provision and accessibility of public green spaces in Debrecen, a second tier city in post-socialist Hungary, with applying a walking distance approach. Using GIS technology and socio-demographic data of residents the study assesses the availability and accessibility of green spaces in the city, and their social equity. According to research results the geographical distribution of UGS is very uneven in the city, some neighbourhoods lack public green spaces, while others are well-supplied. This is partly due to the natural environment and the post-WWII development of the city. Research findings show that the quality of residential green spaces is generally poor or very poor. Research also confirmed the widening environmental inequalities within the local society. New upmarket residential areas, where the wealthiest section of population reside are rich in high-quality (private) green spaces. Other lower-status neighbourhoods, including some of the socialist housing estates, suffer from the lack of good quality green spaces. Authors argue that environmental justice should be a core concept of city-planning considering not only the officially designated public green spaces, but also other forms of urban green (institutional, private etc.).

A systematic review of urban green space research over the last 30 years: A bibliometric analysis

“…The keywords in Phase #3 represent the social aspect of UGS research; however, the strongest keyword in this period is “land surface temperature”, with a burst strength of 6.87. The most recent keywords in Phase #3 (see the keywords of “access”, “street”, “disparity”, and “accessibility”) are in line with an emerging concept in urban planning; that is, the provision of UGSs for people within a reasonable walking distance and time [ [59] , [60] , [61] , [62] , [63] ]. In Phase #3, China replaced North America as the top geographical keyword.…”

Distance to Natural Environments, Physical Activity, Sleep, and Body Composition in Women: An Exploratory Analysis

“…According to Goldenberg et al [ 137 ], people with higher incomes tend to have greater access to nearby green and blue spaces that are within walking distance of their homes. Furthermore, wealthy residential areas tend to have abundant high-quality green spaces, while lower-income neighborhoods often lack such spaces [ 138 ]. According to Markevych et al [ 23 ], the health benefits from green spaces can be even more crucial for people with lower socioeconomic status (SES) and those who live in more deprived neighborhoods.…”

Environmental Justice and Urban Parks. A Case Study Applied to Tarragona (Spain)

“…In future research, it would be relevant to consider the different user groups, the feeling of safety and security and social interaction. This work has not considered the quality of the parks as a factor of environmental justice because urban green areas are relevant for the urban quality of life and for promoting environmental equity [46]. For their part, some authors [47] believe that in order to determine environmental justice, the accessibility and availability of green areas, you have to also consider their quality.…”