Enhancing Visitor Satisfaction in Gorgan's Urban Parks: A Focused Study of City Park and Mellat Park

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Water Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Kashmar Higher Education Institute, Kashmar, Iran

2 Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

3 Faculty of Natural Resources, Tehran University (Retirement), Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze visitor satisfaction (VS) in Gorgan's urban parks, specifically City Park and Mellat Park, and to formulate recommendations for increasing VS and usability. The VS and usability are related to various aspects, including furniture, facilities, security, safety, and aesthetics, that the parks should prepare for visitors, which were investigated in this research. An analytical survey method was employed, utilizing questionnaires and fieldwork. 100 Survey forms were distributed among park users during the peak seasons of visiting the parks, specifically in spring and summer, by random sampling. The results of the satisfaction assessment were quantified by examining the weighted values of the individuals' responses. The final results were then obtained based on this analysis. The results indicated that all examined factors in both parks were at a medium level (1.75-2.5). However, visitors expressed that the criterion of "access to the park" was somewhat satisfactory. Despite this, none of the park components were found to be in a suitable condition. Overall, visitors’ satisfaction with the park conditions was rated as average in both parks. To maintain the spirit of joy and happiness in society, it is essential to improve the condition of our resources. Therefore, implementing programs such as enhancing the quality and safety of children's playground equipment and improving the facilities in parks, including furniture and stores, was recommended to better serve visitors. Additionally, several suggestions to increase the usability and optimize the conditions of parks were prepared, encouraging more citizens to visit and enjoy these spaces.

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