Urban green spaces play a crucial role in the wellbeing, livelihood, and environmental sustainability of cities, driving extensive research interest (Haaland et al., 2015; Nikolaidou et al., 2016; Fischer et al., 2018; Russo et al., 2018; Boulton et al., 2020; Gül et al., 2020; Yang et al., 2021). However, rapid urbanization and densification, alongside misguided planning strategies aimed at maximizing urban rent, often lead to the loss of green areas, diminishing urban quality of life. Despite standardized greenery obligations in planning regulations, tactical actions are sometimes employed to circumvent these standards or provide green spaces in a passive manner, minimizing their public utility.
In Turkey, green areas are planned based on population size, settlement characteristics, topography, natural features, and climatic conditions (Ersoy, 2016). However, neoliberal economic policies since the 1980s have prioritized urban rent over public welfare, resulting in rent-oriented urban development plans that compromise green space provision (Tekeli, 2014). Consequently, questions arise regarding the location, size, and quality of urban green spaces. This study investigates the qualitative and quantitative aspects of green spaces in Samsun Province's central districts: Atakum, İlkadım, Canik, and Tekkeköy. y examining the capacity and accessibility of urban green spaces in these districts, the research seeks to compare current land use patterns with approved planning decisions across different scales. Interviews with Metropolitan and district municipality planners and private sector planners involved in spatial planning for Samsun complement this analysis. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for guiding future urban planning to enhance urban environments and promote sustainability.