Examining Spatial Equity, Utilization and Quality of Public Parks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Emphasis on Sub-City Level Parks
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Date
2025-01-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Urban parks play a vital role in fostering livable cities by promoting environmental sustainability, social well-being. This study assesses the spatial equity, functional quality, and utilization trends of public parks in Addis Ababa, focusing on three selected sub-city-level parks: Yeka Park, Ldeta park and Sheger Park. A mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating GIS-based spatial analysis, household and user surveys, interviews, document review and site observations. The sampling technique employed were purposive sampling for the selection of parks, simple random sampling for the user and systematic sampling for the household survey. The finding in the park distribution from 2014 to 2024 reveals notable increase with 4 parks added to the inner city and 3 parks to peripheral zones, but the western and eastern sub-cities remained underserved despite urban expansion. The service area overlap analysis also revealed persistent disparities, with 16.3% of the city’s total area and 28.2% of residential parcels lack access to any park services. The northern part of the city especially the inner zone exhibits extensive overlaps, with nine or more park service constitute 16.5% of the city. Furthermore, 22.5% of the city’s total area achieve 15–31 m² access per person, whereas 17.7% of the land cover 0-2 m² per person showing minimal access on the outer zone particularly on southern part of the city highlighting critical gaps on park distribution and per-capita access. Functional quality assessments revealed varied user satisfaction levels across the parks, with Lideta Park excelling in spatial arrangement and walkability, Sheger Park prioritizing safety and inclusivity, and Yeka Park facing challenges in maintenance and safety. Utilization trends underscore the importance of user-centered amenities in development of vibrant park activities. Lideta Park shows a balanced visitation pattern integrated into daily routines, while Sheger and Yeka Parks attract weekend visitors. Barriers to park use include inadequate recreational facilities, safety concerns, and poor maintenance, with notable disparities in user engagement influenced by age, gender, and proximity. The findings indicate the need for equitable allocation of public parks, user-centric improvements and strengthened park management practices. This study advocates for a holistic approach to urban park planning that integrates community needs and sustainable urban development.
Keyword: Geospatial analysis; Per-capita Density; Public parks; Spatial Equity; Urban Park Distribution; Buffering