Study
SustainabilityNew This WeekStrong effect

Urban Park Distribution Inequities Hinder Community Well-being

Uneven distribution and accessibility of community parks in urban areas can lead to significant disparities in user satisfaction and social inclusion.

Smart Cities · 2025

01

Key Findings

  • 01Pronounced spatial disparities in park access across different neighborhoods.
  • 02Over twenty areas lacked any park access.
  • 03Several areas fell below the recommended 5 m² per capita green space standard.
  • 04Centrally located neighborhoods had adequate provision and higher satisfaction levels.
  • 05Fragmented and inequitable park distribution limits community well-being and social inclusion.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Designers must actively analyze and address spatial inequities in the provision of public amenities to foster inclusive and sustainable urban environments.

How to apply

When designing or evaluating urban public spaces, use GIS to map existing resources and conduct user surveys to identify and address disparities in access and satisfaction.

Project actions

  • 01When planning a park, consider the surrounding neighborhoods and ensure equitable access for all.
  • 02Use mapping tools to visualize the distribution of your design's impact.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo evaluate the spatial equity of community parks in Al-Khobar City, Saudi Arabia, by examining their proximity, availability, distribution, accessibility, and user satisfaction.
MethodMixed-methods approach integrating Geographic Information System (GIS)-based spatial analysis with a structured user survey.
ProcedureGIS was used to map park locations, calculate per capita green space, and assess accessibility within a 500 m walking radius. A survey of 300 respondents captured user satisfaction and perceptions of park dimensions and indicators.
Sample300 respondents
ContextUrban planning and public space design in Al-Khobar City, Saudi Arabia.

Variables

IV["Neighborhood location","Proximity to parks","Per capita green space"]
DV["User satisfaction","Perceptions of park dimensions","Social inclusion"]
CV["Park size","Park amenities","Socio-economic status of residents"]
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Combines quantitative spatial analysis with qualitative user feedback.
  • +Provides a replicable framework for assessing urban green space equity.
  • +Addresses a critical aspect of urban sustainability and liveability.

Limitations

The specific walking distance used (500m) might not be relevant for all user groups or urban densities. User satisfaction can be influenced by factors beyond just proximity and availability.

Reliability & validity

The use of GIS for objective spatial measurements enhances validity. The survey data's reliability depends on the survey design and respondent engagement. Triangulating GIS data with survey feedback strengthens the overall validity.

Think critically

How might cultural factors or specific urban morphologies influence the 'ideal' distribution and accessibility of public parks?

05

Design Principles

"Equitable access to public spaces is fundamental for urban liveability and social cohesion."

Designers and urban planners must consider the equitable distribution of public spaces to ensure all community members have access to vital amenities. Neglecting spatial equity can exacerbate social divides and undermine the liveability and sustainability goals of a city.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Parks aren't spread out fairly in cities, and this makes some people happier and more included than others. We need to make sure everyone has good access to parks.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of equitable distribution of resources in your design project.
  • 2.Use the methodology as inspiration for your own user research and spatial analysis.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

(2025). Spatial Analysis on Urban Justice Delivering the Community Parks: A Case of the Saudi Arabian City of Al-Khobar. Smart Cities. https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities8060205 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/18639f36-cdcf-4a91-a6b4-b9dfa4bbee56/urban-park-distribution-inequities-hinder-community-well-being

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the critical need for equitable distribution of public spaces, as demonstrated by spatial disparities in community park access and user satisfaction in Al-Khobar City. The findings underscore that neglecting equitable provision can limit community well-being and social inclusion, suggesting that design projects should actively analyze and address such inequities to foster more inclusive and sustainable urban environments.

09

Source

Smart Cities

Spatial Analysis on Urban Justice Delivering the Community Parks: A Case of the Saudi Arabian City of Al-Khobar

journal · 2025

View source

Questions about this research

What does the research say about urban park distribution inequities hinder community well-being?
Designers must actively analyze and address spatial inequities in the provision of public amenities to foster inclusive and sustainable urban environments. Evidence: Smart Cities (2025).
Why does "Urban Park Distribution Inequities Hinder Community Well-being" matter for design?
Designers and urban planners must consider the equitable distribution of public spaces to ensure all community members have access to vital amenities. Neglecting spatial equity can exacerbate social divides and undermine the liveability and sustainability goals of a city.
How can designers apply this research?
Designers must actively analyze and address spatial inequities in the provision of public amenities to foster inclusive and sustainable urban environments.
What were the main findings?
Pronounced spatial disparities in park access across different neighborhoods.. Over twenty areas lacked any park access.. Several areas fell below the recommended 5 m² per capita green space standard.. Centrally located neighborhoods had adequate provision and higher satisfaction levels.
What research method was used?
Mixed-methods approach integrating Geographic Information System (GIS)-based spatial analysis with a structured user survey. with 300 respondents.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Smart Cities.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When designing or evaluating urban public spaces, use GIS to map existing resources and conduct user surveys to identify and address disparities in access and satisfaction.
What are the limitations?
The study focused on a single city, and the findings may not be directly generalizable to all urban contexts without adaptation. The 500m walking radius is a standard but may not reflect actual user behavior in all areas.
Is there evidence that community parks affects design outcomes?
The study found that community parks are not evenly distributed in Al-Khobar City, with many areas having no access and others having insufficient green space per person, leading to lower satisfaction and social inclusion in underserved neighborhoods. Designers and urban planners must consider the equitable distributio Source: Smart Cities (2025).
Where does this urban research apply?
Urban planning and public space design in Al-Khobar City, Saudi Arabia. It sits within sustainability research on designdex.org.

Related research topics

community parks design research · evidence on community parks · does community parks improve design outcomes · urban studies for designers · community parks and urban findings · sustainability research evidence