Beyond Proximity: Assessing Social Equity in Park Accessibility for Older Adults Using an Improved Gaussian 2SFCA Method

Yi Huang, Wenjun Wu, Zhenhong Shen, Jie Zhu and Hui Chen ()
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Yi Huang: School of Internet of Things, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210003, China
Wenjun Wu: School of Internet of Things, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210003, China
Zhenhong Shen: School of Internet of Things, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210003, China
Jie Zhu: Department of Geomatics Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Hui Chen: College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-18

Abstract: Urban park green spaces (UPGSs) play a critical role in enhancing residents’ quality of life, particularly for older adults. However, inequities in accessibility and resource distribution remain persistent challenges in aging urban areas. To address this issue, this study takes Gulou District, Nanjing City, as an example and proposes a comprehensive framework to evaluate the overall quality of UPGSs. Furthermore, an enhanced Gaussian two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method is introduced that incorporates (1) a multidimensional park quality score derived from an objective evaluation system encompassing ecological conditions, service quality, age-friendly facilities, and basic infrastructure; and (2) a Gaussian distance decay function calibrated to reflect the walking and public transit mobility patterns of the older adults in the study area. The improved method calculates the accessibility values of UPGSs for older adults living in residential communities under the walking and public transportation scenarios. Finally, factors influencing the social equity of UPGSs are analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients. The experimental results demonstrate that (1) high-accessibility service areas exhibit clustered distributions, with significant differences in accessibility levels across the transportation modes and clear spatial gradient disparities. Specifically, traditional residential neighborhoods often present accessibility blind spots under the walking scenario, accounting for 50.8%, which leads to insufficient accessibility to public green spaces. (2) Structural imbalance and inequities in public service provision have resulted in barriers to UPGS utilization for older adults in certain communities. On this basis, targeted improvement strategies based on accessibility characteristics under different transportation modes are proposed, including the establishment of multi-tiered networked UPGSs and the upgrading of slow-moving transportation infrastructure. The research findings can enhance service efficiency through evidence-based spatial resource reallocation, offering actionable insights for optimizing the spatial layout of UPGSs and advancing the equitable distribution of public services in urban core areas.

Keywords: urban park green spaces; social equity; accessibility; older adults; modified two-step floating catchment area (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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