Modelling the services of green spaces for communal well-being in the urban environment of Lahore, Pakistan

Green spaces function as integral communal areas facilitating interaction and nurturing a collective sense of community. Removing such green spaces ultimately limits the opportunities for physical activity and outdoor recreation, creating more sedentary lifestyles and a decrease in social connection. This study offers a comprehensive investigation of the benefits of green spaces for communal well-being (i.e. social well-being and overall life satisfaction) within the urban context of Lahore. The study is based on Murray Bookchin's social ecology principles and aims to understand how people may interact with their social and physical surroundings. Such research is driven by the increasing trend of urban built-up expansion, which poses considerable risk for green spaces. To achieve this objective, a field survey was conducted using a simple random sampling technique in which 1050 respondents were examined with the help of a structured questionnaire. After collecting and screening the data, the study performed regression analysis utilizing R software to compute the services of green spaces for the community, which found significant trends (e.g. Social Well-Being; R² = 0.56 and Life Satisfaction; R² = 0.59) statistically. Similarly, a structural model was formulated to deduce the services of green spaces for communal well-being. The analysis reveals a significant relationship (β = 0.717, R² = 0.632, at P < 0.00), reinforcing the substantial influence of green spaces on communal well-being. As a result, the findings and conclusion of the study suggest that green spaces are crucial to the community well-being of Lahore, and steps should be taken to ensure their sustainability and preservation.