Optimal Site Selection Strategies for Urban Parks Green Spaces Under the Joint Perspective of Spatial Equity and Social Equity

Overview

Journal Front Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2024 Apr 19

PMID 38638465

Authors

Youqiang Zhao

Peng Gong

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Urban park green spaces (UPGS) are a crucial element of social public resources closely related to the health and well-being of urban residents, and issues of equity have always been a focal point of concern. This study takes the downtown area of Nanchang as an example and uses more accurate point of interest (POI) and area of interest (AOI) data as analysis sources. The improved Gaussian two-step floating catchment area (G2SFCA) and spatial autocorrelation models are then used to assess the spatial and social equity in the study area, and the results of the two assessments were coupled to determine the optimization objective using the community as the smallest unit. Finally, the assessment results are combined with the k-means algorithm and particle swarm algorithm (PSO) to propose practical optimization strategies with the objectives of minimum walking distance and maximum fairness. The results indicate (1) There are significant differences in UPGS accessibility among residents with different walking distances, with the more densely populated Old Town and Honggu Tan areas having lower average accessibility and being the main areas of hidden blindness, while the fringe areas in the northern and south-western parts of the city are the main areas of visible blindness. (2) Overall, the UPGS accessibility in Nanchang City exhibits a spatial pattern of decreasing from the east, south, and west to the center. Nanchang City is in transition towards improving spatial and social equity while achieving basic regional equity. (3) There is a spatial positive correlation between socioeconomic level and UPGS accessibility, reflecting certain social inequity. (4) Based on the above research results, the UPGS layout optimization scheme was proposed, 29 new UPGS locations and regions were identified, and the overall accessibility was improved by 2.76. The research methodology and framework can be used as a tool to identify the underserved areas of UPGS and optimize the spatial and social equity of UPGS, which is in line with the current trend of urban development in the world and provides a scientific basis for urban infrastructure planning and spatial resource allocation.

Citing Articles

Spatial accessibility and equity of community healthcare: unraveling the impact of varying time and transport mode.

Ni J, Wang Z, Li H, Chen J, Long Q Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1380884.

PMID: 39050599 PMC: 11266023. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1380884.

References

Feng S, Chen L, Sun R, Feng Z, Li J, Khan M . The Distribution and Accessibility of Urban Parks in Beijing, China: Implications of Social Equity. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019; 16(24). PMC: 6950166. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16244894. View

Li L, Du Q, Ren F, Ma X . Assessing Spatial Accessibility to Hierarchical Urban Parks by Multi-Types of Travel Distance in Shenzhen, China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019; 16(6). PMC: 6466280. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16061038. View

Wu W, Ding K . Optimization Strategy for Parks and Green Spaces in Shenyang City: Improving the Supply Quality and Accessibility. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(8). PMC: 9031746. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084443. View

Hillsdon M, Panter J, Foster C, Jones A . The relationship between access and quality of urban green space with population physical activity. Public Health. 2006; 120(12):1127-32. DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2006.10.007. View

Miyake K, Maroko A, Grady K, Maantay J, Arno P . Not Just a Walk in the Park: Methodological Improvements for Determining Environmental Justice Implications of Park Access in New York City for the Promotion of Physical Activity. Cities Environ. 2011; 3(1):1-17. PMC: 3160641. DOI: 10.15365/cate.3182010. View

Luo W, Qi Y . An enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) method for measuring spatial accessibility to primary care physicians. Health Place. 2009; 15(4):1100-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2009.06.002. View

Luo W, Whippo T . Variable catchment sizes for the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method. Health Place. 2012; 18(4):789-95. DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2012.04.002. View

Maas J, Verheij R, Groenewegen P, de Vries S, Spreeuwenberg P . Green space, urbanity, and health: how strong is the relation?. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2006; 60(7):587-92. PMC: 2566234. DOI: 10.1136/jech.2005.043125. View

McCormack G, Rock M, Toohey A, Hignell D . Characteristics of urban parks associated with park use and physical activity: a review of qualitative research. Health Place. 2010; 16(4):712-26. DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.03.003. View

10.

Zhang S, Yu P, Chen Y, Jing Y, Zeng F . Accessibility of Park Green Space in Wuhan, China: Implications for Spatial Equity in the Post-COVID-19 Era. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(9). PMC: 9104138. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095440. View

11.

Giles-Corti B, Broomhall M, Knuiman M, Collins C, Douglas K, Ng K . Increasing walking: how important is distance to, attractiveness, and size of public open space?. Am J Prev Med. 2005; 28(2 Suppl 2):169-76. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2004.10.018. View

12.

Fransen K, Neutens T, De Maeyer P, Deruyter G . A commuter-based two-step floating catchment area method for measuring spatial accessibility of daycare centers. Health Place. 2015; 32:65-73. DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.01.002. View

13.

Lin Y, Zhou Y, Lin M, Wu S, Li B . Exploring the disparities in park accessibility through mobile phone data: Evidence from Fuzhou of China. J Environ Manage. 2020; 281:111849. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111849. View

14.

Niu Q, Wang Y, Xia Y, Wu H, Tang X . Detailed Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Urban Parks According to Day and Travel Mode Based on Web Mapping API: A Case Study of Main Parks in Wuhan. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018; 15(8). PMC: 6122078. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15081725. View

15.

Khan A . An integrated approach to measuring potential spatial access to health care services. Socioecon Plann Sci. 1992; 26(4):275-87. DOI: 10.1016/0038-0121(92)90004-o. View