Abstract
This paper presents an analysis of the distribution of urban spaces, parks, and other green areas in the City of Copenhagen in relation to demographic indicators, notably concerning population density and the spatial concentration of different age groups. The broad health benefits provided by urban greenery to urban dwellers are well documented in urban studies. The aim of this paper is to further contribute to this scholarship through the analysis of accessibility to green spaces by different age groups and in this way to shed light on their opportunities for health enhancing physical activity in the urban environment. The analysis is part of an ongoing study of urban density mapping based on a collaboration with the City of Copenhagen. The analysis of distribution of green spaces is based on several datasets, including location of major green spaces and parks, location, and radius of individual trees and NDVI index. The Copenhagen Municipal Plan 2019 proposes to increase social equity through physical and mental health-promoting urban planning and through provision of good quality green public spaces. The analysis shows that vulnerable groups such as the older population (≥ 65-year-olds) are not particularly challenged in terms of accessibility to green spaces. Based on this analysis, the authors formulate urban policy recommendations for meeting the targets for healthy living set by the City of Copenhagen.
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Notes
- 1.
COVID-19 Community Mobility Report, Capital Region of Denmark May 27, 2021.
- 2.
According to the definition used by the City of Copenhagen in its 2022 “analysis of accessibility to green and blue areas”, a “green” area in the existing city needs to fulfil certain criteria, including a minimum size of 500 m2, a minimum width of 10 m, and a minimum 25% green cover (including the extent of tree canopy), and public access is secured both physically and by law (The City of Copenhagen, Financial Administration, 2022, p. 6).
- 3.
According to the City of Copenhagen, no minimum size or extent has been used for the definition of “blue” areas (promenades, beaches, freshwater lakes, etc.). The criterion for designation as a blue area is whether the area “is laid out in a way that enables the user to dwell there and experience the water, and where the water body makes up a significant share of the experience without being part of the dwelling area itself.” (The City of Copenhagen, Financial Administration, 2022, p. 6).
- 4.
This dataset was revised by the City of Copenhagen in their 2022 “analysis of accessibility to green and blue areas” by using a new definition of publicly available green spaces (including minimum size and green cover criteria) and newly established or politically agreed green spaces.
- 5.
This is consideration which is particularly relevant in relation to the Municipality of Frederiksberg, which is an enclave of Copenhagen, and which presents three major publicly accessible green spaces (Frederiksberg Park, Søndermark Park, and Solbjerg Cemetery Park) in close proximity to the boundaries of the City of Copenhagen.
- 6.
This dataset was revised by the City of Copenhagen in their 2022 “analysis of accessibility to green and blue areas” by using a new definition of publicly available green spaces (including minimum size and green cover criteria) and newly established or politically agreed green spaces.
- 7.
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Acknowledgements
This study is based on dialog and collaboration between the Royal Danish Academy and the City of Copenhagen. Our collaborators in the City of Copenhagen have provided detailed built density and geospatial socio-economic data and have engaged in a constructive dialog about central issues connected to densification in the City of Copenhagen.
The Catalan urban planning agency 300.000 km/s (https://300000kms.net), through the work of Mar Santamaria and Pablo Martinez, has contributed with data gathering, aggregation of data and production of most maps referred to in this paper as well as map analysis.
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Ribeiro, G., Nowak, A. (2023). Age Distribution and Accessibility to Green Areas in the City of Copenhagen. In: Hasan, A., Benimana, C., Ramsgaard Thomsen, M., Tamke, M. (eds) Design for Health. UIA 2023. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36316-0_5
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