**7. References**

Alonso, William. 1969. "What are New Towns for?" Research Conference of the Committee on Urban Economics, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Ames, Steven C. 1998. A guide to community visioning. Oregon Visions Project.


**12** 

Yldz Aksoy

*Turkey* 

**An Evaluation of Distribution** 

*Istanbul Aydin University Engineering Architecture* 

**and Quantity of Parks in Istanbul** 

*Faculty Architecture Departmant, Sefaköy Küçükçekmece, Istanbul* 

Some researchers have pointed out that the availability of accessible and attractive green areas is an integral part of the urban quality of life ( Herzele and Wiedmann, 2003). Others maintain that the provision of green areas improves the urban environment, contributes to public health, increases the quality of life and provides amenities to residents in the form of recreational benefits (Wu and Plantinga, 2003). For instance, green areas can sequester carbon dioxide emissions and produce oxygen (Jo, 2002); purify air and water, regulate micro climate, reduce noise (Bolund and Hunhammer, 1999); (Hanamaen et al., 2003); protect soil and water (Pauleit and Duhmer, 2000); absorb rainwater and pollutants (Connine et al., 2004) and mitigate urban heat island effect (Rudie and Dewers, 1984;

Some have pointed out that the benefits of parks are not just environmental but also recreational, aesthetic and emotional (Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989; Savard et al., 2000); (Ong, 2003); (Gobster and Westphal, 2004; Jim, 2006a). Furthermore, public parks can have a statistically significant effect on the sale price of nearby houses (Benson et al., 1998; Tyrvainen, 1997). Most Istanbul residents generally view parks as recreational areas and the paucity of these areas have led to the severe overcrowding of available green areas on

Linking the quantified and spatially explicit urban green area pattern with an economic model, such as the hedonic price model combined with property characters can help clarify the relationship between green areas and economic values (Geoghegan, 2002; Morancho, 2003). In the future, it is expected that the social and spatial implications of new lifestyles, values, attitudes to nature and sustainability will even lead to higher demands for urban green area (Thompson, 2002). This situation has also been observed in Istanbul as residents

Although intrusion into forests is officially forbidden, developers enticed by high profit have often succeeded in obtaining needed permits and most of those who have moved to the periphery are in search of green and tranquil places of residence despite the high cost of

Stanners and Bourdeau 1995; Simpson and McPherson 1996; Bonan, 2000).

have begun to demand more green areas and parks set aside for their use.

**1. Introduction** 

weekends and holidays (Aksoy, 2011).

living (Dokmeci and Berkoz, 2000).

