Usage of urban green space and related feelings of deprivation during the COVID-19 lockdown: Lessons learned from an Italian case study

This study investigated perceptions and behavioral patterns related to urban green space (UGS) in Italian cities,during the period of national lockdown imposed due to the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in the spring of 2020. Asurvey was used to examine the responses of population groups in different municipal areas, comparing those ingovernment-defined "red zones", mostly in the northern regions of the country, with "non-red zones" in the restof the country, where the rate of infection was much lower. A total of 2100 respondents participated in thesurvey. The majority of respondents declared themselves to be habitual users of UGS, especially of parks or greenareas outside the town - mainly visiting for relaxation and physical exercise, but also for observing nature. In thenorthern regions people more commonly reported the adoption of sustainable practices, in terms of the utilizationof tools for "green mobility". During the lockdown, habits changed significantly: only one third of respondentsreported visiting UGS, with frequent visits made mainly for the purpose of walking the dog. Othermotivations included the need for relaxing, mostly in the red zones, and for physical exercise in non-red zones.The reduction in travel to urban parks was accompanied by increased visitation of gardens and other greenspaces in close proximity, as social distancing and other regulations imposed restrictions on movement. In allregions, respondents who could not physically access UGS expressed a feeling of deprivation which was exacerbatedby living in towns located in red zones, being a usual visitor of UGS and having no green view from thewindow. The extent to which these visitors missed UGS depended on the frequency of visitation before thepandemic and the UGS distance, as well as the type of previous activity. In fact, those activities that were mostcommon before the pandemic were missed the most, reinforcing the importance of green areas for socialgathering, sports, and observing nature - but simply "spending time outdoors" was also mentioned, even by thosewho visited UGS during the lockdown, as the time outdoors was not enough or not fully enjoyed. The feeling ofmissing UGS was only partially alleviated by the green view from the window - only a more open view to anatural landscape or adaptation to a view with little greenery reduced such feeling.