Coupling Coordination Analysis and Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity Between Green Space Quality and Economic Development: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta in China

The role of green spaces in ecological civilization construction has been increasingly recognized, particularly due to their multifaceted attributes and significant impact on economic development. Based on data from 2015 to 2020, this study constructs an evaluation index system to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of green space quality and its coupling coordination with economic development in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), focusing on three core dimensions: green space quantity, supply potential, and accessibility. The results indicate that green space quality in the YRD exhibits a fluctuating growth trend, with notable north–south disparities. While the coupling coordination degree between green space quality and economic development has gradually improved, it remains in a state of mild imbalance or primary coupling. Grey relational analysis reveals that green space quantity has the greatest impact on economic development, though its expansion potential is limited, whereas the influence of supply potential and accessibility has significantly increased, fostering a growing equilibrium within the green space system. Based on these findings, this study recommends stabilizing green space quantity while prioritizing the enhancement of supply potential and accessibility, strengthening cross-regional ecological cooperation, maximizing the economic benefits of green spaces, and promoting high-quality green development in the region.