Supralocal Role of Medium to Large Scale Urban Parks, in Greater Athens Region in Greece. Issues of Meso Car Dependence During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This paper investigates the supralocal role of medium to large-scale urban parks in Attica, Greece, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research includes literature review and fieldwork. A statistical sample of 783 individuals was designed to investigate the community’s outlook towards urban parks in Attica. The study establishes a theoretical framework based on the available literature that focuses on factors influencing individuals' willingness to commute so as to reach urban parks. These factors may include household characteristics, green space characteristics, and local accessibility. The paper also examines engaging factors for distant park use, such as relaxation, physical exercise, and social contact. The study adds to existing knowledge on the role of medium to large scale urban parks in Attica, by providing findings on visitation patterns during the pandemic. One of the study’s most important finding is the car dependent travel mode which should be taken into consideration so as to promote sustainable urban mobility.