Integration of GIS and perception assessment in the creation of needs-based urban parks in Ramallah, Palestine

Abstract

In Palestinian cities, urban parks are rare and their size is limited, comprising roughly 0.5 m2 per person in Palestine’s fastest growing city, Ramallah. Prior studies indicate that conventional planning, zoning, and standards-based approaches do not fully meet people’s needs for parks in urban settings. Hence, a needs-based approach was implemented in this study. A survey instrument was administered to a representative stratified sample composed of planners, professionals, and academics. The questionnaire was successfully administered to more than six hundred respondents (n= 650) and the results divulged a number of important points that will aid in future park and green space location, creation, and park utility. These findings included (a) overwhelming (perceived) need for more parks provided with facilities like playgrounds, water features, and relaxing areas; (b) a perception of uneven distribution of parks and facilities in urban settings; and (c) an increase in accessibility via roads and walking paths.