Findings

1. Short Walks (≤ 5 minutes): Broad Equity

Nearly all Quartiers—regardless of income—reach at least one small park or green pocket within a 5 minute walk (≈ 20% of total green-space area). This “first tier” of local micro-parks ensures baseline green access for both low- and high-income neighborhoods.

2. Mid-Range Walks (5 – 15 minutes): Emerging Gaps

By 10 minutes, high-income Quartiers (e.g., Weinegg, Fluntern, Hirslanden) connect to large hillside or lakeside parks, covering ≈ 60% – 62% of green space.

In contrast, several low-income Quartiers (e.g., Friesenberg, Gewerbeschule, Hard) still cover only ≈ 50% – 55% of green space at 10 minutes, placing them in the "low-income / low-access" quadrant.

At 15 minutes, the gap widens: high-income groups reach ≈ 80% – 82% coverage, while low-income Quartiers remain at ≈ 72% – 75%.

3. Longer Walks (≥ 20 minutes): Convergence with Persistent Penalty

By 20–25 minutes, all income groups exceed ≈ 90% of total green coverage.

However, low-income residents must walk farther to "catch up," effectively delaying their access to mid-sized and large parks.

4. Quartier-Level Accessibility vs. Income

Scatter-plot analysis (mean Aᵢ at 10 minutes vs. median income) identifies four categories:

High Income / High Access (e.g., Weinegg, Hirslanden)
Low Income / High Access (e.g., Affoltern, Seebach) – thanks to dense pocket parks.
Low Income / Low Access (e.g., Friesenberg, Hard) – top priorities for new green infill or pedestrian linkages.
High Income / Low Access (e.g., Wollishofen, Witikon) – wealthy yet still a 15–20 minute walk from major parks.

5. Key Takeaways

Baseline success: Pocket-park distribution has achieved near-universal 5 minute access.
Mid-range equity gap: Low-income Quartiers lack intermediate-sized parks within a 10–15 minute walk. Targeted interventions (new pocket or pocket-plus parks, safe pedestrian connectors) can close this gap.
Long-walk "penalty": Even when full coverage is reached at 20–25 minutes, disadvantaged residents effectively lose recreational time. Consider micro-transit (e-bike/scooter hubs) or shuttle services to reduce effective walk-time.

By focusing on the 5–15 minute window, Zurich can prioritize "double-disadvantaged" Quartiers—boosting mid-sized park access and pedestrian connectivity to achieve truly equitable green-space access across all income levels.