Is Proximity to Parks Associated with Physical Activity and Well-Being? Insights from 15-Minute Parks Policy Initiative in Bangkok, Thailand

The proximity of urban green spaces to residential areas has become a central principle in contemporary urban planning, with cities worldwide adopting “15-minute city” concepts that prioritize walking-distance access to parks. This study examined whether proximity to different types of parks influences park visitation, physical activity, and mental well-being in Bangkok, Thailand, where the government recently launched a 15-minute parks policy initiative to improve the proximity of urban residents to green spaces. Using a cross-sectional survey of 615 residents across Bangkok’s 50 districts, we measured proximity to six park types using GIS network analysis and assessed health outcomes through validated instruments (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, GPAQ for physical activity GPAQ for physical activity, and WHO-5 for well-being). Our findings revealed that only proximity to community parks (5–20 ha) was significantly associated with park visitation, sufficient physical activity, and good well-being. Proximity to smaller parks, including the new 15-minute parks, pocket parks, and neighborhood parks, showed no significant associations with any health outcomes, despite being within walking distance. These results suggest a critical size threshold below which parks cannot generate health and well-being benefits in Bangkok’s environment. The findings challenge the argument commonly used in proximity-based green space policies that assume closer parks automatically improve park visitation and public health benefits, indicating that cities facing similar constraints should balance between providing small park networks and securing larger, functional parks to support meaningful recreational use or health improvements.