Generating Social Cohesion through Urban Parks: A Case Study of Perception, Park Use, and Attachment in Singelpark, Leiden

Background: Urbanization has reduced access to nature while diminishing the strength of neighborhood ties. Urban parks solve these problems by providing public green spaces that foster social cohesion and a green environment. This thesis aimed to investigate the pathways by which urban parks generate social cohesion, using Singelpark in Leiden as a case study. Methods: Using a mixed-methods survey/questionnaire on 78 Leiden residents, we investigated the relationships between social cohesion in Singelpark, use patterns, perceptions of the environment, place attachment, and whether social cohesion in the park correlated to the broader neighborhood context. Results: 1.)Three use patterns were analyzed: frequency and duration of park use showed a positive relation with social cohesion in Singelpark and attachment to the park, with visit duration emerging as the more potent factor. However, in the third use pattern, activities generally did not correlate with social cohesion, except for...Show moreBackground: Urbanization has reduced access to nature while diminishing the strength of neighborhood ties. Urban parks solve these problems by providing public green spaces that foster social cohesion and a green environment. This thesis aimed to investigate the pathways by which urban parks generate social cohesion, using Singelpark in Leiden as a case study. Methods: Using a mixed-methods survey/questionnaire on 78 Leiden residents, we investigated the relationships between social cohesion in Singelpark, use patterns, perceptions of the environment, place attachment, and whether social cohesion in the park correlated to the broader neighborhood context. Results: 1.)Three use patterns were analyzed: frequency and duration of park use showed a positive relation with social cohesion in Singelpark and attachment to the park, with visit duration emerging as the more potent factor. However, in the third use pattern, activities generally did not correlate with social cohesion, except for 'meeting/socializing. However, qualitative insights support the notion that activities still impact social cohesion in Singelpark meaningfully. 2.)Perceptions of the park environment emerged as significant associations with social cohesion. Subjective perceptions of park maintenance, cleanliness, design, layout, and safety emerge as critical associations for fostering social cohesion in the park itself and attachment to Singelpark, while perceived greenness and proximity had no significant relation. Qualitative insights generally supported these results. 3.)Social cohesion in Singelpark did not transfer to social cohesion in respondents' neighborhoods. Implying that social cohesion is context-specific. 4.)Attachment to the park emerged as a salient factor, significantly associated with social cohesion in both Singelpark and respondents' neighborhoods. Conclusion: the pathways to social cohesion are complex and context-specific, requiring further comparative studies to identify causal relationships between the factors analyzed in this thesis. Ultimately, well-designed and managed urban parks play a crucial role in fostering social cohesion and enhancing the well-being of urban dwellers by providing green spaces that bring communities together.Show less

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Generating Social Cohesion through Urban Parks: A Case Study of Perception, Park Use, and Attachment in Singelpark, Leiden