Changes in the Use of Green Spaces by Citizens Before and During the First COVID-19 Pandemic: A Big Data Analysis Using Mobile-Tracking GPS Data in Kanazawa, Japan

Abstract

To consider green spaces and parks as valuable green infrastructure that provides various socio-ecological benefits, including health, this study analyzed changes in the use of green spaces before and during the first COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, using mobile-tracking GPS data of Kanazawa citizens. The results showed that the declaration of a state of emergency in April–May 2020 changed the outing behavior of Kanazawa citizens, and there was a strong tendency for them to avoid going out, with a decrease in the number, time, and distance of outings. On the other hand, while citizens refrained from going out, the rate of decrease in the number of visits to green spaces was smaller compared to commercial areas, and the number of walks increased slightly from 2019. The distance traveled to green spaces is generally shorter in 2020, and the number of visits to green spaces near one’s home increased in 2020. These findings suggest that those who had green spaces around their homes were able to use them for maintaining their health and refreshment during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding to the increasing evidence for the value of urban green spaces as part of nature-based solutions.

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