Urban expansion threatens Hungary's vineyard hills and green spaces

Researchers from ELTE’s Institute for Regional Studies, Gábor László Vasárus and József Lennert, are highlighting the growing conflict between residential expansion and the preservation of urban green spaces. Former vineyard hills and enclosed gardens, which serve as areas for farming, recreation, and mitigating urban heat, are increasingly being absorbed by housing developments.

Using Kecskemét as a primary example, the study shows a massive shift in land use. In the 1780s, the city center covered only 4 square kilometers, while the surrounding vineyard hills spanned 29 square kilometers. Today, the central urban area has expanded to 29 square kilometers, while the former vineyard areas have shrunk to 15 square kilometers, with their original functions significantly diminished.

The transition of these areas from agricultural and recreational spaces to permanent residential zones has created social friction. The landscape now sees competing interests between high-status residents seeking green environments, households forced to the outskirts due to housing shortages, and original garden owners attempting to maintain active farming.