Assessing Urban Park Equity in China Through Supply and Demand Balance: A Case Study of Wuhan City, China

In the context of rapid urbanization and increasing awareness of environmental justice, ensuring equitable access to high-quality park services is crucial for promoting healthy lifestyles and sustainable urban development. This study investigates park equity in Wuhan, China, by developing a comprehensive evaluation index system that incorporates park quality and considers the heterogeneity of park demand among different population groups, particularly older adults. Using multi-source big data and spatial analysis, this study examines the patterns of park supply and demand and explores the causes of mismatch between them. The results find that the further away from the city center one is, the lower the park supply and demand value. The difference is that the decrease in demand is more moderate relative to supply, and the demand is less affected by the natural environment and urban construction. The findings reveal that park accessibility is closely related to urban infrastructure development and natural resources, with central urban communities enjoying better park supply and quality than peripheral communities. Additionally, the study uncovers that the elderly comprise a vulnerable group that needs more park services in urban China. There are still 28.25% of communities with an unmet demand for parks. The overall goal of the paper is to come up with policy recommendations for optimizing city park equity. It is found that the relieving strategies of park equity are different and should be based on local context, such as enhancing existing park service capacity in urban centers and prioritizing new park development in underserved suburban areas.