Neighbourhood havens or city hotspots? Social-ecological typology of public urban green spaces

In this article, we propose a method for the development of a multidimensional typology of Public Urban Green Spaces (PUGSs). The approach takes account of three contexts of PUGS: site, spatial, and social. Size, land cover diversity and popularity were used to describe the site context of PUGSs, and availability and connectivity characterized the spatial context. Data from a representative survey was utilized to illustrate the social context. The typology was implemented for a big European city and its surrounding municipalities, i.e. Warsaw Urban Zone (Poland). 330 PUGSs were identified and grouped into five types. Variables describing connectivity, land cover diversity and popularity differentiated the types the best. Distance from the place of residence was not significantly important. The analysis revealed that most people prefer visiting large, diversified and well-connected PUGSs, and cover long distances to get there. Small and diversified areas are visited almost exclusively by those living nearby. Small, undiversified and unconnected green areas are poorly visited. The proposed typology helps to reduce the complexity of PUGSs and provides a comprehensive and concise approach based on numerical and measureable data, required to formulate effective land use policies.