Page 72 - EER-2-1

Explora: Environment
and Resource Sustainable urban park design

room for improvement. Implementing gray water and 67% of the plants being moderate and/or high water
rainwater collection systems, smart irrigation systems, consuming plants despite being located in an arid region,
water-permeable landscaping materials, green roofs, almost no use of renewable energy sources, and few events
water-saving plants, photovoltaic panels, sensor lighting beyond fairs are organized which leads to decreased usage.
systems, and furniture made from recycled materials can More concerning is the park’s regression compared to its
enhance environmental sustainability. These practices will original design. Many activity areas in the park have been
also transform the park into an outdoor educational space closed or rented to commercial enterprises over time.
where visitors can experience sustainability. These issues prevent the effective use of parks and hinder
The final factor of the model addresses “activity their potential contribution to urban sustainability.
quality,” which includes design elements related to Based on the evaluation conducted on Altinpark, it is
promoting active lifestyles within parks. Although possible to make the following general recommendations
special paths have not been designed for bicycles in to stakeholders.
Altinpark, no negative opinions were encountered (i) For parks to be used effectively, citizen participation in
during the evaluation. However, research emphasizes park management should be ensured.
the importance of parks for cycling activities and the (ii) Parks should be easily accessible, meet the needs of
83
necessity of establishing bicycle paths for safety. residents of all ages, and be organized and managed
While kiosks or similar facilities are needed to meet according to changing and developing needs to
users’ basic needs such as food and drink, excessive increase the quality of life of city residents.
commercialization – such as in Altínpark – can detract (iii) Park security, maintenance, and cleanliness should be
from a park’s core functions. 57,60 The last design element handled with consideration.
under this factor is organizing events in the parks. (iv) Improve the park’s esthetic appeal and the suitability
Research emphasizes the importance of organizing of its furnishings.
events in urban areas and citizens’ expectations regarding (v) Focus on reducing energy and water use, using
such events. 57,84 Unfortunately, Altinpark falls short; renewable energy sources, and developing a waste
aside from poorly attended fairs, few events are held management system.
60
there compared to its early years, leading to reduced (vi) Different activities should be organized to increase
interest among citizens. Hosting artistic, cultural, and park usage.
scientific events in the park could increase its vitality.
7. Limitations of the study and future
6. Conclusion and recommendations studies
Urban parks offer important opportunities to increase The study focused on citizens living in Ankara, and the
the well-being of citizens struggling with physiological
and psychological challenges in increasingly urbanized case study was conducted on only one park, Altinpark.
environments. As such, they are important urban The model can be validated by repeating the research
with more participants. The model was examined in
areas that can contribute to environmental, social, and
economic sustainability. The sustainable design of parks Altinpark, located in a large area with a good design.
will maximize this contribution and set a good example Comparative studies on different urban parks can
for society as sustainable areas. This study developed an contribute significantly to the literature. In the future,
urban park model unique in the literature. The model is it is also possible to create a sustainable park evaluation
simple, with six factors and 30 design elements under these system by determining concrete indicators for the criteria
factors. This model can guide stakeholders, including local and developing a scoring system for assessing urban
administrators, designers, contractors, and citizens when parks.
designing new urban parks or renovating existing parks. It Acknowledgments
facilitates concrete discussions about which needs should
be prioritized to maximize the potential of parks. None.

The evaluations conducted on Altinpark within the Funding
framework of the model revealed significant sustainability
shortcomings, such as lack of citizen participation in park None.
management, excessive commercial enterprises being
opened in the park, which detracts from its intended Conflict of interest
function, 110 out of 180 plant species are exotic species, The authors declare they have no competing interests.

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 16 doi: 10.36922/eer.5839