accessibility of public urban green space. A case study of Białystok city

Abstract

Motives: Urban green spaces have many functions in cities. They are used for recreational purposes, and they contribute to improving social interactions and community cohesiveness. For this reason, the location and area of urban green spaces should correspond to the size of the city and its population. Aim: The main aim of this study was to analyze the accessibility of managed and publicly available urban green spaces, referred to as public urban green spaces (PUGS), in four functional and spatial zones in the city of Białystok. The analysis included parks, green squares (pocket parks, ornamental green squares, boulevards) and public forests. The accessibility of PUGS was determined in view of their size and role in the urban spatial structure. Spatial data were processed in GIS and quantitative analyses. Results: The study demonstrated that the area of PUGS per capita meets the requirements of the World Health Organization (WHO), but the area of parks and green squares should be increased. The accessibility buffers of public green spaces often overlapped, in particular in downtown Białystok (Central zone) which is most abundant in these green infrastructure components. The analysis also revealed locations that do not have access to urban green spaces. The results of the study were used to formulate guidelines for incorporating new green spaces in Białystok and improving the urban spatial structure.

Landscape Perception and the Importance of Recreation Areas for Students during the Pandemic Time

“…There is no doubt that the distance to the nearest recreational area is important for its potential users [ 99 ]. The closer a green area is to a place of residence, the more likely it is visited by residents [ 100 ]. Similarly, our findings suggests that in the case of Lublin students changed the rating of the accessibility of recreational areas during the pandemic.…”

“…Our study suggested that landscape and public space enabling recreation outdoors should hold an important place in the spatial policies of cities. The evident worse rating of the accessibility of recreation areas during the pandemic indicates the necessity to ensure pedestrian accessibility to increasingly vast green recreation areas both within city boundaries and in smaller localities [ 100 ]. Our study suggested paying more attention to highlighting valuable views and the presence of quiet areas that are part of the green and blue infrastructure in cities.…”

The Importance of Resilient, Health-Promoting, and Accessible Cultural Landscapes Using the Example of One Suburb of Gdańsk, Poland

“…In Cracow, Poland's second-largest city, with an area of 327 km 2 and a population of around 780 thousand, landscaped greenery covers only 13.47% of the city's area and includes public parks and cemeteries [15]. A study in another Polish city, Białystok, revealed that even though the WHO standards are met, there are some deficiencies in access to public green spaces [16]. That is the problem in Gda ńsk as well [17].…”

“…The design of a "UGS" strives to replicate some qualities of natural landscapes, e.g., beauty, serenity, sounds, smells, and multisensory experiences [4]. The social and symbolic environment might be difficult to create, but usually, there are existent attributes of placeness-"the quality of being a place" in a "UGS" which might Sustainability 2024, 16, 3652 2 of 19 be the reasoning behind the health-promoting atmosphere [5]. That question is even more important during the times of the epidemiological, humanitarian, and economic crises the world is facing today.…”