Rethinking Urban Green Spaces Beyond Aesthetics
Cities around the world increasingly rely on urban green public spaces to improve environmental quality, public health, and social cohesion. Parks, plazas, and green corridors are often promoted as solutions to urban stress, congestion, and inequality. However, many green spaces remain underused or unevenly used by different social groups.
According to Mohammad Imran, the problem lies in how these spaces are designed and evaluated. Urban green spaces are often assessed based on size, facilities, or visual appeal, while user experience—how people feel, move, and interact in the space—is overlooked. This gap is especially visible in rapidly growing cities in the Global South, including Indonesia, where social diversity and land constraints intensify design challenges.
The Minahasa Peninsula provides a clear example. Green public spaces in the region are important meeting points for people of different ages, genders, and economic backgrounds. Yet little research has explored how these users actually experience the spaces in daily life.
How the Research Was Conducted
The study used a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data to capture both depth and breadth of user experience.
· Qualitative data came from in-depth interviews with 10 users, including adults, elderly visitors, women, teenagers, and informal traders. Some interviews were conducted while walking through the parks, allowing participants to explain their experiences directly in relation to the space.
· Quantitative data were collected through surveys of 100 users across two green public spaces in North Minahasa and Tondano. Respondents rated their experiences of comfort, accessibility, safety, and inclusivity.
The results from interviews and surveys were analyzed together to identify consistent patterns and overlooked issues in current design practices.
What Users Actually Experience in Green Public Spaces
The findings show that users judge green public spaces less by the number of facilities and more by how easily and comfortably they can use the space.
Key insights include:
· Comfort depends on spatial clarity, not just amenities. Clear walking paths, readable layouts, and well-placed seating made users feel relaxed and willing to stay longer.
· Accessibility varies sharply between user groups. Elderly users reported more difficulties due to uneven paths and long walking distances, while women emphasized lighting and visual openness as essential for comfort.
· Safety is closely linked to social activity. Spaces with diverse, overlapping activities felt safer because of natural social presence, rather than formal security measures.
· Flexibility supports inclusivity. Areas that allowed multiple activities—walking, sitting, socializing, informal trading—were perceived as more welcoming and secure.
Survey data reinforced these observations. Indicators related to circulation clarity and spatial readability scored higher than those related to physical facilities, showing that design quality matters more than quantity.
Inclusive Design Is About Experience, Not Assumptions
One of the most important conclusions of the study is that inclusivity cannot be assumed. Open spaces are not automatically inclusive if they fail to respond to the needs of vulnerable groups.
Older adults, for example, consistently reported lower accessibility scores than younger users. This signals that design decisions that seem minor—such as path gradients or bench placement—can significantly affect who feels welcome in a space.
Imran notes that inclusive design must be contextual and experience-based, rather than based on universal standards alone. What works in one city or culture may not work in another, especially in socially diverse urban environments.
Implications for Urban Planning and Policy
The findings offer practical guidance for architects, planners, and policymakers:
· Design with users, not just for them. Incorporating user experience research early in the planning process can reveal needs that standard evaluations miss.
· Prioritize clarity and flexibility. Simple improvements in layout, circulation, and multi-use areas can significantly enhance comfort and safety.
· Address vulnerable groups explicitly. Elderly users, women, and informal workers experience public spaces differently and should be considered in design decisions.
· Shift evaluation criteria. Success should be measured by how spaces are used and felt, not only by physical standards or visual appeal.
For cities aiming to meet sustainability and equity goals, the study underscores that social inclusion is as important as environmental performance.
Insight from the Researcher
Mohammad Imran of Universitas Negeri Gorontalo emphasizes that “green public spaces become inclusive when they support everyday activities naturally. Users feel safe and comfortable not because of design statements, but because the space works for them in real life.”
Author Profile
Mohammad Imran, M.Arch. is a lecturer and researcher at Universitas Negeri Gorontalo, Indonesia. His academic expertise focuses on urban architecture, user experience in public spaces, inclusive design, and sustainable urban environments.
Source
Journal Article Title: An Analysis of User Experiences in Urban Green Public Spaces to Formulate More Inclusive Design Principles
Journal: Formosa Journal of Science and Technology
Year: 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/fjst.v5i1.392
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