Aesthetic functions of greenery in urban public space are examined using examples of cities in Slovakia, focusing on periods of changes of aesthetic principles. Greenery, tree alleys and public parks notably enter urban public space in the 19th century, with application of contemporary aesthetic principles. During the 20th century, bio-ecological values of vegetation rather than aesthetic functions move to the centre of interest. Today, lack of maintenance and conceptual planning are often reflected in poor aesthetic appeal of greenery.

Urban green spaces (UGS) play an important role in the structure of urbanized areas. Providing adequate access to them may contribute to shaping more pro-health behaviours among city residents. There are many proven benefits of access to UGS. They can have a significant impact on improving mental and physical health. The proximity of green areas in a city has a positive impact on basic environmental indicators: they improve air quality, contribute to reducing the urban heat island effect and are places conducive for socializing. In a world dominated by cars and a sedentary lifestyle, it is difficult to find time to be physically active. Therefore, the presence of park spaces can significantly affect the provision of the required minimum levels of physical activity. The subject of interest of this article is a review of selected academic publications, whose authors attempted to create objective tools for measuring the accessibility of green spaces in an urban environment. The study contains a tabular list of selected research methods and defines the basic purpose of each study and data source. Green area accessibility indices can be an important tool in shaping the spatial policy of cities. Summarizing the academic achievements in this field may constitute an incentive to conduct research of a similar nature and significance in Poland. Effective mapping of accessibility indices may become a clear tool for communication between local governments responsible for making key decisions in cities and the Polish academic community.