What’s it worth? Willingness-to-pay for urban green spaces for urban year-round green exercise

Source abstract

Introduction Urban green spaces play a crucial role in promoting physical activity and public health, particularly through year-round green exercise. However, existing research has largely focused on fair-weather conditions and provides limited insight into how urban green spaces should be designed to support physical activity under varying environmental conditions. This study aims to assess user preferences and willingness to pay for urban green spaces features that facilitate urban year-round green exercise. Methods A cross-sectional online survey (N = 302) was conducted, incorporating forced-choice tasks, ranking measures, and contingent valuation. Preferences for natural and infrastructural urban green space features were analyzed using binomial tests and Friedman tests, while willingness-to-pay was examined descriptively and through regression analyses. Results The results revealed a strong and consistent preference for forested areas, which were ranked as the most important feature across measurement formats. In contrast, infrastructural elements showed greater variability and were influenced by individual characteristics such as sport type and usage frequency. Ranking analyses indicated a structured prioritization pattern, although effect sizes were small. Approximately 70% of participants expressed a willingness to pay for improved urban green spaces, although the absolute monetary amounts were relatively low. Discussion The findings suggest that urban green spaces actively structure behavior by providing or constraining opportunities for physical activity. From a theoretical perspective, engagement in urbane year-round green exercise appears to be shaped by both person–environment fit and perceived behavioral control. These results highlight the importance of integrating universally valued natural elements with adaptable infrastructure in urban green space design. Overall, the study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of how urban green spaces can be optimized to support physical activity year-round and provides relevant insights for urban planning and public health policy.