The impact of an urban park on air pollution and noise levels in the Mediterranean city of Tel-Aviv, Israel

• The impact of an urban park on air pollution and noise levels is examined.
• The urban park is an effective tool for noise and air pollution mitigation.
• Urban parks can reduce noise, NOx, CO and PM10 values and increase O3 levels..
• Park's mitigation effect is greater at higher NOx and PM10 levels.
• Tree impact on dust mitigation is most effective during dust flow episodes.

This study examines the influence of urban parks on air quality and noise in the city of Tel-Aviv, Israel, by investigation of an urban park, an urban square and a street canyon. Simultaneous monitoring of several air pollutants and noise levels were conducted. The results showed that urban parks can reduce NOx, CO and PM10 and increase O3 concentrations and that park's mitigation effect is greater at higher NOx and PM10 levels. During extreme events, mean values of 413ppb NOx and 80 μG/m3 PM10 were measured in the street while mean values of 89ppb NOx and 24 μG/m3 PM10 were measured in the park. Whereas summer highest O3 values of 84ppb were measured in the street, 94ppb were measured in the park. The benefit of the urban park in reducing NOx and PM10 concentrations is more significant than the disadvantage of increased O3 levels. Furthermore, urban parks can reduce noise by ∼5 dB(A).