Park features that encourage park visitation among older adults: A qualitative study |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Research Group Health Promotion, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;2. Reserach Group Physical Activity and Health, Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;3. Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia;4. Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium;1. Cartography & GIS Research Group, Department of Geography, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium;2. Cosmopolis Centre for Urban Research, Department of Geography, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium;3. Building, Architecture, & Town Planning (BATir) Department, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium;1. Department of Urban Planning and Design, The University of Hong Kong, 8/F Knowles Building, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China;3. Urban Big Data Centre, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8RZ, UK;1. Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02215, United States;2. Population Health Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States;3. Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States;4. Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215, United States;5. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, United States;6. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, Rutgers School of Public Health, 683 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States;1. University of Debrecen, Department of Civil Engineering, 2–4 Ótemető út, Debrecen 4028, Hungary;2. Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, Great Plain Research Department, 3 Rakóczi út, Kecskemét 6000, Hungary;3. Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Geographical Institute, 45 Budaörsi út, Budapest 1112, Hungary;4. University of Szeged, Department of Economic and Social Geography, 2 Egyetem utca, Szeged 6722, Hungary |
| |
| Abstract: | BackgroundParks provide many opportunities for promoting physical, social, and mental wellbeing among older adults and are therefore considered a good setting to promote healthy ageing. However, older adults are the age group least frequently observed visiting parks. To attract more older adults to parks, it is important to understand their needs and preferences for park design. The aim of this qualitative study was to gain in-depth information about older adults’ preferred park features for park visitation.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 older adults aged > 60 years who visited a recently renewed urban park in Ghent, Belgium at least once since its renewal. The interviews were conducted in-park or in the nursing home adjacent to the park until saturation of information was obtained. All interviews were transcribed verbatim, pseudonymised, and analysed by inductive content analysis using NVivo 12 software.ResultsThe most preferred park activities were walking, sitting, and watching the environment. The park features liked by older adults were good quality and accessible walking paths, nature and vegetation, openness and structural layout of the park, and sufficient and good quality sitting areas. The park features that they did not like mostly related to poor park maintenance.ConclusionsThis study provides an overview of park features that older adults perceive as important for park visitation. It is the first qualitative study in Belgium to assess which park features entice older adults to visit parks, and it contributes to the limited European knowledge on this topic. The evidence can help urban planners, landscape architects, and policymakers to (re)design attractive local parks that promote healthy ageing. |
| |
| Keywords: | Park characteristics Physical activity Social interaction Healthy ageing Park renewal |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
