International Journal of

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Current literatures on urban parks and green spaces showed that people’s preference for visiting urban parks in various group users is different. People visit parks for various motives and activities, leading to several patterns of park usability. However, the patterns in urban park use in majority of Iran cities are not yet known. This study presented the preference for activity in urban parks among people in Gorgan city. A survey research was conducted to gain understanding of respondents’ preferences for activity in urban parks. The Data was collected among 300 visitors of two well-known urban parks in Gorgan. Visitors rated preference for four activities: relaxation, socializing, nature involvement, and playing activities. The results revealed that the people of Gorgan chose relaxation and nature involvement as the most preferred activities whilst socializing and playing were the least preferred activities. Furthermore, a significant difference in two variables: relaxation and nature involvement activity was found among marital status and visitor age groups. The results also indicated the role of urban parks on psychological needs of the citizens, which creates urban nature as a valuable urban resource and key component for city sustainability. This result contributes notions towards significantly impacting design of urban parks and their facilities that designers and decision makers should manage those facilities to satisfy the visitors’ needs.

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Urban green spaces provide a context where constant association with these spaces can result in reducing the incidence or diminishing the effect of many diseases. Different studies assessed the relationship between using urban green spaces and health benefits considering influential quantitative aspects. This research tries to look differently at this issue by connecting the urban green spaces qualitative aspects and their influence on encouraging individuals to use green spaces more frequently. For this purpose, the present study employs questionnaire-based interviews (no. 336) in two city parks in Urmia, Iran (The City Park and the Coastal Park) to collect the required information for assessing the interviewees’ physical and psychological health levels. The relationships between the hypotheses are later studied using SPSS analytical software. The results showed that relationships were found between using the parks and having better psychological health conditions, but no relationship was found between the duration of physical activity in the park and having better physiological health. The assessment of the obtained data emphasizes the importance of the park characters and features that lead people to engage with specific activities which cause certain health benefits as a result of that activity. The results highlight the importance of developing green infrastructures in today’s urban areas.
 

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Landscapes and urban green spaces, particularly urban parks, are among the most crucial urban areas. Therefore, planning and designing urban parks to offer appropriate services under various conditions, including during infectious disease pandemics, is essential and ensures citizens' health. This study aimed to bridge the gap between urban park design and pandemic needs by proposing design criteria based on expert opinions to meet park users' health needs during a pandemic. A questionnaire with seven questions was developed to establish these criteria, resulting in a total of 28 criteria. After collecting the questionnaires, the data were extracted, and the frequency of each option was determined. The criteria for designing urban parks under pandemic conditions were then ranked by importance. Our research identified three of the most important criteria: implementing an electronic queuing system in buffets or restaurants to eliminate customer lines, installing automatic hand sanitizers throughout the park, and equipping drinking fountains with smart valves to minimize hand contact. An additional 25 criteria were also prioritized. Designers and urban planners can utilize these criteria to create or redesign parks that are better suited for pandemic conditions compared to current parks

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Urban parks play a critical role in enhancing the quality of urban life by offering a range of services. This study explores public expectations regarding services provided in urban parks, using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire completed by 481 participants, while qualitative insights were gathered via semi-structured interviews with 22 stakeholders. The analysis revealed that recreational and comfort-related services are the most valued features of urban parks. Participants emphasized the importance of soft landscapes, greenery, diverse and age-appropriate play equipment, walking paths, and spaces for popular group games. Additionally, there was strong support for incorporating intellectual and educational games to enrich the park experience and promote informal learning. Findings indicate that urban park planning should prioritize recreational and welfare functions, supported by thoughtful landscape design. Enhancing features such as green spaces, play diversity, and inclusive public areas can significantly improve user satisfaction and the overall functionality of urban parks. These insights can inform urban planners and designers in creating parks that better align with community needs and preferences.
 

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The provision of social housing represents a fundamental objective for any government, shaped by prevailing circumstances and capabilities, and aligned with the goal of enhancing social welfare. In contexts where housing is regarded as a valuable economic asset and an integral component of the economy, the principal objective frequently becomes the reduction of land acquisition costs. It is regrettable that this exclusive focus on economic considerations frequently results in the marginalization of social, local and cultural values in urban planning and design. The absence of social interaction in such developments impedes the formation of social cohesion among individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. In order to achieve comprehensive urban sustainability, it is imperative to reinforce social connections and to gain an understanding of the significance of social sustainability. One of the most effective strategies for achieving this is the creation of local green public spaces, w