The effects of park improvement on park use and park-based physical activity

Sigit Dwiananto Arifwidodo, Orana Chandrasiri
2021 Journal of Architecture and Urbanism  
Park is considered as one of the necessary settings in the urban area to promote physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. It provides opportunities to engage in park-based physical activity to a wide range of users. Studies have found that park improvement is a sustainable way to increase the urban population's physical activity levels. This study explores the effects of park improvement on park use and park-base physical activity using Benjakitti Park, one of the major district parks in
more » ... ok, Thailand, as the case study. The park improvement was designed and constructed from October 2016 – January 2017. A System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) observations were used to observe the changes in park use and park-based physical activity before and after the park improvement. It was found that park improvement changed users' characteristics and the patterns of park use and park-based physical activity. The park improvement was associated with an increasing number of children and elderly visitors and a 4.1% and 17.6% increase in cycling and running. The project shows that even a tiny improvement in the built environment can change people's attitude and behaviour towards physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.
doi:10.3846/jau.2021.11845 doaj:fa714bb694cc455aa9ddc409d42f41c7 fatcat:b2trkdjgwfcszbmoaaekyyocla