Spatial Equity in Access to Urban Parks via Public Transit: A Centrality-Driven Assessment of Mexico City

Ana María Durán-Pérez, Juan Manuel Núñez () and Célida Gómez Gámez
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Ana María Durán-Pérez: Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de Información Geoespacial (CentroGeo), Contoy 137, Colonia Lomas de Padierna, Tlalpan, Ciudad de México 14240, Mexico
Juan Manuel Núñez: Centro Transdisciplinar Universitario para la Sustentabilidad (Centrus), Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, Prolongación Paseo de la Reforma 880, Colonia Lomas de Santa Fe, Álvaro Obregón, Ciudad de México 01219, Mexico
Célida Gómez Gámez: Departamento de Arquitectura, Urbanismo e Ingeniería Civil, Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, Prolongación Paseo de la Reforma 880, Colonia Lomas de Santa Fe, Álvaro Obregón, Ciudad de México 01219, Mexico

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: Urban parks play a crucial role in promoting physical and mental health by providing green spaces for recreation, relaxation, and social interaction. However, access to these spaces is often constrained by the structure and performance of public transportation networks—particularly in megacities marked by spatial and social inequalities. This study evaluates equitable access to urban parks in Mexico City through the public transit system, using centrality-based metrics within a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network analysis framework. Parks are categorized by size (small: 0.3–1 ha; medium: 1–4.5 ha; large: >4.5 ha), and three centrality measures—reach, gravity, and closeness—are applied to assess their accessibility via different transport modes: Metro, bus rapid transit (BRT), trolleybuses, public buses, and concessioned services. Results show that Metro stations are more connected to large parks, while BRT and trolleybus lines improve access to small and medium parks. Concessioned services, however, present fragmented and uneven coverage, reinforcing socio-spatial disparities in access to green infrastructure. The findings underscore the importance of integrated, multimodal transportation planning to enhance equitable access to parks—an essential component of urban health and well-being. By highlighting the spatial patterns of accessibility, this study contributes to designing healthier and more inclusive public spaces in the city, supporting policy frameworks that advance health equity and urban sustainability.

Keywords: spatial equity; urban accessibility; urban public spaces; inclusive public spaces; centrality measures; public transit; urban health (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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