Measuring Accessibility of Green Spaces for the Health and Wellbeing of Inhabitants of the Milan Metropolitan Area

Several studies have recognised the importance of urban green spaces (UGSs) in modern cities. However, the distribution and accessibility of green spaces represent a challenge for the sustainable development of territories in terms of fair distribution, reducing inequalities, and mitigating the effe...

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Main Authors: Maria Chiara Pastore, Claudia Ida Maria Parenti, Corinna Patetta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/1/97
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author Maria Chiara Pastore
Claudia Ida Maria Parenti
Corinna Patetta
author_facet Maria Chiara Pastore
Claudia Ida Maria Parenti
Corinna Patetta
author_sort Maria Chiara Pastore
collection DOAJ
description Several studies have recognised the importance of urban green spaces (UGSs) in modern cities. However, the distribution and accessibility of green spaces represent a challenge for the sustainable development of territories in terms of fair distribution, reducing inequalities, and mitigating the effects of climate change, such as urban heat islands and runoff. This research identifies every UGS capable of contributing to people’s physical and mental wellbeing in the Milan metropolitan area (MMA), one of the most densely populated areas in Europe. The method allows for the various UGSs to be identified and classified using a comparative approach that considers both formal and informal green spaces through a qualitative territorial analysis and the support of open access databases (satellite and thematic maps). Based on this classification, this contribution establishes an ‘accessibility map’ of the metropolitan area that determines the actual pedestrian accessibility of a UGS within 300 m. The results show that only 37% of the residential surface of the metropolitan area offers access to a UGS within a five-minute walk. This research aims to identify the most fragile segment of the MMA, which is pivotal for the tree-planting activities sponsored by the Forestami project.
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spelling doaj-art-efb61d51e10d46dd8486d0cb175d13502025-01-24T13:37:53ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-01-011419710.3390/land14010097Measuring Accessibility of Green Spaces for the Health and Wellbeing of Inhabitants of the Milan Metropolitan AreaMaria Chiara Pastore0Claudia Ida Maria Parenti1Corinna Patetta2Dipartimento di Architettura e Studi Urbani, DAStU, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, ItalyDipartimento di Architettura e Studi Urbani, DAStU, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, ItalyDipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, DEIB, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, ItalySeveral studies have recognised the importance of urban green spaces (UGSs) in modern cities. However, the distribution and accessibility of green spaces represent a challenge for the sustainable development of territories in terms of fair distribution, reducing inequalities, and mitigating the effects of climate change, such as urban heat islands and runoff. This research identifies every UGS capable of contributing to people’s physical and mental wellbeing in the Milan metropolitan area (MMA), one of the most densely populated areas in Europe. The method allows for the various UGSs to be identified and classified using a comparative approach that considers both formal and informal green spaces through a qualitative territorial analysis and the support of open access databases (satellite and thematic maps). Based on this classification, this contribution establishes an ‘accessibility map’ of the metropolitan area that determines the actual pedestrian accessibility of a UGS within 300 m. The results show that only 37% of the residential surface of the metropolitan area offers access to a UGS within a five-minute walk. This research aims to identify the most fragile segment of the MMA, which is pivotal for the tree-planting activities sponsored by the Forestami project.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/1/97urban green spacesspatial accessibilityenvironmental equityinformal green spaces
spellingShingle Maria Chiara Pastore
Claudia Ida Maria Parenti
Corinna Patetta
Measuring Accessibility of Green Spaces for the Health and Wellbeing of Inhabitants of the Milan Metropolitan Area
Land
urban green spaces
spatial accessibility
environmental equity
informal green spaces
title Measuring Accessibility of Green Spaces for the Health and Wellbeing of Inhabitants of the Milan Metropolitan Area
title_full Measuring Accessibility of Green Spaces for the Health and Wellbeing of Inhabitants of the Milan Metropolitan Area
title_fullStr Measuring Accessibility of Green Spaces for the Health and Wellbeing of Inhabitants of the Milan Metropolitan Area
title_full_unstemmed Measuring Accessibility of Green Spaces for the Health and Wellbeing of Inhabitants of the Milan Metropolitan Area
title_short Measuring Accessibility of Green Spaces for the Health and Wellbeing of Inhabitants of the Milan Metropolitan Area
title_sort measuring accessibility of green spaces for the health and wellbeing of inhabitants of the milan metropolitan area
topic urban green spaces
spatial accessibility
environmental equity
informal green spaces
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/1/97
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AT corinnapatetta measuringaccessibilityofgreenspacesforthehealthandwellbeingofinhabitantsofthemilanmetropolitanarea