Park morphology and urban structure for active living: a suburban case from Seongnam City.

Introduction: This study investigates how park morphology and built environments are associated with residents' physical activity in a suburban context, focusing on Seongnam City, South Korea. It further examines how these relationships differ between master-planned new towns and incrementally developed old towns, which reflect contrasting planning legacies and spatial structures. Methods: Using high-resolution spatial data and geocoded survey responses from 577 residents, the analysis incorporates morphological indicators-including edge complexity and pedestrian connectivity-alongside physical activity data from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Binary logistic regression models were applied separately for old and new towns to examine associations between park morphology and physical activity, controlling for sociodemographic, health, and perceptual variables. Results: The findings reveal marked spatial and behavioral inequities. Although old towns contain a larger total area of neighborhood parks, their location on steep slopes or at the urban fringe, combined with fragmented distribution of other park types, limits accessibility and routine use. Residents in old towns visit parks less frequently, rely more on vehicles for access, and report lower satisfaction with neighborhood and park environments. In contrast, new towns feature an interwoven green network with centrally located waterfront parks and evenly distributed small parks within residential superblocks, supporting higher accessibility, stronger user preference, and more frequent daily park use. In new towns, higher edge density and greater neighborhood park area were significantly associated with physical activity, corresponding to a 7% increase and tenfold higher odds of participation, respectively-associations not observed in old towns. Discussion: These results underscore that green space equity extends beyond mere provision to include spatial integration and usability. Promoting health through urban green space requires context-sensitive planning strategies that ensure equitable access and functional design across different neighborhood contexts.