The impact of urban green space on health in Berlin, Germany: Empirical findings and implications for urban planning

This study investigates the impact of residential access to urban green space (UGS) on self-reported health (SRH) in Berlin, Germany. Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS), survey data and Urban Atlas land cover data, we calculated the Euclidean distance between 874 respondents' georeferenced home locations and the closest edge of the nearest green space as well as the spatial coverage of green space within a 250 m buffer around the place of living. These measures serve as proxies for residential access to UGS. Using linear regression models, we find both, decreasing Euclidean distances to the nearest green space and increasing spatial coverages of UGS significantly contributing to SRH. Furthermore, we find spatial coverages of UGS of less than 2.5% and Euclidean distances of at least 200 m to the nearest green space to have negative impacts on SRH if compared to observations having largest spatial coverages of UGS around their home locations and shortest distances to the nearest green space, respectively. Based on these findings, we identify 437 of Berlin's 447 planning units that provide access to UGS negatively affecting SRH of which 297 are used for residential purposes primarily. Our results provide useful information for policy makers and urban planners on the impact of UGS on health and adequate green space provision.