Abstract

This study aims to analyze the current situation of and issues in the structure of urban neighborhood parks and park facility installation in cities in Gyeonggi-do. Then, based on its findings, plans to improve the space structure of the parks were examined and suggested to raise the city environment improvement function and green area base function of urban parks and fully satisfy users' needs for pleasant rest, recreation and cultural activities. The findings showed that, within parks, the area of grass where access was restricted reached about 24.4% in average. In other words, only 75.6% of total park area could be freely used by park visitors. As for an improvement plan, the grass area where access is limited may be converted into a gras area that can be freely used to raise the park use area, which currently stands only at 75.6%, to 100%. The result of cross analysis through Chi-Square Test regarding lawn use as well as regarding (dis)agreement with reduction of lawn, based on the investigation of cognition, showed a significant agreement of park users with reduction of green areas. Therefore it is considered that lawn space must be reduced according the result of the analysis, to set up plans for facility space that would meet the desires of users. The analysis of user behaviors revealed that many of them used square spaces and walks; therefore it is considered that re-structuring of space is necessary according to local characteristics. This study also made some policy suggestion. urban parks must be a base of city green areas to counter climate changes. When developing a park creation plan, a user demand survey must be conducted in advance. In addition. grass construction methods should be improved to tolerate foot pressure.

Keywords

• Urban neighborhood parks;
• Park facility;
• Green area;
• User demand;
• Grass construction methods