Analysis of the Relationship between the Distance from Urban Open Spaces and Citizens' Accessibility and Usage

Abstract

The current study, aims at analyzing the relationship between the distance from urban open spaces and citizens' access to and usage of those spaces. The necessity of this study roots in modern life damages including increasing urbanization, separation from nature, individualism and decrease in face-to-face social interaction, ever-increasing stress and decrease in people's power and tolerance. Therefore, regarding negative consequences on people' bodies and souls, the importance of urban open spaces has been highlighted. Research method is survey. For data gathering, researcher-made questionnaires have been used. Based on data type which has nominal and ordinal measurement scales, Chi-square and Kruskal Wallis Models have been employed. Also, the present research is applied and problem-oriented. Research population consists of Isfahan citizens and research sample has been selected through random sampling. Research hypothesis is "the extent citizens use urban open spaces (meaning that neighborhood parks). The Sample size was equal 366 respondents (valid questionnaires=366). The independent variable is, the distance of citizens from those spaces". Findings indicate that there is a significant relationship between distance of citizens' housings from urban open spaces as independent variable and their usage from those spaces as dependent variable. This relationship's significance level is 0.05 with 4 degree of freedom. In addition, with significance level of 0.01, there is significant relationship between settlement in different neighborhood and the attitude of citizens toward the distance from neighborhood parks as a barrier on the way of going to parks. Therefore, the conclusion emphasizes, on build more parks and of course closer to citizens, for reduces distance to parks. Otherwise, it’s obviously the physical and psychological damage will occur