Enhancing the Green Outdoor Spaces Towards Creating Sustainable Residential Neighborhoods in Egypt, Port Said City as a case study

Amr N Mohamed

doi:10.38027/jsalutogenic_vol4no1_6

Authors

Amr N Mohamed Architectural Engineering and Environmental Design Department, College of Engineering, Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport, Port Said, Egypt Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9109-2638

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38027/jsalutogenic_vol4no1_6

Keywords:

Green outdoor spaces, New Sustainable Green space model, residents’ satisfaction, recreational spaces, neighbourhood residents’ perception

Abstract

Green outdoor spaces are essential for promoting social interaction and improving sustainability and quality of life in residential neighborhoods. However, in Egyptian cities like Port Said, these spaces are often neglected due to limited space, resources, and development pressures. This neglect contributes to pollution, rising crime, and weakened community bonds, negatively affecting residents' well-being. This study addresses a critical gap by integrating resident satisfaction, sustainability indicators, and spatial design into a green-space model tailored for medium-density Egyptian neighborhoods—shifting the focus beyond Cairo. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining qualitative insights from literature and site observations with quantitative data from 247 residents in Port Said’s Protex neighborhood. Findings show that 89.5% of residents are dissatisfied with the absence of green spaces and the presence of neglected lots. A strong majority (94.7%) desire accessible, well-designed green areas, with 63.5% prioritizing recreational uses and 36.5% seeking broader sustainable benefits like improved climate, social interaction, and economic potential.

The research presents a model that integrates environmental, social, and economic dimensions to enhance livability and resilience. This model offers a practical framework for urban designers, planners, and policymakers to guide the development of sustainable green spaces in current and future Egyptian residential areas.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abass, Z. I. (2021). Green spaces in residential communities: the potential for ecological and health. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 779. IOP. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/779/1/012011

Ahmed Ayman, a. G. (2024). Urban green spaces and public realm design in Cairo: Enhancing quality of life and environmental sustainability. International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 13(1), 2034–2037. https://doi.org/10.30574/ijsra.2024.13.1.1895

Akpinar, A. (2016). How is quality of urban green spaces associated with physical activity and health? Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 16, 76-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2016.01.011

Akpınar, A. (2019). Green Exercise: How Are Characteristics of Urban Green Spaces Associated with Adolescents’ Physical Activity and Health? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(21), 4281. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16214281

Alaa Ezzat, A. S. (2020). The Impact of Green Urban Open Spaces on Enhancing Mental Health. International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, 10(5), 707-716. https://doi.org/10.14741/ijcet/v.10.5.3

Amer, S. S. (2010). Green Corridors As A Response For Nature:Greening Alexandria City By Creating A GreenInfrastructure Network. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 138, 101 - 117.

Amr N. Mohamed, A. E. (2022). Improve Urban Form to Achieve High Social Sustainability in a Residential Neighborhood Salam New City as a Case Study. buildings, 12(11), 1935. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12111935

Andrew Cumbers, D. S. (2017). The Work of Community Gardens: Reclaiming Place for Community in the City. 32(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017017695042

Annegret Haase . (2022). Green Spaces and Their Social Functions: Specific Challenges in Urban Spaces of Arrival. In Human-Nature Interactions (pp. 273–284). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-01980-7_22

Arnold Mwanzu, W. N. (2023). Promoting Sustainable Environments through Urban Green Spaces: Insights from Kenya. Sustainability , 15(5), 11873. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511873

Ayala-Azcárraga, D. D. (2019). Characteristics of urban parks and their relation to user well-being. Landscape and Urban Planning, 189, 27-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2019.04.005

Beyza Bahadir, a. N. (2023). User satisfaction of residential open and green spaces: Neigbourhood or mass housing? Journal of Near Architecture, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.32955/neujna202372718

Buabeng F., a. A. (2022). Addressing Community Food Security Through Gardening: A Review. International Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Studies, 9(4), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.37745/ijaerds.15

Christopher L. Ambrey, a. T. (2017). Greenspace and wellbeing in Tehran: A relationship conditional on a neighbourhood’s crime rate? Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 27, 155-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2017.08.003

Clare Hume, J. A. (2022). Community gardens and their effects on diet, health, psychosocial and community outcomes: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13591-1

Cohen DA, M. T. (2007). Contribution of public parks to physical activity. Am J Public Health, 97, 14.

Dalia Aly, and Branka Dimitrijevic. (2022). Public green space quantity and distribution in Cairo, Egypt. Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, 69(15). https://doi.org/10.1186/s44147-021-00067-z

Diogo Guedes Vidal, N. B. (2019). Public and Green Spaces in the Context of Sustainable Development. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71061-7_79-1

Dizdaroğlu, D. (2022). Urban, Developing Design Criteria for Sustainable Urban parks. Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, 6(1), 69– 81. https://doi.org/10.25034/ijcua.2022.v6n1-7

El-Feki, S. (2014). System of Settings' As A Tool of Assessing Users' Satisfaction Al-Azhar Park, Cairo, Egypt. International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE): E-Journals.

Elmaghraby, M. A. (2019). Urban Pocket Parks Promoting Quality of Life and Mitigating UHI Impacts – A Case Study of “Al Zawya Al Hamra” District. Journal of Urban Research, 34(1), 56-77. https://doi.org/10.21608/jur.2019.85994

Elmorshedy, R. (2019). Spatial Assessment for Open Spaces in Residential Areas: Case of Sheikh Zayed City, Egypt. The Academic Research Community Publication. https://doi.org/10.21625/ARCHIVE.V3I2.507

Francisco de la Barrera, S. R.-P. (2016). People’s perception influences on the use of green spaces in socio-economically differentiated neighborhoods. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 20, 254-264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2016.09.007

Haase, Annegret. (2022). Green Spaces and Their Social Functions: Specific Challenges in Urban Spaces of Arrival. In Human-Nature Interactions (pp. 273–284). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-01980-7_22

Hady Gamal Mabrouk, S. E. (2024). Examining the Realization of Residential Satisfaction in the State’s New Housing Projects, with Reference to Cairo, Egypt. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1396/1/012017

Juan Shan, Z. H. (2021). Green Space Planning and Landscape Sustainable Design in Smart Cities considering Public Green Space Demands of Different Formats. Complexity. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5086636

Jun Qin, X. Z. (2013). Influence of green spaces on environmental satisfaction and physiological status of urban residents. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 12(4), 490-497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2013.05.005

Kafafy, a. N.-A. (2010). Dynamics of urban green space in an arid city : The case of Cairo- Egypt.

Karissa N. Raskin, P. F. (2021). Seeds, soil and social connections: growing community in community gardens. SN Social Sciences, 1, 244. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-021-00249-9

Kati Vierikko, P. G. (2020). Biocultural diversity (BCD) in European cities – Interactions between motivations, experiences and environment in public parks. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 48, 126501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2019.126501

Khalil, H. A. (2024). Activating Urban Micro-Lungs within Highly Dense Cities: Creating Green and Healthy Corridors in Greater Cairo Region.

M., V., S., G., & D., a. S. (2019). The Improvement of the Comfort of Public Spaces as a Local Initiative in Coping with Climate Change. Sustainability, 11(23), 6546. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236546

M.S. Syamili, T. T.-S. (2023). Happiness in urban green spaces: A systematic literature review. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 86, 128042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2023.128042

Mahla Tayefi, N. S. (2023). Investigating the impacts of green spaces planning on social sustainability improvement in Tehran, Iran: a SWOT-AHP analysis. Local Environment, 28(5), 681–697. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2023.2169914

Mariana Cernicova-Buca, V. G. (2023). Residents’ Satisfaction with Green Spaces and Daily Life in Small Urban Settings: Romanian Perspectives. Land, 12(3), 689. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030689

Marianne Nabil Guirguis, R. R. (2022). The Effect of Landscape Features Implemented in Egyptian Parks on Satisfying the Human Needs and Well-being. WSEAS Transactions on Environment and Development, 18, 100-113. https://doi.org/10.37394/232015.2022.18.11

Masterson, V. (2023, 9 13). Why greener cities are cooler and more equal. Retrieved from World Economic Forum: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/08/green-cities-are-cooler-and-fairer/

Matthias Braubach, A. E. (2017). Effects of Urban Green Space on Environmental Health, Equity and Resilience. In N. K. Kabisch, Earth and Environmental Science. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56091-5_11

Merham M. Keleg, G. B. (2022). A critical review for Cairo’s green open spaces dynamics as a prospect to act as placemaking anchors. Urban Des Int, 232–248. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41289-022-00193-x

Morar, T., Radoslav, R., Spiridon, L., & and Păcurar, L. (2014). Assessing Pedestrian Accessibility to Green Space Using Gis. Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, 116–139.

Na Ta, H. L. (2021). Contributions of the quantity and quality of neighborhood green space to residential satisfaction in suburban Shanghai. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 64, 127293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127293

Nada samir El Habibi, a. H.-B. (2023). A Framework For Introducing Urban Agriculture To The Egyptian Urban Communities. Journal of Urban Research, 75-103. https://doi.org/10.21608/jur.2023.157127.1102

Neslihan Demircan, a. I. (2019). Use of Green Spaces for Liveable and Sustainable Cities; Urban Allotment Gardens. Iğdır Univ. J. Inst. Sci. & Tech., 263-270.

Nursah’aidah Md Sahak, M. Y. (2025). Unlocking the Potential of Green Infrastructure in Residential Areas: A Comprehensive Systematic Review. International Journal of Academic Research in buisness and Social Sceince, 15(1).

O C Dewi, I. C. (2018). Green Open Space: Awareness for Health or Sustainability? ICEPP. 120. IOP. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/120/1/012014

Oh-Hyun Kwon, I. H.-S. (2021). Urban green space and happiness in developed countries. EPJ Data Science, 10(28). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjds/s13688-021-00278-7

Pranav Gupta, a. D. (2024). A Framework to Enhance Public Health and Wellbeing through Urban Green Spaces. Calibrating Urban Livability in the Global South, 521-532. https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-81-971889-1-6/CH39

Rao, P. (2021). Role of Green Spaces for Maintaining Well-Being in Residential Community Development. In Improving Quality of Life - Exploring Standard of Living, Wellbeing, and Community Development. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97681

S A Salih, a. S. (2018). Green Open Spaces Criteria to Achieve Social Interaction of Karkh Community in the City Baghdad, Iraq. 2nd International Conference on Architecture and Civil Engineering. 401, p. 012029. IOP Publishing.

S Ali, R. S. (2021). Maximizing the social-economy impacts of urban green space in several cities in Indonesia. Earth and Environmental Science. 918. IOP. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/918/1/012007

Sally M. Murshed, A. M. (2021). Enabling quality of urban spaces in Cairo’s new suburban settlements: a community character approach for New Cairo, Egypt. Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, 68(28). https://doi.org/10.1186/s44147-021-00026-8

Salma I. Dwidar, a. W. (2019). The concept of green areas through varouis historical eras. Journal of Engineering Sciences, Assiut University, Faculty of Engineering, 47(6), 899–913.

Shanta Pragyan Dash, A. S. (2024). Understanding the factors of accessibility to the neighborhood green spaces that contribute to social cohesion: A systematic literature review. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, 8(8). https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i8.4383

Sherif, S. (2023, 9 7). Cairo’s Green Sprawl: The Move of Urban Green Space towards Exclusivity. Retrieved from Alternative Policy Solutions : https://aps.aucegypt.edu/en/articles/947/cairos-green-sprawl-the-move-of-urban-green-space-towards-exclusivity

Sugiyama T, F. J.-C. (2010). Associations between recreational walking and attractiveness, size, and proximity of neighborhood open spaces. Am J Public Health, 100(9), 1752–1757.

T C Julian, a. B. (2018). Redesign of Karapan Sapi Park as an urban green open space in Jakarta. 3rd International Symposium for Sustainable Landscape Development. IOP. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/179/1/012023

Varun Athokpam, T. C. (2024). The Role of Urban Green Spaces in Mitigating Climate Change: An Integrative Review of Ecological, Social, and Health Benefits. Environmental Reports, 10-14. https://doi.org/10.51470/ER.2024.6.1.10

Viniece Jennings, a. O. (2019). The Relationship between Social Cohesion and Urban Green Space: An Avenue for Health Promotion. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 16(3), 452. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030452

Wang’ombe, G. (2024). The Impact of Urban Green Spaces on Community Health and Well-being. International Journal of Humanity and Social Sciences, 3(3), 14–25. https://doi.org/10.47941/ijars.1941

Wei Liu, H. Z. (2022). Green Space Cooling Effect and Contribution to Mitigate Heat Island Effect of Surrounding Communities in Beijing Metropolitan Area. Front. Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.870403

Weijian Zhang, B. Y. (2024). An analysis of the effects of different urban park space environment construction on national health. Sec. Social-Ecological Urban Systems, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1433319

Xiangdong Xiao, L. Z. (2022). Influence of spatial characteristics of green spaces on microclimate in Suzhou Industrial Park of China. Sci Rep, 12, 9121. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13108-1

Xinyi Qiu, S.-H. K.-K. (2023). Cooling Effect of Urban Blue and Green Spaces: A Case Study of Changsha, China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 20(3), 2613. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032613

Yang Zhang, A. E. (2017). Quality over Quantity: Contribution of Urban Green Space to Neighborhood Satisfaction. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14050535

Yaqiong Jiang, a. G. (2022). Urban residential quarter green space and life satisfaction. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 69, 127510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127510