Socio-economic characteristics and utilization of urban green infrastructure in southern Ethiopia

User’s socio-economic characteristics can influence the visit and utilization pattern of urban green infrastructure. Assessing the influence of socio-economic characteristics of people on the utilization of UGI is an important instrument to show gaps for city/town planners, developers and decision makers. This paper investigates the effect of socio-economic characteristics of people on a monthly visit of green infrastructure in Southern Ethiopia. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and key informant interview, a total of 400 urban communities were interviewed in the entire study area. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression models and chi-square test. The majority (54%) of respondents in Hawassa city visit two to three times per month, in Bodity town 22% of respondents visited UGI two to three times per month. Whereas, 30% of respondent in Wolayita Sodo visit UGI once a month. In general, 28.75% and 23.75% of respondents visited green infrastructures two and three times a month respectively in the whole study area. Based on the statistical analysis result gender, annual income and distance to home have significance (p < 0.05) association with a monthly visit of urban green infrastructure. The study confirmed that people’s socio-economic characteristics have significant relation and/or effect on the monthly visit and utilization of green infrastructure in the study area. Thus, in order to ensure the benefit of people and encourage the participation of communities in UGI development, the government should plan to consider all socio-economic groups, create awareness, enabling environment and publicized on the importance of green infrastructure in the urban settlement.