Evaluation of Variables That Affect Urban Park User Preferences: Ankara-Turkey Sample

Arzuhan Burcu Gültekin and Aslı Dokucu

### Abstract

The aim of this study is to create awareness about the variables that affect urban park user preferences and to set light to the users, urban planners, landscape architects, and real estate development professionals about the issue. In this frame, it was studied to determine the significance of urban park design in Turkey and to evaluate the variables that affect urban park user preferences for ensuring user comfort in urban parks and sustainability of them. In accordance with the purpose of the study, general user profile in urban areas that affects user preferences, variables about use case, and user satisfaction were researched along with sub-variables. A total of 300 individuals (165 female, 135 male users) participated in the survey study. Survey results were separately evaluated for Botanik Park, Kuğulu Park, and Seğmenler Park with IBM SPSS Statistics 23 package program. Variables were determined according to sufficiency level, and obtained results are presented in this study along with the discussions. It was ascertained that rather than the size of the field and number of activities, variables that affect user preferences are related to the composition and density of green lands in a park, quality of services, cleaning, security, and maintenance-repair of a park.

Keywords: open green spaces, urban parks, user preferences, user satisfaction, accessibility, Botanik Park, Kuğulu Park, Seğmenler Park

#### 1. Introduction

Dense housing and unplanned urbanization, which have been increasing since industrial development, increase in life standards, and dramatic increase in population are some of the most important problems of today's cities. Open green spaces are planned and used inappropriately; urban life becomes monotonous; cities turn into socially, culturally, and biologically insufficient environments for human life; and relationship between urban and rural areas slowly decreases because of incorrect site selection [1]. Because of the intense, stressful urban life and its pressure on humans, open green spaces are now more important as individuals get the chance to have psychological relief, continue sociocultural development, and carry out recreational activities in these areas. Urban parks, one of the basic green areas in cities, play an important role in the lives of humans living in cities; their features,

functions, and opportunities they present are important for city dwellers. Urban parks are designed in a way that they can be used by people from different age groups; they are located in the most exclusive areas in cities in terms of natural beauty. In addition, these areas organize social life through ensuring the sense of protection, education, and socialization [2]. In this context, the basic goals of this study is to emphasize the necessity of parks, to analyze variables of urban park user preferences, and to create awareness among city planners, landscape architects, and real estate development professionals on the basis of the findings obtained through our research process. In the frame of these goals, the purpose of the study is to evaluate the variables that affect users' urban park preferences within the scope of user profile, use case, and user satisfaction.

A survey study was conducted in Botanik Park, Kuğulu Park, and Seğmenler Park, in Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey, in order to determine the variables that affect user preferences. Survey questions were made of three different sections designed for determining user profile, use case, and user satisfaction features. Sub-variables about gender, age, marital status, number of children, education level, and monthly average income within the scope of "user profile features"; sub-variables about the reasons for preference and process of park use within the scope of "use case"; and sub-variables about design features, accessibility features, environmental features, and psychological and security features within the scope of "user satisfaction" were evaluated with IBM SPSS Statistics 23 package program.

#### 2. The notion and scope of urban park

Today's human being tries to protect physiological and psychological health through recreation activities. Individuals prefer recreation areas on the basis of their economic, social, and cultural development levels. This is why, it is important to plan, design, and establish green spaces by analyzing the elements of size, number, distribution, and use of these spaces as a whole. The understanding of organizing open spaces which involve sufficient physical, social, and visual elements has become more important in the world today. Areas in crowded cities are highly important for satisfying the necessities of modern townsmen in daily life. Urban parks are the most important places in this respect as they involve various recreational opportunities and facilities [3].

Urban parks are green spaces with different sizes, purposes, functions, and equipment, and they serve cities as a whole. Urban parks, one of the urban fabrics made of various elements (housing, industry, trade, education, etc.), are the most important urban green spaces which give people from all ages the chance to involve in any kind of passive or active activities [4]. Urban parks are the areas of urban service in complex urban environments; they have significant and multiple functions in re-establishing the broken nature-human relationship resulting from the rapid and irregular urbanization [5].

#### 2.1 Urban park planning criteria and principles

Park planning criteria change according to country, settlement, and requirements of that settlement [6]. In this context, parks are classified according to the number of housings that they serve besides population, dwelling unit, size, and accessibility (Table 1). Green space necessity in cities increases in accordance with the increase in population and constructions in that city. Factors that determine standards in modern urban parks are population of city, size, geographical location, climate, service areas of parks, and how much they are used [3]. When the size

Evaluation of Variables That Affect Urban Park User Preferences: Ankara-Turkey Sample DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836


Table 1.

Planning criteria for different park types [2, 8].

criteria of different park types are analyzed, it can be seen that urban parks serve to 5000–10,000 house units, they are located in cities, and sizes are between 20 and 50 ha [2]. On the other hand, according to the US National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) park standards [7], population that urban parks serve should be variable, and they should be located approximately 30 min driving distance in terms of accessibility [8].

Planning principles for urban parks can be put into order as mentioned below:


• Planting should be proper for the ecology of the city; plant types should be carefully chosen in terms of color and texture [4].

#### 2.2 Variables that affect urban park user preferences

Understanding the benefits of urban parks for humans and cities has a significant role in ensuring a sustainable use [11]. It can be said that urban parks successfully function as long as they meet the demands and expectations of users. There are scientific studies about urban parks based on the purpose of determining socioeconomic features of users, how they use these parks, their satisfactions or complaints, efficiency and functioning of parks, and planning of parks that support active and social interaction [12]. In the light of these studies, it can be said that urban park user preferences are related to personal features, state of the green spaces and recreation areas, types of activities in parks, design, accessibility, and environmental, psychological, and security features. Creating recreation areas that don't cause any kind of social, psychological, or physiological disorders, ensuring sustainability of parks, and protecting vividness in the park are the factors that are taken into


#### Table 2.

Variables and sub-variables that affect urban park user preferences.

Evaluation of Variables That Affect Urban Park User Preferences: Ankara-Turkey Sample DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836

consideration by the users. On the other hand, studies on the relationship between user type and user preference show that user preferences vary according to age, gender, education level, income level, and ethnic group [13]. In this context, it can be said that variables about user profile, use case, and user satisfaction are important in determining preferences of users in urban parks. Variables and sub-variables that affect urban park user preferences are classified by reviewing different scientific studies; classification is presented (Table 2). These variables and sub-variables can be diversified, increased, or classified differently for a similar survey study in a different country or city.

#### 3. Evaluation of variables that affect user preferences in Ankara urban parks

A survey study was carried out in the scope of this study in order to analyze the variables that affect user preferences in Botanik Park, Kuğulu Park, and Seğmenler Park, located in Çankaya, Ankara (city center) (Figure 1). Face-to-face questionanswer method was practiced in the study process during autumn in Botanik Park, Kuğulu Park, and Seğmenler Park; questions were asked to the users of these parks in the scope of the study (Figure 2). IBM SPSS Statistics 23 package program was used in evaluating survey results of the study. Evaluation results were separately analyzed for the users of each park. Variables were determined according to sufficiency level, and obtained results are presented in the following pages along with the findings.

The equation mentioned below is used while determining sample size of users in survey study (Equation 1) [16, 17]:

$$\begin{aligned} m &\geq N \times t^2 \times p \times q\\ N \times m^2 &+ t^2 \times p \times q \end{aligned} \tag{1}$$

Abbreviations in the formula are expressed below:

N = size of the community (according to address-based population registration system; Ankara population in 2017: 5.445.026 [18]), t = security coefficient (1, 96)

Figure 1. Satellite images of urban parks of the study [14]: (a) Botanik Park, (b) Kuğulu Park, (c) Seğmenler Park.

Figure 2. Images of urban parks of the study [15]: (a) Botanik Park, (b) Kuğulu Park, (c) Seğmenler Park.

(95% secure), m =admitted sampling error percentage (10%), p = probability of odds ratio of the feature to be evaluated in the main mass (0, 5), and q = nonexistence rate of the feature to be evaluated in the main mass (0, 5) (it is assumed that the community is heterogeneous).

It was determined that there were 96 surveys statistically representing the field in the frame of the formula. In this context, a total of 300 surveys completed in 3 urban parks were statistically evaluated. Data about gender, age, marital status, number of children, education level, and monthly average income of user group who participated in the study are presented in Table 3.

#### 3.1 Evaluation of variables according to use case

Variables about the use case of urban parks are classified as reasons of preference and usage process. Data obtained from the users are presented in Table 4. When the reasons for preferring Botanik Park, Kuğulu Park, and Seğmenler Park were analyzed, it was seen that sub-variables of each park were different. It was determined that Botanik Park users mostly preferred the park in order to make use of their spare time, for walking, or sports; Kuğulu Park users mostly preferred the park in order to sit-rest and make use of their spare time; Seğmenler Park users mostly preferred the park in order to meet friends, make use of their spare time, and sit-rest. Kuğulu Park was not only preferred by people from immediate environment but also by different user groups coming from different districts; it was ascertained that the park is generally used for attending concerts, for food and drinks in the restaurants around the park, and for shopping in the neighborhood, which is in a sense a small center. This situation shows that the park is visited for various purposes; it is a transit area and a frequent destination for users. It was determined that 45% of Botanik Park users preferred to visit the area with girlfriend/boyfriend; 44% of Kuğulu Park users and 51% of Seğmenler Park users preferred to visit the area with their friends.

When the use frequency was analyzed, it was determined that users of all three parks mostly used to visit the park once a month or a few times a year. In this context, it can be said that more than half of the users visit the park at least once a month. Seventy percent of Botanik Park users and 66% of Seğmenler Park users visit the area during autumn, while 51% of Kuğulu Park users visit the park at every season. Botanik Park and Seğmenler Park users visit the parks during weekends; Kuğulu Park users visit the park on different days. It was determined that users spend a maximum of 1–3 hours in all three parks, especially between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m.


Evaluation of Variables That Affect Urban Park User Preferences: Ankara-Turkey Sample DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836

#### Table 3.

Demographic features of users.

Users stated that the best park to visit in the evening and at night is Kuğulu Park; according to users, Botanik Park is desolate, and there are security problems in Kuğulu Park and Seğmenler Park.


Total 100 100 100 100 100 100

Evaluation of Variables That Affect Urban Park User Preferences: Ankara-Turkey Sample DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836


#### Table 4.

Approaches of users about urban parks' use case.

#### 3.2 Evaluation of variables about user satisfaction

Variables about user satisfaction are classified as design features, accessibility features, environmental features, psychological features, and security features. In the scope of design features, results obtained from the users through questions are presented in Table 5.

Results obtained from the users through questions in the scope of accessibility features, which is one of the variables about user satisfaction, are presented in Table 6.

When the districts in which parks users live are analyzed, it can be said that all three parks can be classified as "urban parks"; most of the users in all three parks stated that they come from a "different district." It was also determined that people coming from different cities used to visit Kuğulu Park and Seğmenler Park. In terms of the means of transport, it was seen that most of the users come to Botanik Park and Seğmenler Park by walking, while Kuğulu Park users mostly use public bus. It was determined that most of the users of all three parks can reach parks in 30 min approximately. It was observed that there was no user who spend more than 1 hour to visit Botanik Park, this result shows that this park is preferred by the users who live in the neighborhood. Ninety-three percent of Kuğulu Park users stated that transportation inside the parks is sufficient, while 84% of Seğmenler Park users said that transportation is sufficient. It was determined that according to 44% of Botanik


#### Variables about user satisfaction Botanik Park Kuğulu Park Seğmenler Park F R (%) F R (%) F R (%) Do you think that seating units are sufficient (arbors, benches, etc.)? Insufficient Partially sufficient – 6 – 6 6 10 6 10 6 4 6 4 Sufficient 94 94 84 84 90 90 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 If you don't think that seating units are sufficient (arbors, benches, etc.), what are the reasons? Wooden and splintery 5 83.3 4 44.4 3 42.8 Stone material – – 2 22.2 1 14.3 Metal material 1 16.7 2 22.2 1 14.3 Plastic material – – 1 11.2 2 28.6 Total 6 100 9 100 7 100 Do you think that arrangements for the disabled are sufficient? Insufficient Partially sufficient 82 16 82 16 94 2 94 2 81 15 81 15 Sufficient 2 2 4 4 4 4 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 Do you think that size of the park field is sufficient? Insufficient Partially sufficient 2 1 2 1 25 11 25 11 3 2 3 2 Sufficient 97 97 64 64 95 95 Total 99 100 100 100 100 100 Do you think that seating areas around the water are sufficient? Insufficient Partially sufficient 2 87 2,0 87.0 15 15 15 15 13 52 13 52 Sufficient 11 11.0 70 70 35 35 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 Do you think that playgrounds are sufficient? Insufficient Partially sufficient – 2 – 2,0 22 9 22 9 19 8 19 8 Sufficient 98 98,0 69 69 73 73 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 Do you think that walking trails are sufficient? Insufficient Partially sufficient – 26 – 26 32 19 32 19 24 37 24 37 Sufficient 74 74 49 49 39 39 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 Do you think that open fitness fields are sufficient? Insufficient Partially 2 4 2 4 91 4 91 4 30 29 30 29

sufficient

#### Evaluation of Variables That Affect Urban Park User Preferences: Ankara-Turkey Sample DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836


#### Table 5.

Approaches of users about the urban parks' design features.

Park users, parking lots are insufficient; 91% of Kuğulu Park users and 89% of Seğmenler Park users said that parking lots are insufficient.

Results obtained from the users through questions in the scope of environmental features, which is one of the variables about user satisfaction, are presented in Table 7.

It was seen that 34% of Botanik Park users, 16% of Kuğulu Park users, and 18% of Seğmenler Park users think that the park is not clean enough. Most of the Botanik Park and Kuğulu Park users said that "Pools and pounds aren't clean," while most of the Seğmenler Park users said that "Park isn't clean enough." Twenty-nine percent of Botanik Park users, 77% of Kuğulu Park users, and 69% of Seğmenler Park users said that maintenance-repair of the park is sufficient. The basic reason why users think that maintenance-repair is not sufficient is that according to them, broken or old seating units aren't repaired or renewed.

When the feeling of security was observed, it was seen that users of all three parks feel highly safe during their visits. All of the Botanik Park users said that they don't feel safe, 42% of Kuğulu Park users said that they don't feel safe, and 75% of Seğmenler Park users said that the security is insufficient. The users were asked about what makes them happy during their visit to parks. When the answers were analyzed, it was seen that most of the users find peace in parks. Sixty-six percent of Kuğulu Park users said that they were dissatisfied as the park was crowded according to them; on the other hand, all of the Seğmenler Park users mentioned that they were dissatisfied with security. It was observed that users think that Botanik and Seğmenler Parks are more peaceful than Kuğulu Park.


Evaluation of Variables That Affect Urban Park User Preferences: Ankara-Turkey Sample DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836

#### Table 6.

Approaches of users about urban parks' accessibility features.

Results obtained from the users through questions in the scope of psychological features, which is one of the variables about user satisfaction, are presented in Table 8.

Results obtained from the users through questions in the scope of security features, which is one of the variables about user satisfaction, are presented in Table 9.

Eighty-nine percent of Botanik Park users, 65% of Kuğulu Park, and 83% of Seğmenler Park users said that there is enough security staff in the park. It was seen that according to 81% of Botanik Park users and 82% of Kuğulu Park users, security cameras are sufficient in number; 56% of Seğmenler Park users said that security cameras are partially sufficient.


#### Table 7.

Approaches of users about urban parks' environmental features.


Evaluation of Variables That Affect Urban Park User Preferences: Ankara-Turkey Sample DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836


#### Table 8.

Approaches of users about urban parks' psychological features.


#### Table 9.

Approaches of users about urban parks' security features.

#### 4. Conclusion

Urban parks, which can be used for recreational purposes, are open areas that positively contribute to life quality in a city. They increase attractiveness and make cities more livable. Urban parks, one of the green fields in cities, are also significant areas as they can ensure balance between function, aesthetics, and environment. It is highly important to make preliminary analysis by taking user profile, use case, and user satisfaction into consideration; controlled, qualified practices should be planned, and participatory methods should be followed. On the other hand, regular maintenance-repair programs should be set; efficient and sustainable use of such places should be prioritized.

A survey study was carried out in order to determine the variables that affect user preferences in Botanik Park, Kuğulu Park, and Seğmenler Park, and the obtained results were evaluated with IBM SPSS Statistics Package Program. Result comparisons can be diversified, and the number of them can be increased in accordance with the needs.

Evaluation results are presented below:


#### Author details

Arzuhan Burcu Gültekin\* and Aslı Dokucu Department of Real Estate Development and Management, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

\*Address all correspondence to: abgultekin@ankara.edu.tr

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapteris distributed underthe terms oftheCreative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Evaluation of Variables That Affect Urban Park User Preferences: Ankara-Turkey Sample DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836

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Section 4

Sustainability in

Engineering Sciences

Section 4
