Typo-morphological inequities in urban green spaces: park design and informal adaptation in Delicias de Villa, Peru

Abstract

This study examines how typo-morphological characteristics of urban green spaces in Lima’s self-built neighbourhoods reflect tensions between informal growth, community needs and equitable access. Surveys of eight parks in Delicias de Villa (2021–22) reveal that, while spaces adapt to topography through mixed forms, limited green coverage and deteriorated infrastructure constrain functionality, prompting informal guerrilla gardens. Three parks lack formal recreational zoning, while institutional encroachment affects two others. Football dominates usage patterns, marginalizing other demographic groups despite connectivity from surrounding commercial/educational facilities. The analysis identifies key design limitations, including unshaded terraces and impermeable edges, that compound spatial inequities, while self-built adaptations demonstrate alternative possibilities. Findings highlight morphological barriers to equitable access; the tension between informal solutions and systemic neglect; and the potential for integrated green networks that combine formal planning with neighbourhood self-organization patterns and hybrid zoning. The study contributes to understanding how physical design mediates social equity in the public spaces of informal settlements