Details

Purpose: The purpose of this symposium is to present and discuss research examining park features that promote park visitation, park-based physical activity and social interaction among adults and older adults. Research from studies in countries with different park characteristics (i.e. Australia and Belgium) will be presented.

Rationale: Parks are important settings for promoting physical, social, and mental wellbeing among both adults and older adults. While older adults’ physical activity levels, social contacts and mental health may benefit from active park use, older adults have been observed to be underrepresented among park visitors. Insights into important park features for encouraging park visitation and their micro-level designs are necessary to attract more park visitors. Results from these studies can help urban planners, landscape architects and policymakers to (re)design attractive local parks that promote physical, social, and mental wellbeing for both adults and older adults.

Objectives:

1.To showcase recent research using different methodologies to examine park characteristics important for park visitation, park-based physical activity and social interaction among adults and older adults.

2. To initiate reflection and discussion regarding park characteristics that are important for park visitation, park-based physical activity and social interaction among adults and older adults.

Summary: The first presentation will focus on preferences for park features among Australian adults’ using adaptive choice-based conjoint analysis tasks. The second presentation will present results from a qualitative study focusing on park features that encourage park visitation among older adults in Belgium. The third presentation will present micro-level design features of walking paths and outdoor fitness important for encouraging active park visitation among older adults in Australia.

Format:

5’:  Introduction by the chair Benedicte Deforche

15’: Jenny Veitch: Understanding preferences for park features that encourage park visitation, park-based physical activity, and social interaction among adults: An adaptive choice-based conjoint analysis

15’: Amber Van Puyvelde: Park features that encourage park visitation among older adults: a qualitative study

15’: Chahana Paudel: Designing walking paths and outdoor fitness areas for older adults

25’: Discussion led by Jasper Schipperijn

Interaction: The live audience will be prompted to ask questions during the discussion. Further interaction and discussion will be stimulated by questions that will be prepared in advance by the presenters and discussant.

Speaker