Designing age-friendly parks : using a photo-choice tool to understand youth engagement within neighborhood parks

Parisa Ziaesaeidi, Debra Cushing, Tracy Washington, Elinor Buys

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperConference Paperpeer-review

Abstract

![CDATA[Parks are often linked to physical activity for youth provided by park equipment and amenities. Yet, urban green spaces and parks can also afford important opportunities for young people to develop a sense of community identity and be socially engaged. Spending more time in green spaces can significantly impact the satisfaction and well-being of park users. In this respect, the attractiveness of parks to youth is an important factor to support socially cohesive behaviors. Differences in park preferences and user needs are important, particularly since research often seeks to understand where park users of all ages spend their time, how physically and socially active they are and with whom, rather than directly measuring their social network. Hence, parks as sustainable community facilities should promote social interactions among youth, and between youth and adults, which can lead to cohesive behaviors integrated into a social setting. In order for park settings to be favored by youth, they must afford a range of activities for youth and meet their needs. To investigate which youth needs can be met in parks to promote future age-friendly parks design, this research aims to determine: • How youth perceive and understand social engagement in parks? • Which characteristics of parks most effectively afford youth-to-youth and youth-to-adult interactions? This research employs a youth-friendly approach that includes the visual data collection method using an online photo-choice tool with youth to explore their preferences for park amenities and spaces and understand their social activities in those spaces. A total of 180 youth (aged 9–17) from Moreton Bay Region, Brisbane, Australia were recruited to participate in this research. Participants were shown 32 photos of local park scenes, (photos were displayed in groups of 4, on 8 separate screens) and asked to select one photo scene (of the 4) that would attract them to the park and briefly indicate the reason for their choice, and who they would be with there. They were also asked general demographic questions. Findings suggest that the people who they went to the park with determined whether they would go to parks or not. The top two photos were those with more water elements (68%) and skate park (63%). In addition, their activities within parks related to other park users, and they developed new social connections during their visits to local parks. Findings provide direction for age-friendly park design recommendations through making a balance between youth’s and adults’ needs to better serve social engagement for youth beside adults in parks.]]
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 52nd Annual Conference of the Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA52) Detroit: Just Environments: Transdisciplinary Border Crossings, May 19-23, 2021, Detroit, Michigan
PublisherEnvironmental Design Research Association
Pages513-513
Number of pages1
ISBN (Print)9781713844464
Publication statusPublished - 2023
EventEnvironmental Design Research Association -
Duration: 1 Jan 2023 → …

Conference

ConferenceEnvironmental Design Research Association
Period1/01/23 → …

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