Comparative Assessment of Pedestrian Accessibility to Existing and Planned Urban Green Spaces Based on the Principle of Spatial Justice: The Case of İscehisar

Contemporary urban development dynamics have transformed spatial planning from a technical practice focused solely on physical development into a holistic approach encompassing multidimensional concepts such as sustainability, quality of life, and spatial justice. At the core of this transformation, urban green spaces not only contribute to the preservation of urban ecosystems but also support the socio-economic and physical well-being of urban residents. Although the standards established in planning legislation quantitatively determine the amount of green space required in a city, the quality of green spaces, pedestrian accessibility, and their equitable spatial distribution are key factors influencing urban quality of life. This study aims to comparatively evaluate the quantitative extent and pedestrian accessibility of existing and planned green spaces in İscehisar District of Afyonkarahisar Province using Geographic Information System (GIS) analyses. Within the scope of the research, the district’s green space inventory was identified through satellite imagery, the zoning plan, and fieldwork, and subsequently digitized using GIS. The findings indicate that the existing amount of park area per capita is 2.29 m²/person, which is considerably below the legal standard of 10 m²/person. Furthermore, green spaces are concentrated in the city centre, while access to green spaces remains limited in peripheral neighbourhoods such as Medrese and Kurtuluş. Although the planned green space provision increases to 7.08 m²/person, which represents an improvement, spatial inequalities in access to green spaces among neighbourhoods persist. The study provides critical recommendations regarding the applicability of planning decisions and accessibility standards in small-scale cities.