Analyzing the Mismatch Between Urban Park Supply and Community Needs in Busan: A Public Health Perspective

Abstract

Urban parks are essential for enhancing public health and environmental sustainability, as they reduce urban heat, improve air quality, and provide spaces for physical activity. Inequalities in park allocation, however, lead to access discrepancies, disproportionately impacting populations already struggling socially. The spatial disparity between park supply and demand in Busan, South Korea, is examined in this study through a quantitative approach incorporating socio-economic indicators and GIS(Geographic Information System)-based analysis. First, we divided Busan into 100 m × 100 m grid cells and applied a modified Huff model, setting a kind of distance-decay exponent β, to estimate park supply against baseline demand (the planning standard of 6 m2 per person), and overlaid a composite need index of six socio-economic indicators to pinpoint underserved areas. Our first stage grid-based arithmetic analysis revealed that 100 of Busan’s 205 communities are undersupplied. Given a composite need index of six socio-economic indicators, sixty-two cells remained imbalanced, and we finally identified the ten communities with the highest need for targeted park provision. The findings indicate that Busan’s park planning policies, aimed at enhancing per capita green space, do not adequately address localized disparities. Accordingly, as opposed to a uniform expansion plan, this study stresses the importance of prioritizing park provision according to community-specific needs. These results suggest that policymakers could enhance public health outcomes and advance social equity by considering socio-economic vulnerabilities when planning cities. Specifically, this research highlights the significance of including environmental justice in urban sustainability frameworks and gives actionable ideas for fair park allocation.