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Effects of green space on walking: Does size, shape and density matter?

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaohu Zhang

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)

  • Scott Melbourne

    (University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

  • Chinmoy Sarkar

    (University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

  • Alain Chiaradia

    (University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

  • Chris Webster

    (University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

Abstract

The role of the built environment in improving public health through fostering physical activity has come under increased scrutiny in recent years. This study investigates relationships between walking activity and the configuration of green spaces in Greater London. Pedestrian activity for N  = 54,910 walking trip stages is gathered through the London Travel Demand Survey (LTDS), with routes between origin and destination mapped onto the street network from the Integrated Transport Network of Ordnance Survey. Green spaces were extracted from UKMap and agglomerated to form London’s hundreds of parks. Regressions of pedestrian activity on park configuration, controlling for built environment metrics, revealed that catchments around smaller parks have more walking trips. Irregularity of park shape has the opposite effect. Park density, measured as number of parks inside a catchment, is insignificant in regression. Parks adjacent to retail areas were associated with pronounced increases in walking. The study contributes to landscape, urban management, environmental policy and urban planning and design literature. The evidence provides implications for performance-oriented policy and design decisions that configure a city’s green spaces to improve citizens’ public health through enhancing walkability.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaohu Zhang & Scott Melbourne & Chinmoy Sarkar & Alain Chiaradia & Chris Webster, 2020. "Effects of green space on walking: Does size, shape and density matter?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(16), pages 3402-3420, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:57:y:2020:i:16:p:3402-3420
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098020902739
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Kaczynski, A.T. & Potwarka, L.R. & Saelens P, B.E., 2008. "Association of park size, distance, and features with physical activity in neighborhood parks," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(8), pages 1451-1456.
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    4. Sugiyama, T. & Gunn, L.D. & Christian, H. & Francis, J. & Foster, S. & Hooper, P. & Owen, N. & Giles-Corti, B., 2015. "Quality of public open spaces and recreational walking," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(12), pages 2490-2495.
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    Cited by:

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    5. Zhang, Xiaohu, 2021. "Beyond expected regularity of aggregate urban mobility: A case study of ridesourcing service," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    6. Bin Xu & Qingxia Shi & Yaping Zhang, 2022. "Evaluation of the Health Promotion Capabilities of Greenway Trails: A Case Study in Hangzhou, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-21, April.
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    9. Lin Qiao & Jingwei Zhuang & Xuan Zhang & Yang Su & Yiping Xia, 2021. "Assessing Emotional Responses to the Spatial Quality of Urban Green Spaces through Self-Report and Face Recognition Measures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-22, August.
    10. Kimon Krenz & Ashley Dhanani & Rosemary R. C. McEachan & Kuldeep Sohal & John Wright & Laura Vaughan, 2023. "Linking the Urban Environment and Health: An Innovative Methodology for Measuring Individual-Level Environmental Exposures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-22, January.

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