Spatial and social equity evaluation of sports facilities in Shanghai: An accessibility-driven assessment

Urbanization and socioeconomic shifts in megacities like Shanghai have brought attention to the distribution of sports facilities, emphasizing their role in public health and urban sustainability. This paper explores the spatial and social equity of sports facilities in Shanghai, focusing on accessibility across different age groups. Using the Gaussian-based two-step floating catchment area method at the grid level, the study assesses accessibility, while Gini coefficient analyses evaluate supply-demand balance. To examine the factors influencing accessibility beyond spatial dimensions, ordinary least squares and spatial regression models are employed. The results reveal significant spatial heterogeneity, with a central-periphery accessibility pattern; high-accessibility areas comprise 32.67 % of the city center. Gini coefficients are consistently above 0.4, indicating inequality, with urban areas showing slightly better distribution compared to suburban ones. The elderly face a stark mismatch between supply and demand. Accessibility correlates with equity, and regional construction positively impacts accessibility, creating disparities in less-developed areas. Contrary to expectations, socioeconomic indicators have a negative effect on accessibility. With population aging trends, accessibility is projected to decline by 20.49 % by 2030, necessitating a 50 % increase in regional construction and a 15 % rise in facility diversity to achieve equity and sustainability in urban development.