Town Park Research Articles

Flourishing or Frightening? Feelings about Natural and Built Green Spaces in Singapore.

The current study's aim was to better understand people's feelings towards different types of natural and built green space environments in the highly urbanized "garden city" of Singapore. We examined which types of green spaces elicited positive (eudemonic) or negative (apprehensive) affective responses. A total of 288 adult residents of Singapore completed a survey that asked them to report their affective states in response to images of 10 locally different environment types and to complete measures of childhood location, frequency of visiting natural/built environments, nature connectedness, and dispositional anxiety, as well as demographic items on age and gender. The 10 green space environment types were mapped onto an experiential state space representing feelings of apprehension and eudemonia in response to specific types of urban green spaces. In terms of a biophilic response, feelings of eudemonia were no different in natural green spaces compared to built green spaces. A higher frequency of experience in specific environments is associated with enhanced feelings of eudemonia in these environments. The findings indicate that people in Singapore can be apprehensive as much in natural green spaces as in built green spaces, and they can also find eudemonic experiences in built green spaces such as roof-top gardens or town parks.

Application of the Heritage Urbanism Model on the Example of the Renovation and Revitalisation of the Town Parks of Opatija

Opatija, the first climatic health resort on the eastern coast of the Adriatic and the elegant center of the tourist riviera of the same name in Croatia, is characterized by an impressive identity and a unique image of the town formed in the unity of urbanism, architecture and park architecture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Town authorities strive to protect, restore and revitalize their rich park heritage, especially town parks and promenades. Therefore, Opatija's town parks were considered as a case study in the scientific project Heritage Urbanism (HERU), which defined general and special models for the renovation and revitalization of cultural-historical heritage. This paper provides an overview of appropriate models of renovation and revitalization of all ten Opatija's town parks using the HERU method, based on established factors of their identity and criteria for preserving their values, improving their condition and possible new interventions in them. It is concluded that it would be necessary to apply a certain combination of 14 general and special models. The results of the research are applicable in urban planning and tourist development planning in Opatija and other similar tourist resorts in Croatia and abroad.

Design and numerical analysis of inverted well technique for aquifer recharge estimation

The seasonal polarization due to climate change and population explosion in developing countries is translating into rapid groundwater depletion. In the populous cities relying on groundwater for their water requirements, aquifers are turning into exiguity due to much higher depletion corresponding to recharge rate. Therefore, it is imperative to model the aquifer conditions for extrapolating the future scenario and adopting efficient and safe groundwater recharge techniques based on simulation results to counter the proliferating depletion rate. In this study, an efficient inverted well design with effective multiple filtration compartments is proposed for ground water recharge at natural runoff collection points having high conductivity and effective filtration. The current depletion rate and design recharge capability was assessed by simulating the aquifer conditions along with boundary conditions confined to model town area, groundwater table data of extraction and observation wells in study area from year 2014–2020, precipitation data 2008 to 2020, and other spatial and temporal variations in model town area of Lahore in VISUAL MODFLOW program. The model results exhibited that the depletion rate of Lahore (model town area having a land area of 5.9 km2 approximately) was 0.96 m per year (investigating year 2014–2020), this concurred with the depletion rate recorded by water table observations of extraction and observations wells from year 2014–2020. The depressions in model town park area of Lahore were simulated as recharge points, and 4 inverted wells with their calculated conductivity were simulated in model. The precipitation data with peak runoff generations for 7 years (2014–2020) was intercalated in the model. The results explicated that the simulation of inverted wells recharge technique at natural rainfed depressions of model town park area significantly reduced the depletion rate from 0.93 m per year (2014–2020) to 0.76 m per year (2021–2023) in MODFLOW visual water table contours. Therefore, this inverted well design-based recharge technique can effectively be used for efficient groundwater recharge, and its application at natural depressions in the groundwater dependent cities can effectively hinder and stabilize the depleting ground water resources.

A Mining Theme Park—Cultural Competition and the Politics of Identity Claims in an Indonesian Mining Town

The Wallacea–Sawerigading Mining Park (Taman Tambang Wallacea Sawerigading) in the mining town of Sorowako in Sulawesi, Indonesia, has been created by the mining company whose operations dominate the landscape and the local economy. The theme park juxtaposes the distinctive flora and fauna, and the pre-colonial history of the region, with the modern mining operations, creating a thematic stamp for regional identity. This article discusses the park and related tourism and leisure activities to illuminate processes of identity formation and identity-based competition in this cosmopolitan town. The voices of the original inhabitants (the orang asli Sorowako—autochthonous people of Sorowako), who have deployed their resistance identity in articulating rights claims, today are in competition with multiple foci of identity-making—from the mining company, governments, and migrants to the mining region. The paper draws on the author’s long-term research (from 1977 to now) following the social transformations associated with the mine.

THE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PUBLIC PARK IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN IN EAST JAVA PROVINCE

One way to find out the relative advantages of public parks is by conducting landscape design. The study aims to identify the impact of landscape elements and principles on public parks, To know the application of landscape design elements to public parks, and To find out how to apply landscape principles in public parks. The study was conducted on 10 regional cities in east Java with 3 public parks each, providing 30 public parks from March 2022 to August 2022. The study is achieved with a quantitative and qualitative method in which all data is obtained through direct observations in the field through a questionnaire. The data used in this study is research on landscape performance; landscape design elements and principles are subject to investigation. The observed variable includes 36. Studies take as many as 30 respondents to interviews or fill out questionnaires. Research shows that the Sidoarjo Square, the Unfortunate Square, the Gong Garden, the Apricot Garden, the Torch Park, the Tremiron Garden, and the Bungle Garden take up the first quadrant. The Gersik Square, Stone Square, the Green Town of Stone Park, the Municipal Square, the Old Town Park, Ngronggo Park, Safari 2, Taji Park and Cape Puri occupied the second quadrant. The park occupying Quadrant 3 is Prambanan Gersik, Candra Wilwatikta Park, Kehati Park and Rainbow Park. Quadrant 4 comprises Pancasila Fortress Park, Archway Park, Kennedy park and Mojokerto Square

Genomic and biotechnological potential of a novel oil-degrading strain Enterobacter kobei DH7 isolated from petroleum-contaminated soil

In this study, a novel oil-degrading strain Enterobacter kobei DH7 was isolated from petroleum-contaminated soil samples from the industrial park in Taolin Town, Lianyungang, China. The whole genome of the strain was sequenced and analyzed to reveal its genomic potential. The oil degradation and growth conditions including nitrogen, and phosphorus sources, degradation cycle, biological dosing, pH, and oil concentration were optimized to exploit its commercial application. The genome of the DH7 strain contains 4,705,032 bp with GC content of 54.95% and 4653 genes. The genome analysis revealed that there are several metabolic pathways and enzyme-encoding genes related to oil degradation in the DH7 genome, such as the paa gene cluster which is involved in the phenylacetic acid degradation pathway, and complete degradation pathways for fatty acid and benzoate, genes related to chlorinated alkanes and olefins degradation pathway including adhP, frmA, and adhE, etc. The strain DH7 under the optimized conditions has demonstrated a maximum degradation efficiency of 84.6% after 14 days of treatment using synthetic oil, which comparatively displays a higher oil degradation efficiency than any Enterobacter species known to date. To the best of our knowledge, this study presents the first-ever genomic studies related to the oil degradation potential of any Enterobacter species. As Enterobacter kobei DH7 has demonstrated significant oil degradation potential, it is one of the good candidates for application in the bioremediation of oil-contaminated environments.

Unearthing Rabiʿa's Grave: Placemaking, Shrines, and Contested Traditions in Balkh, Afghanistan

AbstractRabiʿa Balkhi was a princess and poet who, according to medieval accounts, flourished in 10th-century Balkh. She gained wide popularity in 20th-century Afghanistan, where she has been the subject of books, poems, and movies. This article recounts the story of her grave's discovery in the center of Balkh's town park in the 1960s, the emergence of a shrine around it, and its integration with Balkh's landscape of antiquity. Drawing on parallels from across the Muslim world, I argue that Rabiʿa's shrine emerged through a dialogue between state officials and local forms of placemaking. But although initially motivated by nationalist sentiment, the Afghan state lost its ability to define Rabiʿa's life on nationalist terms. As Afghanistan fragmented through war, her shrine survived as a space where her life was constantly reinterpreted and where disputed visions over the nation's past and future played out.

Characteristic Factors Influencing the Thai-Style Public Space Utilization: Case Study of Sanam Na Mueang Public Park in Nakhon Si Thammarat Old Town, Thailand

This research aims to identify the characteristic factors influencing the Thai-style public space utilization with the combination of variables of good public space characteristics following the occidental and Thai theories from the perspective of actual users in order to create new components or factors influencing the Thai-style public space utilization. Sanam Na Mueang Public Park, located in Nakhon Si Thammarat Old Town, was specified as the study area. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to classify 30 variables influencing the success of public space utilization; data was collected from questionnaire responses provided by 320 people. The results indicate that the new characteristic factors influencing Thai-style public space utilization consist of contextual connection and space identity, landscape elements, and aesthetics of public space utilization. These results reflect that both contextual connection and space identity, and landscape elements are consistent with occidental theories that prioritize physical characteristics and promote the access and facilitation, while the aesthetics of public space utilization, in contrast to occidental theories, prioritize the aesthetics of utilization and visibility to the surrounding people and activities.

Analysis of vegetation structure of urban parks and environmental discomfort index in The City of Mataram

The high population growth in Mataram City with the consequence of increasing development has caused a decrease in the area of ​​green open land. Garden parks as part of green open land need to be maintained and evaluated for their vegetation to be able to control the impact of local climate change. This study aims to analyze the vegetation structure of garden parks in Mataram City and assess its ability to reduce the increase in the environmental discomfort index. Vegetation analysis was carried out in six garden parks in Mataram City using the transect-squared method. The observed vegetation variable was the lushness of each vegetation life form. Vegetation data was analysed to produce groups of urban park vegetation structures in Mataram City. Microclimate factors inside and outside the park, which include air temperature and humidity observed on a sunny day according to a two-way line interval design with a direction according to the shape and area of ​​the observed urban park. The data of air temperature and humidity were processed to produce an index of environmental discomfort. The results showed that the six urban parks observed in The City of Mataram were divided into three groups of vegetation structures, namely the form of trees & shrubs (Ampenan Old Town Park, Udayana Garden and Selagalas park), forms of shrubs & trees (Sangkareang Park and Garden of Mayura ) and forms of bushes & shrubs (Malomba Park). The existence of city parks with variations in their vegetation structure in Mataram City does not cause variations in their ability to reduce the discomfort index. All city parks observed in Mataram City have moderate ability in reducing environmental discomfort index. Most of the areas outside the city parks in Mataram City have a class c of discomfort index and only Mayura Park, Malomba Park and Selagalas Park are known to reduce the discomfort class, namely from class c (discomfort felt by >50% of the population) outside the park to class b (discomfort felt by <50% of population) in the park.

Termite diversity and damage assessment in urban trees from different parks of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

Termite infestation is one of the fundamental problems associated with the loss of urban trees and ecological services. However, no such study has been performed in Pakistan to investigate the termite occurrence and assess such damages to urban trees caused by termites. For Lahore, research and comparable data on urban tree damages are rare or missing. This study surveyed six different microhabitats, including Bagh-e-Jinnah, canal vegetation, Model Town Park, Jallo Forestry, Race-Course Park, and FC College Vegetation employing the three belt transects (100 × 5m) method. We geo-referenced termite-infested trees to investigate the termite occurrence on living and dead standing trees, termite diversity, and the assessment of tree damage by termites' attack. We recorded four termite species (Odontotermes obesus Rambur, Coptotermes heimi Wasmann, Heterotermes indicola Wasmann, and Microtermes obesi Holmgren) representing two families (Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae). However, the diversity indices revealed that O. obesus (higher termite) and C. heimi (lower termite) were dominant with 46.60 and 36% of occurrence among observed trees, respectively. Kernel density function indicated that the Lahore Canal and Bagh-e-Jinnah plantation shared all four termites' infestation evenly compared to other study sites. We observed the maximum number of damaged trees by termites in canal vegetation with the most damaged exotic tree species Populus euramericana along the canal green belt. Additionally, we observed significant (P < 0.05) termite-tree interactions with exotic, living, and dead standing tree species and found termite colony size positively (R = 0.985) correlated with the tree trunk diameter up to breast height (DBH). The average population of termites per unit volume of deadwood log was (0.39/cm3) within all plantation sites. In conclusion, this study provides simple, reckless, and inexpensive knowledge about the assessment of termite damage to trees, which may give a better idea in making decisions on tree selection and management in urban ecosystems.

Biomass carbon and soil nutrient status in urban green sites at foothills of eastern Himalayas: Implication for carbon management

Urban green spaces are effective extension of carbon sinks in human dominant landscapes to supplement climate change mitigation. There have been several studies on the environmental effects of urbanization, but few studies on the services offered by urban green areas. The current research took place at four urban green sites in Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India, which is situated in the Eastern Himalayas. The biomass, primary nutrients, and carbon stock, as well as carbon fractions, were recorded in the study. The research used stratified random quadrate sampling with the line transact process. The physico-chemical characteristics of collected composite soils samples at various depths were analyzed. For biomass estimation, the indirect approach was used. Based on overall estimated plant biomass (869.46 Mg ha−1), biomass carbon (434.78 Mg ha−1), soil carbon (50.82 Mg ha−1) and total ecosystem carbon (485.55 Mg ha−1), it can be concluded that the town's parks and institutional green areas improved the town's biophysical components while, also helping avoiding emission by permanently stocking carbon in its tree biomass.

A Roller Coaster Ride

Fun Extreme Park is a new theme park in town. After a few years in operation, the park is facing a crisis in declining number of visitors. Revenue is greatly affected as the biggest revenue stream comes from the sales of tickets. A few other challenges have been identified that may further contribute to the decline in the visitors’ numbers. The sales of retail products are not promising and there has been an increasing complaint from customers on the quality of food and services at their restaurants. Despite having ten rides in the park, some of the popular rides are not operable due to maintenance issues. These added to the customers’ complaints further. The case dilemma involves getting the best options in improving the park’s performance by way of getting the best strategies in each of the challenges highlighted. Appendices are attached to provide more information for better understanding of the park’s operation

Role of Abiotic Factors on Diversification and Adaptation of Insects in Selected Area of Lahore, Pakistan

The study was conducted to reveal the morphological and taxonomic distribution pattern of dominant insect species under different abiotic conditions in diverse areas of district Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Three various non-agro urban-based ecological sites (Safari Park, Punjab University and Model town Park) randomly selected for field surveys, insect collection and abiotic factor study during the year of 2019-2020. A total of 234 individuals classified into 12 orders, 50 insect species were recovered across all sampling sites. The results indicated that the highest number of insect species with abundant taxa were trapped in Safari Park (62%), followed by Punjab University (26%) and Model town park (12%), respectively. The most dominant insect species are Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera and Diptera, respectively. The purpose of the study was to assess role of abiotic factors on diversification and adaptation of insects in selected area of Lahore, Pakistan. Among the site-specific difference, PCA analysis of the study revealed a significant difference in ecological diversification and adaptation pattern.

Methodology for assessing quality of urban park functional zoning by factors affecting park environment comfortability

The decision made by the architect on the location of recreational areas on the park layout can subsequently have a significant impact on people’s comfort and is one of the conditions for the high level of park attendance and visitor satisfaction. However, since each factor affecting comfortability of the environment manifests differently in different parts of the park, it is quite difficult to take into account and not leave out every factor affecting comfort at the design phase. The aim of this study is to develop a methodology that can be used for quantitative assessment of the quality of functional zoning in existing urban parks, to provide a more complete account of sanitation and hygiene, ergonomic, morphological and natural factors affecting the park environment comfortability. This goal is achieved by building planograms which reflect the impact of each factor on the park grounds and their subsequent summation in accordance with the requirements for location of each functional zone of the park set by the designer. The methodology proposed in this paper was used to assess the quality of the existing functional zoning in the Lida town park.

Reflection and awareness in the design process: children ideating, programming and prototyping smart objects

Design of new technology with children has been widely investigated, and lately several workshops have been organised with children for designing novel IoT or smart objects, e.g., for smart cities or parks. Gradually, the research focus has shifted, from an analysis of the technology itself, which children help create, towards an analysis of children’s possible gains in design workshops. However, in spite of several recent efforts, it is still unclear what happens when children participate in diverse parts of a design process, ranging from ideation to prototyping. This paper investigates it, focussing on children’s gains in relation to their knowledge of design. A structured design workshop can help obtain such gains and analyse their achievements. Therefore this paper presents a structured design workshop with 27 children, aged from 11 to 14 years old, ideating, programming and prototyping smart objects for their town park. The workshops was structured and centred around a board-game with cards, so as to playfully make children reflect about design, and promote their awareness of what they were doing. Data were gathered in relation to children’s reflections from different perspectives, during the workshop, and in relation to their awareness of design, after the workshop. The analysis of the gathered data suggests that the workshop positively affected children’s reflections on design and awareness of design, giving indications for future work concerning critical design with children.

Assessing the Impact of Eucalyptus Plantation on Groundwater Availability in Pakistan

Eucalyptus tree was first planted in Pakistan in the 1980s under the project of Pakistan Forest Institute sponsored by United States Agency for International Development. It is not native to Pakistan's environment, so it has become a threat to the ecosystem. A mature Eucalyptus tree shape is like a shrub or tall tree. It is centered by the number of controversies like allelopathy, loss of soil fertility, the substitution of conventional forests and causing various hydro-ecological imbalances of an ecosystem. Eucalyptus tree consumes three times more water in arid and semi-arid environments, because of vapor pressure deficit. About 80% of Pakistan's area is present in the semi-arid and arid climate. Pakistan is facing a serious water shortage and rapid groundwater level depletion in many parts of the country. It is believed that species of Eucalyptus tree are extracting more groundwater than water recharge. Therefore, the present study is conducted to identify the adverse impacts of Eucalyptus plantation on the groundwater level of Lahore. Six parks in Lahore were selected as study sites, i.e., Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Bagh-e-Jinnah, Jillani Park, Nawaz Sharif Park, Jallo Park, and Johar Town Park. A total of 3,484 Eucalyptus trees were identified with different age groups. These trees belong to the species of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus citriodora and Eucalyptus sideroxylone. The study reveals that since 1990, the groundwater level has significantly reduced in study sites. It is recommended that Eucalyptus trees may be replaced with other indigenous species so that the rate of groundwater depletion can be slowed down.

Assessing the Impact of Eucalyptus Plantation on Groundwater Availability in Pakistan

Eucalyptus tree was first planted in Pakistan in the 1980s under the project of Pakistan Forest Institute sponsored by United States Agency for International Development. It is not native to Pakistan's environment, so it has become a threat to the ecosystem. A mature Eucalyptus tree shape is like a shrub or tall tree. It is centered by the number of controversies like allelopathy, loss of soil fertility, the substitution of conventional forests and causing various hydro-ecological imbalances of an ecosystem. Eucalyptus tree consumes three times more water in arid and semi-arid environments, because of vapor pressure deficit. About 80% of Pakistan's area is present in the semi-arid and arid climate. Pakistan is facing a serious water shortage and rapid groundwater level depletion in many parts of the country. It is believed that species of Eucalyptus tree are extracting more groundwater than water recharge. Therefore, the present study is conducted to identify the adverse impacts of Eucalyptus plantation on the groundwater level of Lahore. Six parks in Lahore were selected as study sites, i.e., Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Bagh-e-Jinnah, Jillani Park, Nawaz Sharif Park, Jallo Park, and Johar Town Park. A total of 3,484 Eucalyptus trees were identified with different age groups. These trees belong to the species of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus citriodora and Eucalyptus sideroxylone. The study reveals that since 1990, the groundwater level has significantly reduced in study sites. It is recommended that Eucalyptus trees may be replaced with other indigenous species so that the rate of groundwater depletion can be slowed down.

일본여성의 전통스포츠문화 연구 : 하네츠키(羽根突き)와 추천(鞦韆)을 중심으로

The study aims to review the origin, characteristics, development, and cultural and social aspects of Hanetsuki and Syusen (swing), which were widely enjoyed by Japanese women as part of their traditional culture. It is unclear exactly when Hanetsuki emerged in Japan, but it was carried out as a shamanistic activity to prevent calamity and to wish for a long and healthy life when welcoming the new year. Hanetsuki in the early Edo period was mainly enjoyed by the upper social class and both men and women played it together; it was gradually spread to the general public later on. From the middle of the Edo period, Hagoita, which refers to a racket today, has been sold with colorful patterns and faces of famous Kabuki actors on them; Japanese people began to give and receive Hagoita as a gift for the new year’s day wishing to drive away evils. Since then, it took root as a women’s play. Since the 1920s, Hanetsuki has been adopted as a school material on traditional women’s play in modern schools and was encouraged as a physical activity for female students. Until the 1960s, women in average families enjoyed Hanetsuki in yards or gardens as a new year’s event, but today it is only passed down as a custom in which people exchange Hagoita as gifts.BR In ancient times Syusen was spread from China to Korea, and then to Japan, which then settled as a female sport related to Hansik (105th day after the winter solstice). Entering the Edo period, girls began to enjoy Syusen as one of the annual events. As the Japanese society modernized, Syusen was encouraged to be included as one of the physical activities in school curriculums. It was spot-lighted as a type of sports material for women, shifting from a traditional play, following the changing demand of the time. Today, there are only little swings installed in the corner of school playing fields or town parks.

Élans chorégraphiques & (des)espérance

N., a female dancer, with a huge melancholic mood and feelings, has an aggressive attitude facing the palliative care nurses when knowing the imminent end of life of her boyfriend, a choreographer, due to a lung cancer. Dance appears as a main Objet by a mediating role (art-therapy), sustaining a verbal psychotherapy provided by a dance-therapist who knows the major psychodynamic influence and impact of dance. Body and body Image remain omnipresent : real body slaughtered by disease; the ashes from incineration spread in a windy park in town; the expressive dancing body and psyche. This dramatic human tragedy remembered « Winterreise » (Winter journey) – a darkest inner world – produced by the Muller's poems and the Schubert's musical composition as « The lieder Cycle », linked to the German romantic literature included the « Sturm und Drang » trend/Storm and Stress. The atmosphere offers genuine moments of nostalgic situations, morbid dreams and dreadful experiences in a dark stormy nature. A contemporary genious ballet « Winterreise » is conceived by A. Preljocaj, deeply rooted in this history, retracing the deadly destiny of a young lover. It's also through the art of dance that N. finds a way to recover health and hope by creating a ballet solo called l’Hiver de l’âme (the Winter of the soul). Close to Winterreise meaning, the solo represents the different stages of mourning, helping her to cope with a mix of emotions during bereavement, to reduce grief, sorrow and suffering thoughts. As by dance movement therapy, she regains hope by art-therapeutic inner changing, restructuring and resilient processes.

Zoned Out? North Carolina Manufactured Housing Parking Lot Rents

This paper explores determinants of manufactured housing park (MHP) plot rents in North Carolina, with particular focus on the distinction among urban, rural, and periurban and small town parks, and on the possible role played by zoning restrictiveness. Little is known about how MHP rents are determined, even though it is estimated that more than 10 million Americans live in MHPs. We find that, contrary to our expectations, zoning appears to be an unimportant factor in determining park rents, while location, adjacent home prices, and nearby HUD “fair market rent” values are all important – though not uniformly so.