A health relevant approach for assessing urban green spaces

This study constitutes a first step towards a better understanding of the associations between human Health and Well-Being (H&WB) and urban green space characteristics. Utilizing various Key Performance Indicators for two green spaces in the city of Chania, we report their capacities in terms of greenness availability, accessibility, usage, air temperature reduction, as well as air pollution removal. Our report consists of in-situ measurements, modelling results and questionnaire data. Despite Municipal Garden of Chania’s (MGC) lower total carbon storage, it demonstrates denser vegetation, leading to efficient carbon sequestration and higher Normalized Difference Vegetation Index values. Accessibility favors MGC, with both spaces offering similar attractiveness, safety and acoustic comfort. Saint Apostoles Park (SAP) proves more effective in air pollutant reduction. Temperature differentials between green and urban areas are pronounced, with SAP and MGC showing lower temperatures. The findings underscore the importance of strategic urban planning to bolster human H&WB.