A new British Academy-funded project involving several Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) campuses in both the UK and south-east Asia is investigating how small urban green spaces, known as pocket parks, support community wellbeing and shape healthier cities.

A team of researchers from SEI York at the University of York and SEI Asia is evaluating the impact of Bangkok’s “15-minute pocket parks” initiative, an effort by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to enhance urban liveability through accessible, small-scale green spaces.

Over the next year, the SEI-led research project will evaluate how Bangkok’s pocket parks influence community health, wellbeing and social interactions through surveys, observational studies, and environmental data analysis. Findings from this mixed-methods study will inform future urban planning strategies, both in Bangkok and other rapidly urbanizing cities worldwide.

In October 2024, SEI York researchers travelled to Bangkok to collaborate with the local research teams from SEI Asia and the Urban Design and Development Centre (UDDC). Their mission was to explore potential research sites and assess how different types of pocket parks can serve the city’s diverse communities. 

During their visit, the team examined a range of park locations at various stages of development, including: 

• Repurposed land plots: formerly used as refuse dumps, now being transformed into green community spaces.
• Greenspaces under elevated roads: providing much-needed recreation areas in the midst of busy transport networks.
• Wetlands earmarked for urban agriculture: offering both social and environmental benefits through community allotments. 

This variety of locations presents an opportunity to analyse the diverse roles pocket parks play in promoting community interaction, relaxation, and physical activity. By studying parks in different urban contexts, the project aims to understand how specific park features – selected for their diversity in use, accessibility, and environmental challenges – influence accessibility, usage, and overall impact on local health and wellbeing. 

Pocket parks offer a range of social and community health benefits, particularly for residents in densely populated urban areas with limited access to larger green spaces. The research team is interested in understanding the effects on: 

• Older adults: using parks for exercise, socializing and respite from urban heat. 
• Children and families: gaining safe play areas that encourage outdoor activity and social bonding. 
• Low-income communities: lacking private outdoor spaces and such as balconies or gardens and relying on public parks for recreation and relaxation. 
• Women and marginalized groups: accessing safe and inclusive public spaces outside their own home. 

One of the team’s first steps has been conducting environmental measurements in selected park locations, recording temperature and noise levels. These factors influence how and when people use parks. Densely built-up areas tend to retain more heat, potentially limiting daytime use, while high noise levels from nearby roads can affect the perceived tranquillity of a space. 

The research team has also visited Benjakitti Forest Park, a 41-hectare green space designed as part of Bangkok’s plan to become a greener, more liveable city by 2030. While larger than the pocket parks under study, Benjakitti serves as an important reference point, demonstrating the profound impact urban greenery can have on health, recreation and biodiversity.