Do We Need Different Urban Green Spaces Now? A Case Study of Preferences during Pandemics
The role of public urban green spaces (UGSs) in providing various ecosystem services, especially those related to the physical and mental health of city dwellers, has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. While research has analyzed shifts in UGS visitation and changes in people’s attitudes, there...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/12/2106 |
| _version_ | 1797380316556427264 |
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| author | Ieva Misiune |
| author_facet | Ieva Misiune |
| author_sort | Ieva Misiune |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The role of public urban green spaces (UGSs) in providing various ecosystem services, especially those related to the physical and mental health of city dwellers, has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. While research has analyzed shifts in UGS visitation and changes in people’s attitudes, there remains a noticeable gap in our understanding of the necessary adaptations required within UGS environments. This paper presents the survey results of Vilnius city residents (Lithuania) conducted in the final days of the quarantine in 2021 and discusses the findings in the broader context of other studies. The survey is centered on preferences for UGS qualities clustered into four groups. The results provide empirical evidence that UGS users highly prioritize ergonomic and ecological characteristics related to comfort and naturalness. However, the preferences differ between those who live close to UGS and those who live further away. In contrast, aesthetic and social qualities are of relatively lesser significance for all. Similar preferences have been identified in international studies, underscoring the global nature of this phenomenon that urban planners must consider when designing or enhancing local UGS. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:35:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ccb844393e44bea948a636531ff840a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:35:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ccb844393e44bea948a636531ff840a2023-12-22T14:20:29ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2023-11-011212210610.3390/land12122106Do We Need Different Urban Green Spaces Now? A Case Study of Preferences during PandemicsIeva Misiune0Institute of Geosciences, Vilnius University, M. K. Ciurlionio Str. 21/27, LT-03101 Vilnius, LithuaniaThe role of public urban green spaces (UGSs) in providing various ecosystem services, especially those related to the physical and mental health of city dwellers, has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. While research has analyzed shifts in UGS visitation and changes in people’s attitudes, there remains a noticeable gap in our understanding of the necessary adaptations required within UGS environments. This paper presents the survey results of Vilnius city residents (Lithuania) conducted in the final days of the quarantine in 2021 and discusses the findings in the broader context of other studies. The survey is centered on preferences for UGS qualities clustered into four groups. The results provide empirical evidence that UGS users highly prioritize ergonomic and ecological characteristics related to comfort and naturalness. However, the preferences differ between those who live close to UGS and those who live further away. In contrast, aesthetic and social qualities are of relatively lesser significance for all. Similar preferences have been identified in international studies, underscoring the global nature of this phenomenon that urban planners must consider when designing or enhancing local UGS.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/12/2106urban parkspull–push factorsvisitation frequencyfeaturesquestionnaire |
| spellingShingle | Ieva Misiune Do We Need Different Urban Green Spaces Now? A Case Study of Preferences during Pandemics Land urban parks pull–push factors visitation frequency features questionnaire |
| title | Do We Need Different Urban Green Spaces Now? A Case Study of Preferences during Pandemics |
| title_full | Do We Need Different Urban Green Spaces Now? A Case Study of Preferences during Pandemics |
| title_fullStr | Do We Need Different Urban Green Spaces Now? A Case Study of Preferences during Pandemics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Do We Need Different Urban Green Spaces Now? A Case Study of Preferences during Pandemics |
| title_short | Do We Need Different Urban Green Spaces Now? A Case Study of Preferences during Pandemics |
| title_sort | do we need different urban green spaces now a case study of preferences during pandemics |
| topic | urban parks pull–push factors visitation frequency features questionnaire |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/12/2106 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ievamisiune doweneeddifferenturbangreenspacesnowacasestudyofpreferencesduringpandemics |