Mapping Meaning: Perceptions of Green Infrastructure and Cultural Ecosystem Services in the Rapidly Urbanizing Town of Vác, Hungary

István Valánszki, László Zoltán Nádasy (), Tímea Katalin Erdei, Anna Éva Borkó, Vera Iváncsics and Zsófia Földi
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István Valánszki: Department of Landscape Protection and Reclamation, Institute of Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning and Garden Art, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 1118 Budapest, Hungary
László Zoltán Nádasy: Department of Landscape Protection and Reclamation, Institute of Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning and Garden Art, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 1118 Budapest, Hungary
Tímea Katalin Erdei: Department of Landscape Protection and Reclamation, Institute of Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning and Garden Art, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 1118 Budapest, Hungary
Anna Éva Borkó: Department of Landscape Protection and Reclamation, Institute of Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning and Garden Art, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 1118 Budapest, Hungary
Vera Iváncsics: Department of Landscape Protection and Reclamation, Institute of Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning and Garden Art, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 1118 Budapest, Hungary
Zsófia Földi: Department of Landscape Protection and Reclamation, Institute of Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning and Garden Art, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 1118 Budapest, Hungary

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: Urban sprawl and suburbanization are reshaping peri-urban areas, challenging urban planning and community well-being. Our study investigates questions regarding the perception of Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) and development preferences (DP) related to Green Infrastructure (GI) in Vác, Hungary, including how CES and DP indicators related to GI vary spatially; how they align with municipal DI designations; how they relate to sociodemographic factors; and how they are applicable to urban planning practices. We used PPGIS and structured interviews with 375 residents to collect over 4900 spatial data points in order to analyze how perceived values, development preferences, officially designated GI elements and sociodemographic characteristics, relate to each other. The results show that CES are strongly associated with GI elements, especially along the riverfront and in downtown areas. However, development preferences, especially congestion and safety concerns, were more dispersed, often located in outer residential areas and along transportation routes. Statistical analyses showed significant differences across age, marital status, and co-residence with children, influencing both CES perception and development preferences. Our study highlights the gap between official GI designations and community-valued spaces, emphasizing the importance of participatory planning and the integration of sociodemographic dimensions into planning practices in rapidly transforming suburban environments.

Keywords: participatory mapping; PPGIS; peri-urban areas; urban planning; socio-spatial analysis; Central Europe (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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