Assessment of Spatial Equality and Social Justice of Urban Park Distribution from Park Category Perspective: Evidence from Shanghai, China

Jieqiong Wang, Huiqing Jiang, Min Wang (), Yue Xiong, Anna Zhu and Fangxinyi Wang
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Jieqiong Wang: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Huiqing Jiang: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Min Wang: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Yue Xiong: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Urban Design and Urban Science, NYU Shanghai, Shanghai 200122, China
Anna Zhu: Shanghai Urban Planning and Design Research Institute, Shanghai 200040, China
Fangxinyi Wang: The Shanghai Planning and Natural Resources Bureau, Shanghai 200003, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: Urban parks deliver vital ecosystem services and enhance residents’ well-being globally, yet equitable access remains challenging in high-density cities. The prevailing planning paradigms predominantly rely on proximity-based metrics, overlooking critical interactions between demographic diversity, differentiated social demands, and park typology distinctions. Moreover, the existing studies frequently examine aggregate green space distributions without categorically analyzing justice implications. This study develops a geospatial–quantitative framework integrating spatial equality and social justice metrics, applied in Xuhui District, Shanghai. Key findings reveal the following: (1) spatial inequality characterized by large parks clustered in low-density peripheries, while high-density central zones lack adequate park coverage; (2) significant social justice deficits for priority groups (elderly, youth, low-income), exacerbated by insufficient consideration of socioeconomic needs; (3) pronounced disparities in justice across park types, with pocket parks exhibiting the most severe inequities. Consequently, we recommend prioritizing the social demand in park allocation and implementing community-centered pocket park development. This study not only diagnoses spatial–environmental injustices in high-density urban cores but also provides a transferable framework for equitable park planning.

Keywords: urban park; spatial equality; social justice; urban park accessibility (UPA); park category; priority group (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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