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The Oasis of Peace? Social Perception of Urban Parks from the City-Dwellers’ Perspectives

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  • Bohuslav Binka

    (Department of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Joštova 10, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic)

  • Martin Čech

    (Department of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Joštova 10, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic)

  • Jan Činčera

    (Department of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Joštova 10, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic)

Abstract

The article focuses on the social perception of urban parks, from the perspective of city dwellers. For the analyses, eight focus groups with N = 48 participants were organized. The findings indicated urban parks as a meaningful part of the city dwellers’ place identity, who interpret them as an “oasis of peace” or “places for meeting”. The article further analyzes the conflicts emerging from the clashes of different perspectives on how urban parks should be used, what functions they should fulfil, or what characteristics they should have. The article discusses the possible implications of some of these contradictions, connected with the changing nature–culture understanding in contemporary society and the unresolved marginalization of some of the social groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Bohuslav Binka & Martin Čech & Jan Činčera, 2022. "The Oasis of Peace? Social Perception of Urban Parks from the City-Dwellers’ Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-15, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:18:p:11460-:d:913465
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    2. Campbell, Lindsay K. & Svendsen, Erika S. & Sonti, Nancy F. & Johnson, Michelle L., 2016. "A social assessment of urban parkland: Analyzing park use and meaning to inform management and resilience planning," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 34-44.
    3. Bertram, Christine & Rehdanz, Katrin, 2015. "The role of urban green space for human well-being," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 139-152.
    4. Martin Dallimer & Zoe G. Davies & Katherine N. Irvine & Lorraine Maltby & Philip H. Warren & Kevin J. Gaston & Paul R. Armsworth, 2014. "What Personal and Environmental Factors Determine Frequency of Urban Greenspace Use?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Kaczynski, A.T. & Potwarka, L.R. & Saelens P, B.E., 2008. "Association of park size, distance, and features with physical activity in neighborhood parks," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(8), pages 1451-1456.
    6. Lincoln R Larson & Viniece Jennings & Scott A Cloutier, 2016. "Public Parks and Wellbeing in Urban Areas of the United States," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, April.
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