Author(s)

K. B. Shuib, H. Hashim, N. A. M. Nasir

Abstract

Managers and planners may offer many recreational opportunities at the urban park but it does always depend on the users as to how they actually perceived the opportunities. These have been affecting their value system and influenced their attitude towards the setting. This study aimed to understand the value of urban park as perceived by three different stakeholders group linked to the urban park setting for urban park planning and management strategies. The application of Q methodology in this study was able to solve the diversity of interests among stakeholders by considering the fact that individual’s opinions may be different from each other. The concourse used in this study based on the Malaysian Planning Guideline for Open Space and Recreation (2010) to explore the urban park setting that delivering the values. Then, Q sample photos were chosen to represent five elements in the urban park setting that are accessibility and traffic system, recreation facilities, landscape element, park furniture and other facilities. The photos were presented during Q sorting process and respondents were asked to sort the photos based on the questions given. Data analysis process was done using PQ method software that applied factor analysis technique and four values were produced which are natural value, sense of ownership and comfort value, recreational and health value and lastly, social value. This information was linked to the certain urban park setting for the improvement of urban park planning and management strategies for urban park.

Keywords

urban park, urban park values, community planning, Q methodology, urban park stakeholders, urban park planning, urban park management