GIS-based mappings of park accessibility at multiple spatial scales: a research framework with the case of Izmir (Turkey)

With a concern of social needs in the redistribution of benefits of parks, recent research assesses park accessibility but usually at one spatial scale (e.g. city, neighbourhood, or park). As a case in Izmir (Turkey), this study explores how to develop research with a multi-scalar focus on park accessibility. It proposes a framework with the research stages deploying GIS-based tools. The first stage identifies "park-rich", "park-moderate" and "park-poor" neighbourhoods. The second and third stages evolve in three park-rich neighbourhoods and at 112 local parks. All stages deal with preparing various socio-spatial data from online sources and field observations and assess the data according to a list of themes about "accessibility" and "diversity". The results highlight that regardless of their high park coverages per person, park-rich neighbourhoods have multiple blocks, buildings, and parks with the features hindering park accessibility for some local groups with different walking capacities and needs. The GIS-based mappings of these features can provide decision-making tools about local parks and neighbourhood interventions.