Association between attachment of neighborhood residents to an urban park and park use type

A case study of the Utsubo Park

Abstract

Place attachment to neighborhood is attracting attention in urban development as it promotes citizen participation in urban areas. In this study we focused on an urban park as a city component and aimed at clarifying status of place attachment of neighborhood residents to the park, and verifying relationship between place attachment and park use type. A mail questionnaire survey was conducted to residents living around the Utsubo Park in Osaka City. The results showed that 70% of the residents had place attachment to the park and the surrounding area. The place attachment of residents to the park was explained by emotional and social attachments. In addition, it was associated with the park use with intimate persons and length of park use period.