Park Users Research Articles

The Impact of Park Environmental Characteristics and Visitor Perceptions on Visitor Emotions from a Cross-Cultural Perspective

Assessing the perception of urban parks and understanding the relationship between environmental characteristics and conflicts in park usage are crucial for the design and management of urban parks. However, quantifying perceptions of parks in large spaces poses challenges, and different regional cultures also exhibit variations in park usage. Therefore, this study aims to explore from a cross-cultural perspective how the environmental characteristics and perceptions of parks affect visitors' emotions. This research collected online comment data from Weibo check-ins in Shanghai and tweets in London between 2022 and 2023. It applied natural language processing (NLP) technology using SnowNLP for sentiment semantic keyword extraction, identifying the sentiment index of each data entry to quantify visitors' sentiments towards urban parks in Shanghai and London. Simultaneously, street view panoramas were obtained for semantic segmentation using the SegNet model and ADE20K to quantify spatial perceptions as independent variables. On this basis, we used nonlinear regression models and MGWR models to explore the relationship between visitors' sentiment values in parks and the park environment. The results showed that walkability in Shanghai was found to more easily bring positive sentiments to visitors, while visitors in London paid more attention to imageability. Walkability, accessibility, and imageability are of the same importance in Shanghai and London, but the correlation and emphasis of visitor perceptions differ, indicating potential conflicts in park usage among different user groups in the two cities' urban parks. Overall, our study offers differentiated planning suggestions that can provide information for urban design decisions, ultimately contributing to the improvement of human well-being.

Examining the nonlinear relationships between park attributes and satisfaction with pocket parks in Chengdu

Pocket parks have become a popular intervention for improving urban residents’quality of life. Although previous studies have investigated how park attributes contribute to user satisfaction, most assume that they have a (generalized) linear relationship. The assumption may understate the importance of parking attributes that are nonlinearly associated with park satisfaction and misestimate the effects of other attributes, yielding flawed implications for park planning and design. In this study, we employed linear regression and gradient boosting decision trees sequentially on data from Chengdu, a typical large and developing city aiming to become a Garden City by 2035, to examine the associations between park satisfaction and park attributes, which were measured on a five-point scale. Both models showed that the most important correlate of park satisfaction is entrance location, followed by footpath design, trees and shrubs, safety, flowers, convenience for social activities, and greenness.Moreover, some attributes are nonlinearly related to park satisfaction. For instance,green spaces and flowers greatly contribute to park satisfaction only when they perform well (i.e., their performance scores exceed Scale 3 of the five-point scale).The attribute of trees and shrubs diminishes park satisfaction substantially only when its performance is inferior (i.e., its score is lower than Scale 3). Furthermore, some seemingly unimportant attributes (such as recreational facilities and park maintenance) impose a non-trivial detrimental impact on park satisfaction when park users are extremely dissatisfied with the attributes (i.e., their performance scores are at the lowest level). The nonlinear relationships offer nuanced insights on the design of small public parks in densely developed urban areas.

Association of park renovation with park use in New York City

Abstract Background Equity-driven citywide park redesign and renovation, such as the Community Parks Initiative (CPI), has the potential to increase park use and opportunities for physical activity in underserved communities. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in patterns of park use following park redesign and renovation in low-income New York City (NYC) neighborhoods. Methods The Physical Activity and Redesigned Community Spaces study was a prospective quality improvement pre-post intervention study design with 33 intervention and 21 matched control neighborhood parks. Data were collected at baseline (prerenovation) and 2 follow-up points (3 months and 1-year post renovation) between 2016 to 2022 summers. Main outcomes encompassed park use and physical activity levels assessed using the well-validated System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities. Park use was quantified by total number of park users, categorized by age group (≤20 years vs ≥ 21 years), sex, and physical activity level (sitting or standing vs walking or vigorous activity). Changes in outcomes between groups were compared via the generalized estimation equation. Results A total of 28,322 park users were observed across 1,458 scans. At baseline, 59.7% were 20 years or younger, 46.3% were female, and 43.8% were sitting or standing. Intervention parks showed more net park users compared with control parks from baseline to the final follow-up (difference-in-difference relative rate ratio, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.22-2.35] users/scan). The association was driven by a significant increase in adult users at intervention parks and an overall decrease in all users at control parks. Conclusions In this quality improvement study, park redesign and renovation were positively associated with park use in low-income neighborhoods. However, park renovations may need to be accompanied by other programmatic strategies to increase physical activity.

Environmental and social impacts of shifting park-use patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from state and local park managers

Parks and protected areas offer a variety of ecosystem services and promote opportunities that enhance human health and well-being. However, these benefits may be jeopardized when overcrowding degrades environmental and social conditions in parks. The COVID-19 pandemic is assumed to have been associated with substantial increases in visitation to parks and protected areas, but patterns in use and degradation varied by site type (e.g., state versus local parks; urban versus rural). In this study, we aimed to understand how changing recreational use patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted parks, and how those changes differed between state and local parks across urban-rural gradients. We distributed a survey asking state park superintendents (n = 36) and local park managers (n = 84) in the state of North Carolina to estimate the extent of environmental and social impacts in their parks both before and during the pandemic. We discovered that, based on managers’ responses, state parks were approximately 12 times more likely to experience heightened environmental impacts and 23 times more likely to experience heightened social impacts than local parks during the pandemic, even when controlling for impact levels prior to the pandemic. We found no significant differences between urban and rural parks. These findings suggest regional parks may be the most vulnerable to environmental and social disturbances during times of heightened visitation, and thus highlight a need for both more resources and more attention to governance issues for these parks. Management implicationsThis study found that state parks in North Carolina experienced more frequent social and environmental impacts, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to local parks. This highlights the need to explore measures that can maintain state parks as sources of resilience and recovery during future crises while mitigating park impacts. Proposed strategies include:•Directing park usage to more resilient areas.•Establishing strategic partnerships between parks to enhance capacity.•Education and outreach to minimize visitor impacts.•Establishing emergency funds for parks most likely to be impacted during times of heightened visitation.•Expanding accessible greenspace in anticipation of increased visitation.

Public Perception of Urban Green Spaces and its Tree Diversity in Delhi

The relationship between man and nature plays an important role in the everyday lives of human societies. Places like Delhi and its people face major challenges and issues of urbanisation affecting their health and well-being. Urban greens such as parks play a major role in bringing greenness into the lives of urban dwellers. Trees are seen as a major green component in the urban greens. This paper attempts to understand how public sees green spaces and their uses. Tree diversity index (The Shannon Index also known as Shannon Weiner Index, is a statistical index that measures diversity by estimating species richness and evenness.) canopy cover, and tree trunk diameter have been taken as indicators of greenness of park. Tree distribution at the species level is studied in one of the parks managed by Delhi Development Authority as ‘Landmark greens’. The park users’ perception is studied using an ethnographic method. Whereas the Shannon index is 2.2, which is a moderate value, 50 per cent of the visitors could only identify the popular species namely Neem, Banyan, Ashok, and Peepal. People are aware of the potential benefits of trees and plants or the role of green spaces in their overall well-being. Some of the visitors are the regular ones as they use the park with a purpose to heal from respiratory tract infection, obesity, diabetes, and palpitation, while there are 22 per cent visitors who found the park unsafe during certain instances.

Access Pass: Validating The Scale of Barriers to Participation in Recreational Spaces

The importance of parks and recreational spaces in terms of public health has become even more evident after the pandemic period. The increased utilization of these areas by larger populations has imposed different responsibilities on the park and recreational spaces managers. To increase people's participation in parks and recreational spaces, it is important to first identify the barriers that hinder their participation. This study aims to adapt The Scale of Barriers to Participation in Recreational Spaces, developed by Gümüş and Alay, to the United States. In this context the study was conducted in a mid-sized city located in the Midwest in the U.S.A., involving a sample of 412 individuals ranging in age from 18 to 76. The data collection took place over four months, from December 2022 to March 2023. The factor structure obtained in the original scale development study was tested through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) as part of the validity study. During this analysis, it was necessary to remove one item from the security factor as it increased the Chi-square value in the CFA procedure. According to the analysis, it is evident that the goodness-of-fit indices yielded favorable results. Specifically, the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) obtained a value of 0.04, while the Incremental Fit Index (IFI) and Comparative Fit Index (CFI) reached values of 0.94 and 0.98, respectively, signifying excellent goodness of fit. Additionally, the Normed Fit Index (NFI) and Goodness-of-Fit Index (GFI) attained values of 0.94, which fall within acceptable limits. Moreover, the chi-square value of χ2(94)=153.693 and a ratio of χ2/sd=1.63<2 indicated a perfect fit for the model. Correlation analyses between dimensions were conducted as part of the validity study. In the reliability study of the scale, Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was estimated. According to the findings, the factor structure of the scale was confirmed to be parallel to the original scale development study. Furthermore, Cronbach's alpha values ranged between 0.83 and 0.90. With these conducted studies, the scale has provided the necessary validity and reliability evidence for its use in the USA culture and has been introduced to the field to be utilized in various studies. It is expected that this scale can benefit both park and recreational spaces managers and users by identifying barriers to participation in these spaces and increasing engagement. Concurrently with the research outcomes, recommendations were formulated for park and recreation administrators.

Factors impacting urban greenspace usage: new evidence from South Africa

This paper examines the factors that impact urban greenspace (UGS) usage in three urban parks in the city of Tshwane, South Africa. Guided by systems theory, we aim to determine how various cultural ecosystem services afforded by these parks influence usage with a particular focus on social relations, recreation, aesthetics, and spiritual value. Data for the study was collected using an online survey as well as online reviews of the UGSs from three different sources. Site visits were also conducted to verify the presence (or absence) of various tangible factors that could impact usage. Using correlation analysis, we determined that recreation was the primary cultural ecosystem service offered by these spaces that individuals consider when deciding whether to use an UGS. Moreover, UGSs that are accessible, perceptibly safe, and well-maintained generally attract park usage while UGSs that are perceived as being unsafe, neglected, and/or polluted generally deter park use. We conclude the study by making a series of recommendations that could encourage UGS usage in this unique context in South Africa.

Economic Assessment of Hydrologic Ecosystem Services in Morocco’s Protected Areas: A Case Study of Ifrane National Park

This study delves into the complex interplay between land use dynamics, hydrological services, and intangible benefits within the context of Ifrane National Park (INP) in Morocco. Due to its extensive mountain forests and numerous wetlands, INP is a crucial contributor to the nation’s water supply and a vital source of hydrological ecosystem services (HES). However, climate change and evolving land use patterns have led to diminishing water resources and the desiccation of certain wetlands. This research used the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs software (InVEST 3.10.2) for HES quantification and environmental economics approach for monetization to comprehend how HES values respond to challenges posed by urbanization, intensive agriculture, and other land use alterations. This work underscores INP’s role as a significant “water tower”, emphasizing the evolution of its services amidst challenges. Our findings reveal an annual decrease in HES economic value by USD 4000. This economic assessment serves as a compelling tool to enlighten decision-makers and park users about the imperative need to preserve natural ecosystems and use water resources judiciously. It advocates for investments in conservation and restoration within protected areas to sustain these vital services.

Preparedness and Response to Flooding Risks by Kenya Wildlife Service in Hells Gate National Park, Nakuru County, Kenya

Floods are short-lived events that occur abruptly with little to no warning and are among the most dangerous disasters relating to weather due to the hazardous conditions caused for people, the destruction of property and the loss of life as well. Thus, minimizing flooding impacts timely and passing accurate information is critical in flood preparedness and response. Previous studies have focused on the probability of floods occurring and their magnitude, therefore leaving a knowledge gap on preparedness and response to flooding risks in national parks by government agencies in Kenya. Hell’s Gate National Park experiences significant flash flooding; therefore, it provided a good venue to study the levels of preparation and response mechanisms available in Kenyan national parks. The objectives of the study were to understand the level of preparedness and mechanisms to respond to flooding events by Kenya Wildlife Service in Hells Gate National Park. The study was guided by a descriptive research design which involved collecting quantitative and qualitative data from 118 park users and other key informants. The study found that the Kenya Wildlife Service plays a crucial role in flood preparedness and response, but there is room for improvement in early warning systems, hazard map distribution, and user education because only 36.6% of the respondents were aware of escape routes to be used during floods. In terms of recommendations, the study found that it is crucial to enhance the existing flood preparedness and response mechanisms within the park including investing in advanced technology for early warning systems, conducting regular drills, and fostering community engagement and partnerships, continuous improvement of flood preparedness and response plans, along with a robust communication strategy.

A blockchain-enabled private parking space allocation with improved parking space utilization

With the rapid development of the world’s infrastructure, we are moving towards making cities smart, known as smart cities. To make smart cities sustainable, designing efficient solutions is needed to reduce traffic congestion due to the lack of parking spaces within the constrained land areas of many metropolitan city centres. Parking problems in urban areas can be reduced by sharing vacant private parking spaces with others. In this work, we propose a decentralized and shared private parking management system using blockchain, which helps private parking owners and users fulfil their demands without the involvement of central authority. The proposed parking allocation method assigns parking to a single user from multiple parking providers, but the requester does not need to relocate between different parking spaces. The proposed method significantly improves private parking space utilization compared to a state-of-the-art parking allocation system. Hence, the system satisfies more user requests and generates more profit for parking owners than the state-of-the-art parking allocation system. The proposed system is a winning strategy because it maximizes the utilization of private parking spaces for the entire community’s benefit and helps to reduce traffic congestion. Experiments conducted in the simulated environment validate the benefits of the proposed model and show that it outperforms the state-of-the-art parking allocation system. A prototype of the proposed system is also developed in the Ethereum blockchain to validate the work, and the gas cost used to deploy the proposed model is analyzed.

Park thermal comfort and cooling mechanisms in present and future climate scenarios

Extreme heat is Australia’s most perilous natural hazard, and increasing urban temperatures due to climate change are a growing concern. Consequently, there is growing interest in developing nature-based solutions (i.e., greenery and vegetated surfaces) to cool urban areas. Appropriately designed urban parks are anticipated to be crucial for maintaining thermal comfort as temperatures rise. The two main diurnal cooling mechanisms of urban parks are shade provision and vegetation transpiration. However, limited studies have examined the cooling performance of vegetation through transpiration, especially in the southern hemisphere. This study addresses this gap by examining the microclimatic conditions, cooling benefits, and thermal performance of a typical neighbourhood park in Perth, Western Australia, with a focus on the cooling performance of vegetation through shade and transpiration. Present and future microclimates were modelled and simulated for average and hottest summer days based on 25 years of local weather data and projections for 2090 under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario. The findings reveal that trees provided diurnal cooling benefits for park users by lowering the Universal Thermal Comfort Index (UTCI) by up to 17°C, with this benefit persisting in projected 2090 conditions. This cooling benefit was predominantly achieved through shade provision, with marginal contributions from transpiration. Additionally, on hot days, as leaf temperature exceeded 30°C, increased stomatal resistance led to reduced transpiration. Therefore, more attention must be paid to transpiration cooling limits due to stomatal closure during hot hours to improve cooling performance in park design. Moreover, comparing different plant species’ behaviour and adaptability on hot days is crucial, especially in future climatic conditions.

Analysis and Research on the Difference of Urban Park Usage Experience of Obese People

Analysis and Research on the Difference of Urban Park Usage Experience of Obese People

Real Environment or Virtual Environment?: Perception Bias Evaluation of Perceived Security in Urban Parks

Urban green spaces, specifically urban parks, contribute to overall human health and well-being. However, physical features of urban green spaces can affect perceived security of its users, ultimately impacting their social life and mental health. Hence, various studies have evaluated perceived security in urban green spaces in virtual and real environment settings. However, studies have not yet evaluated the difference in the perception of perceived security and other physical environmental variables of urban green spaces across virtual and real environment-based methods. Nevertheless, there is a possibility that perception bias can exist across both methodologies. Since Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a well-established framework in the field, this study investigates the difference in perceived security across methods using the virtual and real environment in urban parks, using a CPTED classification. Fifteen urban parks were video graphed during the day and night. The study collected 524 and 930 responses from real and virtual environment settings, respectively. The results show that, regardless of the stimulus type, all CPTED variables are significantly correlated with perceived security; however, surveillance, maintenance, and activity support are strongly correlated with perceived security in virtual rather than real environments. Perceptions of territoriality, access control and target hardening significantly differ across both methods. Regardless of user type, PS levels are higher in a real environment. The number of park users affects perceived security more in virtual environments. However, the relative importance of CPTED variables in predicting perceived security is similar in both methods. Future research scholars can benefit from this study by understanding user perception patterns of urban parks in virtual and real environments. Similarly, the study results will guide them in creating virtual and real spaces catering to users’ perceptions. The study's findings can also support future virtual environment-based projects by accounting for potential perception biases when translating results to real environment settings. Further, landscape architects can leverage this research to enhance the design and development of urban parks. From the methodological perspective, this study is applicable to various perception-based studies that can aim to evaluate virtual and real environment-based differences.

The Role of Scenario-Building in Risk Assessment and Decision-Making on Urban Water Reuse

Urban resilience and water resilience are both increasingly relying on urban non-potable water reuse under the context of the Climate Emergency, but sound risk assessment is lacking. Compared to the state of art, the proposed framework for health risk assessment and management of urban non-potable water reuse includes (i) an additional step for establishing the context and (ii) the risk identification step being extended to introduce a description of the activities from which the hazard exposure scenarios may be built. This novel scenario-building process allows for a clear and comprehensive risk description, assessment, and treatment. The model of risk management is structured around three primary components: the decision-makers, i.e., the municipal services and the population at risk (users and workers); data elements relevant for the risk management process (reclaimed water quality, hazards, hazardous events, sites where exposure can happen, exposure routes, and activities developed by the population at risk and their vulnerabilities); and the links between the decision-makers and these elements and between the elements themselves. Its application in a representative case study shows that the framework comprehensively guides decision-making and communication to relevant stakeholders. From this practical exercise, the main recommendations were derived for risk mitigation by the municipal risk manager and the park users.

Rethinking Cultural Ecosystem Services in Urban Forest Parks: An Analysis of Citizens’ Physical Activities Based on Social Media Data

Urban forest parks play a vital role in promoting physical activities (PAs) and providing cultural ecosystem services (CESs) that enhance citizens’ well-being. This study aims to reevaluate CESs by focusing on the physical activity experiences of park visitors to optimize park management and enhance citizen satisfaction. This study utilized social media data and employed natural language processing techniques and text analysis tools to examine experiences related to physical activities in Beijing Olympic Forest Park, Xishan Forest Park, and Beigong Forest Park. A specialized sports activity dictionary was developed to filter and analyze comments related to PA, emphasizing the impact of natural environments on enjoyment and participation in PA. The importance–performance analysis (IPA) method was used to assess the service characteristics of each park. The findings reveal that urban forest parks are highly valued by citizens, particularly for their natural landscapes, leisure activities, and the emotional fulfillment derived from PA, with 82.58% of comments expressing positive sentiments. Notably, appreciation for natural landscapes was exceptionally high, as evidenced by the frequent mentions of key terms such as ‘scenery’ (mentioned 2871 times), ‘autumn’ (mentioned 2314 times), and ‘forest’ (mentioned 1439 times), which significantly influence park usage. However, 17.11% of the reviews highlighted dissatisfaction, primarily with the management of facilities and services during sports and cultural activities. These insights underscore the need for performance improvements in ecological environments and sports facilities. This study provides a novel perspective on assessing and optimizing urban forest parks’ functions, particularly in supporting active physical engagement. The rich CESs offered by these parks enhance physical activity experiences and overall satisfaction. The findings offer strategic insights for park managers to better meet citizens’ needs and improve park functionality.

Spatial identification of public spaces’ functions: a case study of Bach Dang Wharf Park in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract Urban public spaces serve various functions and roles, such as physical, symbolic, ecological, economic, political, social, psychological, and aesthetic. Each function has specific design requirements and holds different meanings for space users. This study aims to identify the location of various functions within Bach Dang Wharf Park, one of the famous central riverside parks of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and test hypotheses about the concentration of hotspots for each function. To achieve these, we combined participatory GIS methods and face-to-face interviews using quantitative questionnaires and then used SPSS software to examine the relationship between park users’ identification of functions and other factors. We conducted two surveys, each lasting one week, in June 2022 and April 2023, with a total of 223 respondents and 1,413 marked points for park functions. The results showed that how people perceive park functions significantly relates to the characteristics of their park visitation rather than personal information. The hotspots of physical, symbolic, ecological, economic, and political functions appeared with high confidence levels and differed in size and location between the survey times. Meanwhile, in the 2022 survey, hotspots of social function appeared at the old pier near the high-speed boat station and opposite Nguyen Hue walking street. Later in 2023, these areas were mostly concentrated by markers of psychological function. At the same time, hotspots of aesthetic function were recorded in the space in front of the ASEAN flagpole. This approach effectively promotes community involvement in urban planning by better understanding citizens’ needs for public space.

Understanding urban green spaces through lenses of sensory experience: a case study of neighborhood parks in Dhaka city

ABSTRACT Physical, psychological, and emotional stress are common in today’s Dhaka city, which can be intense or sensory excruciating. Urban green space is considered a healthy environment for mental repair and well-being in urban domains. The senses (vision, touch, sound, smell, and taste) are essential in interpreting and experiencing the place and city. Therefore, the sensory experience is a multimodal awareness of environment that can impact users’ health, pleasure, and emotions. This paper aims to methodically explore the intricate sensory fabric and spatial components responsible for users’ sensory experiences that are necessary for planning and designing healthier neighborhood parks. This paper outlines the methods and findings of the study conducted in two parks in Dhaka city’s distinct neighborhoods at different times of the day and week to record users’ activity patterns and sensory experiences. Justice Shahabuddin Park in Gulshan and Tajmahal Road Park, Mohammadpur, were chosen as the study locations to be investigated. The analysis comprised a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, such as ethnographic research and on-site observation, geographical mapping, surveys, and walk-along interviews to capture subjective and objective sensory data and daily rhythms of neighborhood park users. The results suggest that all senses are essential in building healthy, inclusive urban green spaces.

Research on Environmental Behavior of Urban Parks in the North of China during Cold Weather—Nankai Park as a Case Study

The aging of the population is not only a global challenge, but it is also a major concern in the research on environmental behaviors. Urban green spaces are regarded as crucial for the well-being of the elderly. However, there is still a lack of in-depth investigation into the effect of spatial factors on the public activities performed by the elderly in urban parks in cold weather. Therefore, this study is aimed at filling this gap, with Nankai Park in Tianjin as the research object. In order to achieve this purpose, the behavioral patterns of elderly park users are mapped in this paper, based on participatory observation in combination with the collection of spatial data through continuous photography. To begin with, the park space is divided into 23 areas for correlation analysis. UCL Depthmap software is then used for park space syntax analysis, with Tangent used to evaluate the sunshine (shadow) factors. Specific indexes are established to quantify the spatial factors in each area, such as the shortest distance to the exit, the green space ratio, and facility density. GIS (Geographic Information System) is applied for data integration, and SPSS is applied to reveal the correlation between the behavioral data and the selected spatial factors. The key findings are as follows. (1) There are four space syntax indexes closely correlated with the activities that the elderly participate in. (2) The solar (overshadowing) conditions play an important role in the distribution of elderly park users. (3) There is no definitive relationship exhibited by the pattern of activities performed by the elderly with various factors such as number and diversity of seating facilities as well as the quantity and diversity of seating facilities. Finally, this analysis aims to explore research methodology that extends from qualitative observation to quantitative analysis. Future research will focus on the shaping of aging-friendly urban communities, which is expected to deepen our understanding of public activities held within urban parks in cold weather across the northern cities of China.

LANDSCAPE ATTRACTIVENESS AND PLACE IDENTITY: CONSIDERING THE ROLE OF URBAN PARKS

Urban parks, vital public spaces for community health and well-being, also face challenges related to safety and security. Balancing the need for recreational spaces with ensuring safety is paramount for urban stability. However, existing research on the nexus between landscape attractiveness and perceived safety often overlooks the influence of factors such as park usage patterns, place identity, and park typologies. To address this research gap, we conducted a survey among 411 urban park users and employed SmartPLS and SPSS for data analysis. Our findings reveal a robust correlation between landscape attractiveness and perceived safety. Furthermore, we uncover that the combined influence of place identity and time spent in the park can serve as positive mediators in this relationship. Surprisingly, our analysis indicates that time spent in the park alone does not exert a significant mediating effect. Notably, our results highlight nuanced variations: the association between landscape attractiveness and place identity is particularly pronounced in parks with lower landscape attractiveness, while the mediating role of place identity on the relationship between park usage time and perceived safety is more pronounced in parks with higher landscape attractiveness. These findings contribute to our understanding of how urban park landscapes relate to perceived safety and provide new insights for improving the safety of urban parks, offering valuable insights for urban planners and public health policymakers in designing healthier urban environments.

Gender-inclusive urban planning: European frameworks as a potential methodology for Arabian Gulf urban parks

PurposeThis trigger article explores established European gender-mainstreaming urban planning frameworks of urban parks to analyze and identify ways that could be applied or adapted for Arabian Gulf cities. It aims to accelerate the mainstreaming process, increasing women’s participation and inclusion in urban spaces, paving the way for future research.Design/methodology/approachAnalytical frameworks are created by reviewing legal and policy evolution, city-issued guidelines and European cities’ case studies (Barcelona, Berlin, Paris and Vienna) engaged in gender mainstreaming in urban planning. These analytical tools are then applied to assess two Arabian Gulf parks (Al Azaiba Wadi Park, Muscat, Oman, and Dahl Al-Hamam Park, Doha, Qatar), suggesting a possible future research methodology.FindingsSuccess factors in European cities include integrating female perspectives, detailed user analysis, specific planning solutions and political will. Despite differing social and cultural contexts, commonalities exist for female park users in Europe and the Arabian Gulf. This trigger article proposes a methodology for assessing the potential effective application or adaptation of European established frameworks in the Gulf context to accelerate gender mainstreaming.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper proposes a methodology for future research, noting limitations such as limited input on design preparation processes in Gulf City park case studies, a lack of feedback from park users and only a brief overview of sociocultural differences. Future research should explore nuanced cultural contexts, including historical processes and gender dynamics, thorough literature review, expanded case study analysis and participatory approaches. The proposed methodology aims to demonstrate how European frameworks can guide gender-mainstreaming efforts in diverse contexts, facilitating collaborative solutions for inclusive urban planning.Practical implicationsDrawing from decades of European gender-mainstreaming activities, the paper distills urban planning principles and best practices for application or adaptation in the Arab Gulf.Social implicationsEnhancing the park experience for women through planning and design boosts gender equality in cities, benefiting their physical and social well-being.Originality/valueAn original methodology is suggested for adapting well-developed European gender-mainstreaming frameworks to Arabian Gulf parks. Authored by a male, this paper aims to advance gender issues in planning while exploring the role men can play in contributing to such.