159 / 2023-08-30 10:51:00

An investigation of spatial equity of urban park: Considering the social and ecological functions

urban parks,social function,ecological function,G2SFCA,spatial data field theory,urban park needed area

Abstract： Urban parks are an essential component of urban planning, which serve as important avenues for building sustainable and prosperous people’s city. Urban parks are widely-recognized for their multiple social and ecological benefits. An increasing number of studies indicate that access to urban parks is often unequally distributed within cities. This has sparked a growing interest in identifying the spatial distribution of park-needed areas. While there has been extensive research focusing on the social functions that urban parks provide, particularly for direct use by urban residents, the ecological benefits have not received adequate attention. To address this gap, this study separately assesses the distribution of needed areas of urban parks based on their social and ecological benefits, as well as the combined effects of both two. The results reveal that while the spatial distribution patterns of needed areas of urban parks differ under three scenarios, all demonstrate a higher concentration in central areas compared to the outskirts. It is often in densely populated high-rise residential areas where urban park deficiencies are observed. The potential causes of these disparities are discussed. We also highlight the need to guide park planning with the concept of pocket parks to address the park needed issues in high-density cities.