Analysis of the Influence of Green Open Space (RTH) of Medan City Park in Improving the Quality of Life of the Community

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FORMOSA NEWS - Medan - How Medan’s Green Open Spaces Directly Drive Community Quality of Life and Urban Well-Being. Urban parks do far more than just beautify a city; they are fundamental drivers of physical and psychological well-being for urban residents. Published in 2026 in the Asian Journal of Management Analytics (AJMA), a comprehensive study conducted by researchers Hawa Maha Putri, Hamdani Harahap, Hatta Ridho, Badaruddin Rangkuti, and Fikarwin from Universitas Sumatera Utara investigates how the multidimensional functions of Green Open Spaces (RTH) and public perceptions shape community quality of life in Medan City. The findings reveal that well-maintained urban parks and positive public perceptions account for an impressive 83.1% of the variation in citizen quality of life, offering critical insights for urban planners and local governments struggling with rapid urbanization.

The Urgent Need for Urban Green Infrastructure

Rapid urban expansion across Indonesia has placed immense pressure on natural environments, often resulting in dwindling public spaces. Under Law No. 26 of 2007 concerning spatial planning, urban managers are legally required to provide public green open spaces covering at least 30% of a city's total area. However, data from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing shows that only 13 out of 174 Indonesian cities currently meet this standard. In Medan City, green open spaces currently account for approximately 19.8% of the total area, falling short of the national statutory threshold. As traffic congestion and commercial concrete structures dominate the urban landscape, residents face rising noise pollution, urban heat island effects, and daily work stress. Without accessible green refuges, citizens increasingly shift their recreational habits toward modern commercial malls, which lack the ecological and restorative benefits of natural parks. This environmental degradation underscores the urgent need to evaluate how city parks function and how public perception influences urban livelihood.

Evaluating Public Spaces Through a Mixed-Methods Lens
To understand the real-world impact of urban green spaces, the research team employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. In the quantitative phase, researchers collected primary data using structured questionnaires administered to 130 active visitor respondents across six major city parks in Medan: Taman Ahmad Yani, Taman Johor, Lapangan Merdeka, Taman Sudirman, Taman Gajah Mada, and Urban Park Taman Bunga. The analytical approach utilized Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS 3.0 to evaluate convergent validity, discriminant validity, and path coefficients. Following the quantitative phase, the study incorporated a qualitative gap analysis through direct visual physical observations across the six observation parks to translate statistical findings into actionable governance strategies.

Key Findings: The Power of Green Infrastructure and Public Perception
The statistical analysis demonstrates that both the multidimensional functions of green open spaces and community perceptions exert a powerful, positive, and statistically significant effect on the quality of life of Medan residents.

• Multidimensional Function of RTH ($X_1$): The ecological, social, psychological, and aesthetic functions of city parks yielded a path coefficient of 0.627 with a T-statistic of 9.324 and a P-value of 0.000. These results prove that optimized green open space functions directly enhance physical health and mental recovery.
  
• Community Perspective ($X_2$): Public perceptions regarding safety, visual comfort, accessibility, and orderliness produced a path coefficient of 0.352 with a T-statistic of 5.352 and a P-value of 0.000. This confirms that a sense of security and cleanliness significantly boosts recreational satisfaction and overall well-being.
  
• Substantial Predictive Power: The combined R-square value reached 0.831. This indicates that 83.1% of the variance in community quality of life in Medan is directly explained by green open space functions and public perspectives.
  

Real-World Impact and Strategic Governance Recommendations
The study's insights provide a clear roadmap for municipal policymakers, particularly the Medan City Government, the Parks Service (SDABMBK), the Satpol PP, and the Transportation Office. To bridge the gap between policy targets and field realities, the researchers recommend targeted interventions across three core pillars:

• Physical Maintenance: Local authorities must implement regular, scheduled preventive maintenance for vital amenities such as outdoor gyms and children's play equipment in parks like Taman Ahmad Yani and Taman Gajah Mada. Clean public toilets, reliable water supply systems, and improved drainage to prevent waterlogging are essential for sustaining environmental hygiene.
  
• Law Enforcement and Order: Municipal agencies must upgrade nighttime lighting installations in blind spots to prevent thuggery, enforce strict zoning for street vendors (PKL) to keep pedestrian pathways clear, curb excessive commercialization, and regulate illegal parking through designated off-street parking pockets.
  
• User-Oriented Planning: City planners are advised to halt excessive hardscape hardening projects such as concrete stamp installations or basement structures and restore natural soil infiltration and deep-rooted tree planting. Furthermore, new designs must incorporate Child-Friendly Playroom (RBRA) standards and disability-friendly accessibility while leveraging corporate social responsibility (CSR) and private-sector contributions to expand green open spaces toward the 30% statutory target.
  

Author Profile
Hawa Maha Putri – Principal Investigator / Graduate Student, University of North Sumatra (Area of Expertise: Urban Management and Planning).
Dr. Hamdani Harahap, M.Si. – Researcher / Lecturer, University of North Sumatra (Area of Expertise: Urban and Environmental Sociology).
Dr. Hatta Ridho, S.Sos., M.MSP. – Researcher / Lecturer, University of North Sumatra (Field of Expertise: Public Policy and Regional Planning).
Prof. Dr. Badaruddin Rangkuti, M.Si. – Researcher / Full Professor, University of North Sumatra (Field of Expertise: Agricultural Economics and Development).
Dr. Fikarwin, S.H., M.Hum. – Researcher / Lecturer, University of North Sumatra (Field of Expertise: Administrative Law and Spatial Planning).

Source
Hawa Maha Putri, Hamdani Harahap, Hatta Ridho, Badaruddin Rangkuti, Fikarwin. Analysis of the Influence of Green Open Space (RTH) of Medan City Park in Improving the Quality of Life of the Community. Asian Journal of Management Analytics (AJMA), Vol. 5, No. 4, 2026, hlm. 809–824
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ajma.v5i4.16848
URL Resmi: https://journal.formosapublisher.org/index.php/ajma