Evaluation of the quality of urban green areas in Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil

Abstract

The green areas have been identified as fundamental elements for sustainability in the urban area, functioning not only as physical amenities but also as elements of spatial appreciation. However, it is considered that its mere presence is not enough to achieve the needs of the inhabitants. In this paper, we present a methodology for qualitatively evaluating green urban areas employing a composite index, which considers three sub-indexes: Environmental Function, Social Function, and Aesthetic Function. Each sub-index contains three indicators that allow tracing the profile of green areas, pointing out their frailties and possible intervention areas. Ponta Grossa has a low index of 0.38 (environmental=0.21; social=0.57; aesthetic=0.45, however, more than the meaning of a numerical value, the potentiality of this index resides in the identification of which function is unsuitable, in this case, the environmental one.

Keywords

• urban planning
• environmental function
• social function
• aesthetic function