**3. Method**

*Sustainability in Urban Planning and Design*

**2.1 Characteristics of university towns**

applicable to the Papine University Town:

surrounding area;

facilities;

government actions and or direct policies. Towns such as Stanford, Cambridge and Oxford are representatives of the organic evolution model. In these towns, the university graduates remained after completing their studies. Graduates are attracted to areas such as these, because of the availability of jobs in companies that have relocated to the university town to benefit from the synergy of information and technology. These towns have been formed by the establishment of purpose-built campuses for the clustering of universities to achieve objectives such as, relocation and expansion of universities, and promotion of high-tech industries ([2], p. 2).

The characteristics of a university town, as described by the Hong Kong Planning Department (outlined below), with the exception of the last point, are all

1.nurturing of a number of high-tech companies and activities in the

2. clustering of education, research institutions and start-up companies;

3.occupying a large site area, ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand hectares with a wide range of supporting facilities such as housing, shops, banks, research and development companies, entertainment and exhibition

4.high degree of facility sharing, including sharing among the, educational institutions the companies and the people living in the town; and

international investments, thus enhancing the town.

5. attracting talents, intellectual elites, research and development companies and

Despite having met the requirements, for the most part, the area has not attracted the level of international or local investment in comparison to similar urban areas in the United States or Europe. The economy of a university city or town is closely associated with the university's activity and is highly supported by the whole university structure, which may include university hospitals and clinics, university printing houses, libraries, laboratories, business incubators, student rooms, dining halls, students' unions, student societies, and academic festivities. In some university or college towns, the history of the city or town is often intertwined with the history of the university itself. A university town plays an important role in defining the urban form and creating a sense of identity for residents and visitors of a country. The university's role in the design and layout of public open space is one way of defining and creating this identity. The university's involvement in the creation of new knowledge, technology and other forms of innovations, through research and development, allows for an environment conducive to learning and growth. Evidently, the University towns, cities or district are important to national development because of the important role these urban forms play in promoting major investments in public space development, public maintenance, and public safety. Universities also influence the shape and direction of the urban expansion because they tend to occupy large tracts of land and depend on services provided by external providers within close proximity. Research on university towns highlighted the fact that, in the initial, the university and the town failed to work together to address common problems.

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The University of Technology, Jamaica, through its Faculty of the Built Environment (FOBE), took on the responsibility to prepare architectural designs for the restructuring of the built environment in the local planning area designated as the Papine University Town. The Papine Park, an important landmark and a community hub, is the key target area for the redesign. Baseline data was needed to assess current usage patterns to guide the planning and redesign efforts based on the needs identified by the various stakeholders. A team from the University of the West Indies Tropical Medicine Research Institute (TMRI) was engaged to assist with data collection, using a particular approach. Over the years, the TMRI provided cutting edge, high quality research solutions for developmental needs. The built environment is now the focus of important ongoing collaborative research at UWI by both the Department of Community Health & Psychiatry and Tropical Medicine Research Institute (TMRI), through the project dubbed **E**valuating **Qu**alitative and **Qu**antitative **I**ssues in **P**hysical Activity in **Ja**maica (EQUIP-JA). The overall goal of EQUIP-JA is to utilize rigorous qualitative and quantitative methodologies to better understand physical activity (PA) patterns in Jamaicans and develop interventions that increase physical activity levels in communities and also provide important data for community and public space designers and planners, as well as prove useful for monitoring and evaluating the investment of public funds in parks. The team from the Tropical Medicine Research Institute employed the SOPARC method which is described below. In addition, the research employed qualitative methods inclusive of questionnaires, focus group interviews and in depth interviews with government officials who have responsibilities for public open space and public works.

#### **3.1 System for observing play and recreation in communities (SOPARC)**

A proven reliable and valid direct observation tool employed to assess park usage and conditions is the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) developed by McKenzie et al. [4] in the USA. Though somewhat labor intensive, it is an observational tool that is less intrusive than other data collection strategies and may also be used as a monitoring tool for evaluating changes in park usage patterns and park conditions. Whiting et al. [5] examined the tool as an efficient and effective tool for monitoring park visitation by comparing it with intercept surveys and exit surveys.

UTECH and UWI collaborated on a pilot study to obtain baseline data on current usage patterns and conditions of the Papine Park and assess the reliability and utility of SOPARC as an assessment tool in small-island developing country context.

The SOPARC method, approved by the UTech Ja Research Ethics Committee was employed in the study. It used momentary time sampling techniques that were both systematic and periodic to gain objective observational data on contextual and individual physical activity. The original SOPARC coding forms used by McKenzie et al. [4] were slightly modified by removing the racial categories and adjusting the age group categories.

#### **3.2 Surveys and interview**

In addition to SOPAC method, face to face interviews were conducted among park users to determine their views and perceptions of the park and to solicit their input on features to be incorporated in the redesign of the park. Although surveys were also administered, it is important to note that the survey was done at a time when both universities and other educational institutions in the area were on summer break, which resulted in limited student participation. Two hundred surveys were administered to persons in the Papine Park over a 3 week period during the months of July and August 2015. The survey included questions on safety in the park, esthetics, accessibility and mobility in and around the park. The researchers collected additional data by way of focus groups interviews with members of citizens associations, business owners along the park, police personnel and other key stakeholders associated with the park. The researchers interviewed key personnel from state agencies who are likely to play a role in the redesign and re-construction of the park. Representatives from the public transportation agency, the agency with responsibility for solid waste management and infrastructure development. These interviews elicit information from the representatives relative to their agencies work plan for the park and their willingness to execute the ideas emanating from the participatory process. The results of these findings were used to inform the redesign of the park.

#### **3.3 Limitations**

The limitations noted were few. Firstly, data were collected during only 1 week of summer when schools and universities in close proximity to the park were closed. Secondly, the predetermined observation periods may not have captured periods of increased use outside of those timeframes. Thirdly, inter-observer agreement (IOA) scores were not formally calculated during training and may have affected reliability assessment of gender-specific age and activity levels. Despite the limitations, this study has revealed that SOPARC is a reliable assessment tool and effective for providing baseline estimates on the user characteristics of the Papine Park. Reliability for sex-specific age groups and activity levels may be improved by

**355**

**Figure 3.**

*Jamaican Universities Aiding the Design of an Urban Public Space*

stipulated that vending is prohibited, this is not strictly enforced.

where all target areas were used by persons (**Figure 3**).

ensuring inter- observer agreement (IOA) scores of at least 80% prior to commenc-

Future observation studies over a longer period and at different times of the year may improve on the representativeness of the data. SOPARC may, therefore, be useful for evaluating changes in user characteristics over time, particularly, if the Papine Park remains a part of the new university town. The Park can be described as a transportation hub. Thirty-one or 27% of the respondents stated that they use the park for rest and relaxation. During the field survey, several vendors were observed plying their wares in the park. They were selling snacks, beverages, phone cards, fruits, and cigarettes. Regardless of the fact that the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation, the local authority with responsibility for managing the park, has

The SOPARC analysis shows that the target areas used most frequently were those nearest to public transportation, where sitting was possible and areas that offered shade. There were limited green spaces in terms of number and size. A number of vendors were observed mainly in the target areas along the western half of the park where there was easy access to parked public transport. However, given that the scan was momentary, it was pre-determined that vending would be coded according to PAL observed rather than type of vending activity. Almost all of the target areas within the park were accessible and usable. Nonetheless, a few areas were empty for each observation period, with the exception of the evening period

Significantly, more men than women were observed using the park and the vast majority of users were adults (18–64 years old, 83%). Of all users, approximately 54% were observed engaged in sedentary activity viz. sitting, standing or lying down, 39.7% were walking and only 6.2% were engaged in vigorous-

Differences were noted in park use according to time of day. There was an increasing trend in use throughout the day, from a low of 15% of persons observed in the morning period to a high of 38% in the evenings. Regarding PAL among men, almost 60% were observed to be sedentary compared with the other PALs. For all females, the proportion observed to be sedentary versus walking was almost equally split (47% vs. 46%). When the PAL of each sex was examined by period of the day,

*Photograph showing the northeastern view of the entrance to Papine Park, August 2015 (Source: Author).*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89448*

ing data collection.

**4. Analysis**

intensity PAL.

**4.1 SOPARC analysis and results**

*Jamaican Universities Aiding the Design of an Urban Public Space DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89448*

ensuring inter- observer agreement (IOA) scores of at least 80% prior to commencing data collection.

Future observation studies over a longer period and at different times of the year may improve on the representativeness of the data. SOPARC may, therefore, be useful for evaluating changes in user characteristics over time, particularly, if the Papine Park remains a part of the new university town. The Park can be described as a transportation hub. Thirty-one or 27% of the respondents stated that they use the park for rest and relaxation. During the field survey, several vendors were observed plying their wares in the park. They were selling snacks, beverages, phone cards, fruits, and cigarettes. Regardless of the fact that the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation, the local authority with responsibility for managing the park, has stipulated that vending is prohibited, this is not strictly enforced.
