Green áreas and socio-spatial inequality

access challenges in the outskirts of Sinop-MT

Abstract

Urban green areas hold significant importance in the city, not only for aesthetic and beautification purposes, but also for contributing to the promotion of quality of life due to their ecological, social, and economic functions. Based on this premise, the study aimed to highlight socio-spatial inequality in Sinop (Mato Grosso state, Brazil) through the challenges faced by residents of peripheral neighborhoods, such as Bom Jardim, Vida Nova, and Comunidade Vitória, in accessing green areas. To conduct the study, extensive direct observation was employed through the use of questionnaires administered to residents, containing both open and closed questions about their socioeconomic conditions, access to green spaces, and level of satisfaction with public services provided in their neighborhoods. The results revealed that the local population belongs to a low-income social class, faces a high level of insecurity, lacks green spaces for leisure, and is dissatisfied with the public services provided by the local government. These findings demonstrate that access to green areas for populations living in the peripheries is limited, which can be considered a contributing factor to the process of socio-spatial inequality in the city.