Land, Vol. 14, Pages 1773: Spatial Equity in Access to Urban Parks via Public Transit: A Centrality-Driven Assessment of Mexico City

Land doi: 10.3390/land14091773

Authors:
Ana María Durán-Pérez
Juan Manuel Núñez
Célida Gómez Gámez

Urban parks play a crucial role in promoting physical and mental health by providing green spaces for recreation, relaxation, and social interaction. However, access to these spaces is often constrained by the structure and performance of public transportation networks—particularly in megacities marked by spatial and social inequalities. This study evaluates equitable access to urban parks in Mexico City through the public transit system, using centrality-based metrics within a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network analysis framework. Parks are categorized by size (small: 0.3–1 ha; medium: 1–4.5 ha; large: >4.5 ha), and three centrality measures—reach, gravity, and closeness—are applied to assess their accessibility via different transport modes: Metro, bus rapid transit (BRT), trolleybuses, public buses, and concessioned services. Results show that Metro stations are more connected to large parks, while BRT and trolleybus lines improve access to small and medium parks. Concessioned services, however, present fragmented and uneven coverage, reinforcing socio-spatial disparities in access to green infrastructure. The findings underscore the importance of integrated, multimodal transportation planning to enhance equitable access to parks—an essential component of urban health and well-being. By highlighting the spatial patterns of accessibility, this study contributes to designing healthier and more inclusive public spaces in the city, supporting policy frameworks that advance health equity and urban sustainability.

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Ana María Durán-Pérez www.mdpi.com