Importance-performance analysis of local resident greenway users: Findings from Three Atlanta BeltLine Neighborhoods

Abstract

Urban greenways are growing recreation and transportation amenities around the world, providing users opportunities to increase physical health, interactions with nature, and community cohesion. Their linear, connective nature specifically helps greenways offer unique benefits to urban communities compared to parks. Though studies have investigated users’ perceptions and preferences of greenways, only scant attention has been paid to differences between residential and non-residential users’ perceptions of greenways. Arguably, those living near greenways are the most essential stakeholders because they have to live with both the positive and negative impacts of greenways in their neighborhoods. Additionally, many greenways are woven into the urban fabric of communities and become part of the daily infrastructure with which residents interact. This study focused solely on local residential users and their perceptions of the Atlanta BeltLine, a 22-mile greenway around the city’s core, using Importance Performance Analysis (IPA). Participants from three, heterogenous BeltLine-proximate communities in Atlanta, Georgia were asked about the importance of 25 greenway attributes and how their neighborhood’s portion of the BeltLine performed on that same set of attributes. Using IPA, we analyzed residential users’ satisfaction (performance minus importance) with trail attributes. Though each of the three neighborhoods had different levels of satisfaction for different attributes, residential BeltLine users overall were especially dissatisfied with various forms of safety (i.e., both environmental factors and physical harm) on the trail. On the other hand, participants were satisfied with having a smooth paved trail surface, a beautiful natural environment, and trail cleanliness. Given the unique histories of the various communities along the BeltLine, it is important to understand how BeltLine attributes may be perceived by people in various parts of the city. Additionally, findings suggest, safety (in all its forms) should be a priority for greenways managers and planners alike.