Do We Need Public Green Spaces Accessibility Standards for the Sustainable Development of Urban Settlements? The Evidence from Wrocław, Poland

Justyna Rubaszek (), Janusz Gubański and Anna Podolska
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Justyna Rubaszek: Department of Landscape Architecture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 55 Grunwaldzka Street, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland
Janusz Gubański: Department of Landscape Architecture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 55 Grunwaldzka Street, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland
Anna Podolska: Department of Landscape Architecture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 55 Grunwaldzka Street, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-26

Abstract: Public green spaces (PGSs) have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of urban residents. However, their accessibility can be limited due to high urbanisation pressures and inadequate or insufficient regulatory provisions. This problem has been recognised for Central European cities, of which Wrocław is an example, where the provision of PGS accessibility has not received major attention in recent decades, and the planning system has been in constant transformation since the transition from a centrally planned to a free-market economy. This study therefore aimed to examine the distribution and accessibility of PGSs in the expanding area of Wrocław today and upon implementation of the plans under the proposed standards. These analyses were performed using the QGIS application, network analysis, and the ISO-Area as polygon algorithm. The findings revealed a conspicuous lack of available PGSs, which includes areas above 2 ha, such as district and neighbourhood parks. New PGSs are now being planned, but even so, part of the residential areas will remain outside their catchment zone. The results obtained provide strong evidence that it is essential that standards should be a tool implemented in urban planning, and that the adopted procedure can be transferred to other cities.

Keywords: green spaces provision; standard approach; proximity of public green spaces; planning of residential areas; housing estates; neighbourhood; densification; urbanisation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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