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A survey of 2,007 residents shows how very different green spaces—from Trotter, a true social hub, to Monte Stella, perceived as less safe, to BAM and CityLife, havens for office workers—influence well-being, safety, and daily life in profoundly different ways

In Milan, parks are not just green spaces: they are social and economic infrastructure. This is clearly suggested by the fact that over two thousand citizens, interviewed between late September and early October, attribute a value to urban parks that goes far beyond their recreational function. They impact physical and mental well-being, improve air quality, enhance the appeal of neighborhoods, and shape the lifestyle of a city that moves at a fast pace but, in its green spaces, still finds time to breathe. It is a perfect reflection of Milan’s contradictions: parks that are oases of tranquility, others struggling with safety issues, some having become true cultural hubs, and still others overwhelmed by the daily pressure of offices and traffic flows.

The study Perception of the benefits of Milan urban parks in relation to their accessibility focuses on these findings. Based on 2,007 interviews conducted in 14 city parks, it aims to measure how the population perceives benefits, challenges, safety, and maintenance quality. This study, conducted as part of MUSA/PNRR, offers a valuable snapshot for city leaders tasked with rethinking their green infrastructure in terms of well-being, inclusion, and climate resilience.

“Milan’s parks are not ancillary services: they are the most immediate and democratic response to needs for health and quality of life,” notes Edoardo Croci, director of Sur Lab, Bocconi’s Sustainable Urban Regeneration Lab. “The study clearly shows that people perceive these spaces as essential public goods, and this is a signal that policymakers cannot afford to ignore.”

Psychophysical well-being: the primary reason Milan residents visit parks

The survey indicates that the most widely recognized benefits are those related to mental and emotional well-being, especially in parks such as Indro Montanelli, BAM, CityLife, and Parco della Resistenza. Others, such as Parco Ravizza, offer a broader range of functions: areas for activities, events, and socializing.

The data confirms that the city experiences parks as an accessible extension of daily life: walks, often with a dog, physical activity, breaks from work (especially in parks nestled among offices, such as BAM and CityLife), family gatherings (Lambro), or true cultural hubs (Trotter).

Croci emphasizes one point: “The well-being revealed by the research is not a side effect of green spaces; it is the core of their function. In a complex and stressful urban context like Milan, green spaces are powerful social buffers. We must treat them as such.”

Safety and Maintenance: A Two-Speed City

The perception of safety is generally good, with few exceptions: Monte Stella is considered the least safe park, while Trotter and Lambro are perceived as more secure. Maintenance also follows very different models: Trotter, BAM, and CityLife score excellently, while Monte Stella and Giovanni Paolo II rank lowest.

The areas needing improvement are equally specific:

  • more supervision and institutional presence for Monte Stella;
  • more trash cans for Parco delle Cave and Parco Nord;
  • more events and community spaces for Trotter;
  • more benches in areas with a high concentration of offices, such as BAM;
  • better maintenance in Lambro;
  • essential services—such as restrooms and food service areas—in Sempione and Baden Powell.

Proximity, Accessibility, and Neighborhood Identity

Most parks are within walking distance and are visited frequently: many residents say they use them several times a week, often alone, a sign of a trusting relationship with the space.

However, not all parks serve the same function:

  • Monte Stella is seen as a large urban “lung,” a symbol of widespread nature;
  • Trotter is perceived as a social, cultural, and community hub;
  • Nord Milano remains Milan’s capital of outdoor sports;
  • CityLife and BAM have become true “break hubs” for the office economy.

According to Croci “The survey shows that every park has its own distinct identity, consistent with the neighborhood and the flows of life that pass through it. The most effective urban policies will be those capable of enhancing these identities rather than standardizing them.”

Green space is not a cost; it is an investment

The study’s conclusions are unequivocal: parks generate value—psychophysical well-being, social interaction, perceived safety, and urban quality. But another finding also emerges strongly: citizens are calling for more attentive, continuous, and measurable management, starting with maintenance and safety. This is an agenda that speaks directly to institutions.

Urban transformation also depends on this: recognizing green infrastructure as a strategic asset, not a residual one. Milan already knows this, but the data from this research suggest that it will need to understand it even better.

EDOARDO CROCI
Bocconi University
Department of Social and Political Sciences
Chairman of UERA – Urban European Research Alliance

Research