The Current Status of Green Space around Elementary Schools: A Case Study of Malang, Indonesia

Abstract

Green space is important for childhood development, particularly in developing countries. The city of Malang, Indonesia has experienced steady economic and population growth in recent years, but green space area in the urban environment has been declining. In this study, we elucidated the status of green space accessible to children in Malang, and discussed ways of improving green space use. We identified green spaces around 291 elementary schools using satellite remote sensing. A RapidEye satellite image, which covered the study area with a 5-m ground sample distance, was acquired on May 20, 2015. From this image, the area of green spaces within 1 km radius circles of elementary schools were calculated. The total area of green space in the city was 45.439 km 2 , 41.3% of the total city area. Smaller green spaces were located near the city center, whereas larger green spaces were located in the southeastern part of the city. The green space ratio within 1 km of 96 schools was less than 15%, and it was 15-30% around 104 schools. Overall, there were few green spaces within walking distance of schools in Malang. The green space ratio in the city center was also low. Green spaces in the city should be maintained, and additional opportunities should be provided for children to access green spaces.