Residential open space and the perception of health benefits: How much is the public willing to pay?

Emerging evidence suggests that residential open space (ROS) is beneficial for multiple health outcomes for urban residents. However, the general public's understanding of and demand for the health benefits related to ROS have not been widely explored. This study aims to examine the impact of residents' socioeconomic status and perceptions of landscape health benefits on their willingness to pay (WTP) for ROS and to evaluate the perceived monetary value of different residential landscape elements. An online survey with 1348 respondents was conducted between August 2020 and October 2021 in China using a contingent valuation (CV) method. Respondents perceived the landscape benefits related to mental health to be higher than those related to physical and social health. The perception of landscape health benefits positively affected WTP and the WTP value of ROS. Residents' monthly income was a significant influencing factor for WTP and the latter's value. For individuals with positive WTP, the average annual WTP for ROS was CNY 68.98 (USD 10.81), while for all the respondents, the estimated mean annual WTP for ROS was CNY 91.75 (USD 14.38). Moreover, the estimated WTP for plants was the highest, whereas the WTP for activity spaces was estimated as the lowest. These findings may improve city planners' and community managers' understanding of the perceived value of residential landscapes among the public and help them make effective decisions to build healthy communities.

Factors Affecting Perceived Health Benefits and Use Behaviors in Urban Green Spaces During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Southern China Megacities.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has alienated people from urban green spaces (UGSs) that have various health outcomes for humans. However, little is known about the influential factors of perceived health benefits and use behaviors in UGSs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to explore the key factors that influence perceived health benefits and use behaviors in UGSs and to assess the mediating role of place attachment in relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chinese megacities. Methods: We conducted an online questionnaire survey from December 2020 to March 2021 in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China. Six multiple regression models were constructed to investigate the main factors by which UGSs influence citizens' perceived health benefits and use behaviors. Four mediation models were established using the structural equation modeling (SEM) method to explore the mediating effect of place attachment. Results: A total of 628 questionnaires were included in the analysis. The results revealed that some UGS components (green space access, maintenance, and soundscape) significantly affected perceived health benefits for citizens (physical, mental, and social health) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conversely, use behaviors (frequency of visits, duration of visits, and activity intensity) were mainly affected by the sociodemographic context but less affected by UGS components. In addition, UGS components were found to significantly predict place attachment, which in turn influenced the perceived health benefits, frequency, and duration of visits. Conclusions: This study distinguished the key factors that affect perceived health benefits and use behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: green space access, maintenance, soundscape, and sociodemographic characteristics. Place attachment still needs to be considered when discussing how to encourage citizens to visit UGSs during the pandemic. These findings provide implications for policymakers and landscape planners regarding design and management measures for UGSs that are conducive to coping with pandemics.