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Sustainable Development of Urban Green Areas for Quality of Life Improvement—Argument for Increased Citizen Participation

Author

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  • Mihaela Constantinescu

    (Marketing Department, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest 010404, Romania)

  • Andreea Orîndaru

    (Marketing Department, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest 010404, Romania)

  • Ștefan-Claudiu Căescu

    (Marketing Department, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest 010404, Romania)

  • Andreea Pachițanu

    (Marketing Department, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest 010404, Romania)

Abstract

Considering the imperative need for sustainable urban development, this article argues for increased citizen participation in the decision-making process, as it generates better outcomes (due to a wider range of perspectives) and also makes people better citizens, as they will be partially responsible for the results. One major dimension of urban areas’ which needs a sustainable development is represented by parks, which can be directly associated to citizens’ quality of life (QoL). Thus, we have conducted direct research (face-to-face interviews) of park visitors in order to analyze the perceived impact of green areas on their quality of life. From all the QoL dimensions, we have selected six which are directly linked to park visits—health (mental and physical), social interaction, education and culture, family life, freedom, and connection with nature—in order to determine the perceived degree of association between them, as well as the specific activities done in the park that impact those six dimensions. The research results were used to develop a conceptual model which links quality of life to park visits, a model that can and should be used by public authorities in order to build a collaborative process for urban sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Mihaela Constantinescu & Andreea Orîndaru & Ștefan-Claudiu Căescu & Andreea Pachițanu, 2019. "Sustainable Development of Urban Green Areas for Quality of Life Improvement—Argument for Increased Citizen Participation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:18:p:4868-:d:264666
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mihaela CONSTANTINESCU, 2012. "The economic crisis – implications on methods and instruments used in quality of life studies," Theoretical and Applied Economics, Asociatia Generala a Economistilor din Romania / Editura Economica, vol. 0(8(573)), pages 125-134, August.
    2. Joan Font & Magdalena Wojcieszak & Clemente J. Navarro, 2015. "Participation, Representation and Expertise: Citizen Preferences for Political Decision-Making Processes," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 63, pages 153-172, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Shabir Hussain Khahro & Mir Aftab Hussain Talpur & Musrat Gul Bhellar & Gopal Das & Haris Shaikh & Basel Sultan, 2023. "GIS-Based Sustainable Accessibility Mapping of Urban Parks: Evidence from the Second Largest Settlement of Sindh, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-27, April.
    2. Chuanyu Peng & Guoping Yuan & Yanhui Mao & Xin Wang & Jianhong Ma & Marino Bonaiuto, 2020. "Expanding Social, Psychological, and Physical Indicators of Urbanites’ Life Satisfaction toward Residential Community: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-23, December.
    3. Maria Stella Righettini, 2021. "Framing Sustainability. Evidence from Participatory Forums to Taylor the Regional 2030 Agenda to Local Contexts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-15, April.
    4. Liangjun Peng & Mengdi Gu & Zhijun Peng, 2020. "Study on the Optimized Mode of Waste Governance with Sustainable Urban Development—Case from China’s Urban Waste Classified Collection," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-12, May.

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