Identifying Features Informing Adolescents’ Perception of an Urban Park Space: A Photovoice Study
Open Access
- Author:
- Hanna, Steven
- Graduate Program:
- Recreation, Park and Tourism Management
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- May 27, 2022
- Committee Members:
- Peter Newman, Program Head/Chair
Jennifer P. Agans, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Andrew Mowan, Committee Member
Katrina Black Reed, Committee Member - Keywords:
- Parks
Green Space
Adolescents
Photovoice
Urban
Positive Youth Development - Abstract:
- The development individuals experience during adolescence has significant implications for their future well-being. Development occurs through interactions between individuals and the contexts they occupy. This study worked to understand adolescents’ perception of parks and green spaces within a specific urban neighborhood context and identify the features that encouraged and discouraged adolescent park use through photovoice methodology. Participants viewed the park both positively and negatively, identifying natural features, non-natural features, and people as factors within their neighborhood park that both encouraged and discouraged their use of the park space. The aesthetic qualities of natural features, and the positive feelings natural features promoted, encouraged adolescent park use, however natural features also discouraged park use as they elicited feelings of fear and limited participants’ ability to take part in certain activities. Non-natural features enabled participants to take part in certain activities and encouraged park use, however, the presence of trash, and unmaintained non-natural features discouraged adolescent park use. People also encouraged park use as participants used the space to socialize with friends, however, the presence of apathetic park users discouraged participants from using the park. The findings of this study demonstrate adolescents’ varied perspective on parks/green spaces and identify ways for a specific park space to be improved. This study also illustrates the important relationship between people and park spaces and a need for future research to consider the role that people play in making park spaces positive contexts for adolescents to spend time.