Disentangling public urban green space satisfaction: Exploring individual and contextual factors across European cities

Abstract

Public urban green spaces generate positive externalities regarding the quality of the environment, health and the attractiveness of cities. In this article, we analyse the satisfaction of Europeans with public urban green spaces. Our analysis is original as it is the first international quantitative comparative analysis with a multi-level model that allows us to disentangle individual dimensions (specific to each inhabitant) and contextual dimensions (specific to the policy or structure of the city). Using pseudo-panel data from a series of Eurobarometer surveys conducted in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015, and CORINE Land Cover land use data for 75 European cities, we study the individual and contextual factors influencing population satisfaction with green spaces in their city. We estimate mixed effects ordered logistic regression models. Our results show that population characteristics influence the satisfaction with public urban green spaces and highlight heterogeneity between European cities. Our study also shows differences in satisfaction according to the type of green space. Our results are important regarding public policies, since the public decision-maker must take into account a more detailed analysis of the city's population in order to initiate the right green space policy.