Visualizing fairness: distributional equity of urban green spaces for marginalized groups

Previous environmental justice studies of urban green spaces (UGSs) have typically focused on issues of race/ethnicity or income level in Western countries and given limited attention to other dimensions of social disadvantage in Asian countries. To address this research gap, we examined distributional equity/inequity of UGSs among senior citizens living alone, single-mother families, individuals with disability, and basic livelihood security recipients in Seoul, South Korea. A geographically weighted regression was employed via a case study of 424 Dong districts in Seoul. Findings showed spatially heterogeneous equitable and inequitable access to UGSs; solitary seniors and single-mother families were more likely to experience inequitable access to UGSs, whereas people with disability and basic livelihood security recipients were more likely to have equitable access to UGSs. Seoul park management agencies could use the study findings to allocate resources for groups/regions that are in need of more access to UGSs.