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Too Old for Recreation? How Friendly Are Urban Parks for Elderly People?

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  • Diana Andreea Onose

    (Centre for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Ioan Cristian Iojă

    (Centre for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Mihai Răzvan Niță

    (Centre for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Gabriel Ovidiu Vânău

    (Centre for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Ana Maria Popa

    (Centre for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

Urbanization and ageing are the two main processes currently shaping the social environment worldwide. In this context, creating senior friendly cities should be an important target, especially in developed countries, which have the highest rates of population over 60 years old. Our study focuses on the use of urban parks and aims to analyze how friendly their planning, design, and use are for elderly people. We used field observation carried out in four case study parks in Bucharest (Romania) to assess the spatial planning and design of urban parks, and to identify the environmental problems. We applied a total of 5752 questionnaires (16% to elderly people) in the majority of Bucharest’s parks in order to analyze the behavior and perception of seniors in contrast with that of the general population. The analysis highlighted the lack of endowments especially planned or designed for seniors and the multiple problems deriving from their interaction with other visitor groups which make them feel disrespected or unsafe. Our study highlights the need for including the needs, demands, and desires of elderly people in decision making processes, with the aim of creating inclusive and senior friendly parks.

Suggested Citation

  • Diana Andreea Onose & Ioan Cristian Iojă & Mihai Răzvan Niță & Gabriel Ovidiu Vânău & Ana Maria Popa, 2020. "Too Old for Recreation? How Friendly Are Urban Parks for Elderly People?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:3:p:790-:d:311565
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Mihai Răzvan Niță & Miruna Arsene & Giorgiana Barbu & Alina Gabriela Cus & Mihail Ene & Ramona Mihaela Serban & Constantin Marian Stama & Larissa Nicoleta Stoia, 2021. "Using Social Media Data to Evaluate Urban Parks Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Mayke van Dinter & Mieke Kools & Gamze Dane & Minou Weijs-Perrée & Kynthia Chamilothori & Eveline van Leeuwen & Aloys Borgers & Pauline van den Berg, 2022. "Urban Green Parks for Long-Term Subjective Well-Being: Empirical Relationships between Personal Characteristics, Park Characteristics, Park Use, Sense of Place, and Satisfaction with Life in The Nethe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, April.
    5. Karolina Dudzic-Gyurkovich, 2021. "Urban Development and Population Pressure: The Case of Młynówka Królewska Park in Krakow, Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-25, January.
    6. Karolina Dudzic-Gyurkovich, 2023. "Study of Centrality Measures in the Network of Green Spaces in the City of Krakow," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-30, September.
    7. Minhui Lin & Xinyun Lin, 2023. "A Qualitative Study on Leisure Benefits, Constraints, and Negotiations in Urban Parks Based on Perception of Chinese Older Adults," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-17, September.
    8. Lei Kang & Zhaoping Yang & Fang Han, 2021. "The Impact of Urban Recreation Environment on Residents’ Happiness—Based on a Case Study in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-14, May.
    9. Li, Zhiming & Fan, Zhengxi & Song, Yan & Chai, Yangbo, 2021. "Assessing equity in park accessibility using a travel behavior-based G2SFCA method in Nanjing, China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    10. Shengyue Miao & Nophea Sasaki & Takuji W. Tsusaka & Ekbordin Winijkul, 2023. "Park-Based Physical Activity, Users’ Socioeconomic Profiles, and Parks’ Characteristics: Empirical Evidence from Bangkok," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, January.

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