Assessment of park configuration and utilisation in Bangkok : investigating the relationship between park characteristics, facilities, problems, and physical activity of park visitors | |
| Author | Miao, Shengyue |
| Call Number | AIT Diss no.DS-23-01 |
| Subject(s) | Urban parks--Thailand--Bangkok City planning--Thailand--Bangkok Sustainable urban development--Thailand--Bangkok |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Development and Sustainability, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Dissertation ; no. DS-23-01 |
| Abstract | The objective of this dissertation is to evaluate the layout of parks in Bangkok, compare their status, analyze how demographic factors impact visitors' perception and usage, explore the connection between park characteristics and visitor physical activity, and suggest solutions to enhance park utilization. The study was conducted across six parks, including two small, two medium, and two large parks, and a total of 432 park visitors, with 72 individuals from each park, were interviewed. Descriptive and analytical statistics were utilized to analyze the data. The findings indicate that there were notable differences in park scores among parks of different sizes. Parks with larger sizes and more amenities had higher scores compared to small and medium-sized parks. Greenery, safety, non-living components such as cleanliness, and convenience facilities scored highly. However, visitors scored low in certain areas, such as toilet maintenance, proper guidelines for visitors, facilities for social interaction, and facilities for the disabled. Visitors from the lower income group had a negative perception of staff attitude, while those from affluent backgrounds had a negative perception of certain facilities, such as toilets. The study revealed that male visitors, individuals aged 31-45 years, weekend evening visitors, and visitors to larger parks with better facilities were more likely to engage in Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activities (MVPA). Conversely, older visitors, married park users who were unemployed or retired, had a negative association with MVPA. The dissertation demonstrated that the performance of amenities such as sports areas, indoor gyms, and fitness areas have a positive impact on physical activity, while factors such as heat, traffic, safety concerns, lack of companionship, and insects have a negative impact. The study provides practical recommendations for park managers to improve facilities and enhance safety for females, while also ensuring that disabled individuals and minority groups are not overlooked in the provision of amenities. Local Park managers' assistance is crucial in promoting physical activity investments. Having better understanding of communities’ needs and investment in small parks, as well as promoting word-of-mouth dissemination of information on the parks, can increase MVPA. |
| Year | 2023 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Dissertation ; no. DS-23-01 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Development and Sustainability (DS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Sasaki, Nophea; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Tsusaka, Takuji W.;Ekbordin Winijkul; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | China Scholarship Council (CSC); |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2023 |