AN EXPLORATION OF THE BENEFITS OF AN URBAN PARK FOR PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELL BEING

Hamshire C.¹, Fatoye F.¹, Cavan G.²

¹Manchester Metropolitan University, Health Professions, Manchester, United Kingdom, ²Manchester Metropolitan University, GIS and Climate, Manchester, United Kingdom

Background: Long-term health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and musculoskeletal disorders affect significant numbers of the United Kingdom (UK) population, and are a major source of morbidity and mortality. In Manchester, a major city with a population of over 500,000, health outcomes remain amongst the worst in England and life expectancy and healthy life expectancy remain below national average (Manchester City Council 2016).
Regular exercise can help to reduce the risks of these conditions and urban parks are an important setting for physical activity for local residents (Shanahan et al. 2016). These parks represent the closest landscape to nature in cities and provide a space in which residents can enjoy the green spaces and facilities. However, the suitability of the current parks in Manchester to best promote physical activity for local residents is unknown.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore park users' perceptions and utilisation of urban parks and outdoor spaces using a case study park in Manchester. The objectives were to:

• identify the most appropriate health interventions for physical activity in urban parks in terms of space design and facilities by identifying and exploring factors that influence park usage and engagement.
• determine the benefits of urban parks for health and wellbeing.

Methods: Data collection was via a questionnaire survey combining both closed and open items offered to park-users, May-July 2016. The survey gathered demographic data and explored the relationships between the respondents’ park visits and the purpose of their visit. Aspects of their self-reported health and wellbeing, considered as four domains: social, physical, psychological and spiritual were also explored. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-squared of the closed items and a thematic analysis of the open comments.

Results: A total of 346 questionnaire responses were gathered. Respondents were predominantly female (61%; male, 39%), aged 25-34 (33%), and from a range of ethnic groups with the three most frequent groups being White British (58%), White Other (13%) and Black, African, Caribbean, or Black British (11%). Respondents visited the park for many reasons, with the most frequently reported as walking, meeting friends, and bringing children to play. The majority of users reported that they did at least thirty minutes of physical activity every day to stay healthy (48%). They considered the park to be important for their health and wellbeing and the results suggest that the park is particularly important for physical and psychological wellbeing; with a significant association between those staying longer having a higher psychological wellbeing.

Conclusion(s): Urban parks provide a free, local setting for a range of physical activities. Urban parks important for physical and psychological wellbeing. This case study demonstrates that residents value access to their longer local park and visits in parks can improve psychological wellbeing in particular.

Implications: Whilst acknowledging that there will be international variations the findings of this research provide valuable insights for encouraging activity in urban parks and to inform the development of parks in terms of both landscape planning and urban design.

Funding acknowledgements: This work was funded by Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.

Topic: Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing

Ethics approval: Ethics approval for this project was given by the Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University.

All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.