Benefits of Improving Urban Park Playground Facilities through Inclusive Design Concept Using Computer Software ^†

Abstract

For inclusive design, we conducted the Taichung Melody Project to enhance the urban park’s children’s playground in terms of inclusivity and user-friendliness. The post-occupancy evaluation was used for Sanxin Park to analyze the improvement effect and the satisfaction degree with the park facilities, park sensory, and park management. The purpose of park use directly impacted sensory satisfaction and management satisfaction. The research results can be used as a reference for future key projects of park playground improvement.

1. Introduction

As urban forests, parks function as a place for leisure and disaster prevention. Since 2019, the Taichung City Government has promoted the “Taichung Melody Project” to promote a better lifestyles, provide a healthy living environment, promote friendliness, and improve the safety of children. We explored the results of Sanxin Park renovation through a satisfaction survey regarding the facilities, sensory aspects, and management of the park. Based on the results, we provide suggestions for the “Taichung Melody Project”.

2. Literature Review and Methods

2.1. Literature Review

2.1.1. Inclusive Playground

The “Inclusive Playground” refers to a barrier-free environment with a diverse and friendly atmosphere, and spacious, safe, interactive, interesting, and comfortable characteristics (Construction Bureau of Taichung City Government, 2018) [1]. Such a park considers the demands of different user groups including children. The facilities of a park and a playground must meet the needs of the users, who participate in a wide range of activities regardless of their ability (Lin and Chen, 2022; Huang, 2020) [2,3,4]. The park environment needs to be developed to foster friendliness as the population structure in Taiwan is changing. Park facilities and park management need to meet the needs of children with different physical and mental conditions to to participate in activities through an inclusive design method.

2.1.2. Barrier-Free Environment Design (BD)

The concept of BD advocates that people with disabilities can live as ordinary people without any differences. The United Nations also advocated for the concept of “Normalization” at a conference in 1963, and published “The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” in 1975. At the same time, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) also introduced the design guideline “A General Normative Series for Thinking about the Needs of People with Disabilities” (Tseng, 1996) [5] to facilitate the creation of a friendly barrier-free environment. The idea of “Normalization” has since expanded from Europe to the United States and the whole world (Tseng, 1996) [5]. The barrier-free norms and concepts in Taiwan have been revised and enhanced year by year. The concept of friendliness has been applied in the design of substantive space units in combination with the theory of universal design and the implementation of school education.

2.1.3. Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE)

POE originated in the United States and the United Kingdom as an indicator of quality improvement, satisfaction, and importance of a space originally designed by a government or private person (Huang, 2000) [6]. Chen (1993) proposed that POE was a widely used in surveying users, managers, or persons of interest from a completed event to learn about the use of facilities and the relationship between people and the environment and to review the original plan, design, and construction details [7]. Rabinowitz and White (1988) pointed out that relevant facilities began to be evaluated using the criteria from a systematic, objective, and rigorous perspective after it was put into use [8]. The POE model was used in this study to investigate users’ satisfaction with the facilities, sensory aspects, and management of the park playground concerned after its improvement.

2.2. Research Methods

We explored the post-occupancy satisfaction of park users with the facilities, sensory aspects, and management of Taichung Sanxin Park. The research structure is shown in Figure 1.

The research structure, motivation, and objectives were established based on a literature review. The following research hypotheses were proposed.

H0. 

User background has insignificant impacts on the perception of park facilities, park sensory attributes, and park management.

H1. 

User background has significant impacts on the perception of park facilities, park sensory attributes, and park management.

A questionnaire survey was used as the main tool in this study to collect data. The five-point Likert scale was used, ranging from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied), using an anonymous method. The questionnaires were distributed in Sanxin Park from 6 to 8 April 2022, taking Sanxin Park users as the subjects. In total, 105 questionnaires were distributed. The 105 completed questionnaires were collected, out of which 5 were discarded and 100 were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27 for descriptive statistics and ANOVA. Gender, education, occupation, living area, frequency of use of the park, purpose of use of the park, and other demographic characteristics and statuses were analyzed as the background information. ANOVA was used to analyze and compare the results on the satisfaction of park facilities, park sensory attributes, and park management to examine differences between the different backgrounds of users.

3. Case Description

Sanxin Park is located in Xitun District, Taichung City, and did not meet the standards of BD before construction. The playground facilities were improved for environmental reasons and for the needs of children aged 6–16 years old with various physical and mental conditions under the concept of inclusiveness and friendliness. It became the first park playground for children in wheelchairs to play on the Slide and Swing in Taichung City after improvement. The play space with the hill-shaped slide of the barrier-free ramps also provided children of all ages to play.

3.1. Space Overview

The area of Sanxin Park is 10,713 m²; the improved playground area is 385 m². An integrated game set was offered before the improvement, but it did not conform to the provisions of the new playground regulations, and the surrounding moving lines without footpath series were not in line with the barrier-free regulations (Figure 2). Therefore, the game facility and barrier-free space were improved to meet the requirements of relevant regulations. Better achievements and benefits could be achieved after improvement, as well as inclusiveness and friendliness.

3.2. Countermeasures for Space Renovation

The original integrated game set did not conform to the new regulations, and the utilization rate was low. Therefore, a volcano-shaped game set was built, which included a slide, climbing space, and other functions. Moreover, barrier-free standard ramps were set up for children in wheelchairs to be able to play on the slide. A game for children under the age of 6 years old was provided, and a rocking horse facility was added. One wheelchair swing and one bird’s nest swing were built, providing wheelchair users with a swing (Figure 3).

4. Discussion

4.1. Demographics and Behavior of Users

Descriptive statistics are shown in

Table 1. Descriptive statistics.

	Frequency/Percentage			Frequency/Percentage
Gender	Male	53	53.0	Female	47	47.0
Educational background	Bachelor’s degree	17	17.0	PhD	1	1.0
	Master’s degree	8	8.0	Other	74	74.0
Occupational identity	In employment	26	26.0	Retiree	37	37.0
	Unemployed	11	11.0	Household management	26	26.0
Nearby residents	Yes	67	67.0	No, and they did not work nearby	20	20.0
	No, but they all worked nearby	13	13.0
Frequency of visiting Sanxin Park	Every day	27	27.0	Once a week for holidays	7	7.0
	2–4 times a week	39	39.0	Rarely or the first time	27	27.0
Main purpose of visiting Sanxin Park	Stroll	7	7.0	Parent–child activities	23	23.0
	Rest and enjoyed the scenery	18	18.0	Dropping by and staying	33	33.0
	Exercise	18	18.0	Others	1	1.0

. Briefly, 53% of the users were males and 47% were females. In total, 74% did not have a bachelor’s degree, and 26% of the respondents were employed. A hidden sampling bias was negligible. In total, 67% of the users were residents, 66% of the users visited the park frequently, among whom 39% visited Sanxin Park two to four times a week, and 27% visited the park every day. Furthermore, 33% dropped by and stayed in the park alone, and 23% visited the park for parent–child activities. The main users of Sanxin Park were residents and working people, and 66% visited the park frequently. Most users used the park for parent–child activities, leisure, and exercise. Sanxin Park had enhanced environmental accessibility and satisfaction after its improvement. The content of the questionnaire comprised codes: code A for park facilities, B for park sensory attributes, and C for park management and other project satisfaction metrics.

4.2. Park Facility Satisfaction

The survey results on user satisfaction with the facility are shown in

Table 2. Satisfaction with facility.

	Very Satisfied	Satisfied	Fair	Dissatisfied	Very Dissatisfied
A1. What is your overall satisfaction with the improvement of Sanxin Park?	28	51	20	1	0
A2. How satisfied are you with newly the built volcano-shaped game set in Sanxin Park?	28	48	20	4	0
A3. How satisfied are you with the rocking horse game set in Sanxin Park?	27	51	21	1	0
A4. How satisfied are you with the newly built wheelchair swing in Sanxin Park?	25	49	21	3	2
A5. How satisfied are you with the newly built bird’s nest swing in Sanxin Park?	26	46	21	4	3

. Nearly 80% of the users were satisfied with the park facilities, and approximately 20% of the users had neutral opinions. Two users and three users were very dissatisfied with the wheelchair swing and bird’s nest swing in the facilities, respectively. According to the variance test (

Table 3. Variation test results on satisfaction with Sanxin Park.

	Gender			Educational Background			Occupation
	Degree of Freedom	F Value	Significance	Degree of Freedom	F Value	Significance	Degree of Freedom	F Value	Significance
A1	1	0.002	0.960	4	2.093	0.088	3	5.923	0.001
A2	1	0.556	0.458	4	2.308	0.064	3	4.491	0.005
A3	1	0.095	0.758	4	0.888	0.474	3	4.523	0.005
A4	1	1.197	0.277	4	0.904	0.465	3	4.731	0.004
A5	1	0.592	0.443	4	1.246	0.297	3	4.361	0.006
B1	1	10.137	0.289	4	1.417	0.234	3	7.104	0.000
B2	1	0.869	0.353	4	1.857	0.124	3	7.614	0.000
B3	1	0.869	0.353	4	1.437	0.228	3	7.614	0.000
B4	1	0.783	0.378	4	0.895	0.470	3	8.298	0.000
B5	1	1.845	0.177	4	3.039	0.021	3	6.077	0.001
C1	1	0.001	0.970	4	1.740	0.148	3	3.627	0.016
C2	1	0.037	0.848	4	1.754	0.145	3	3.766	0.013
C3	1	1.898	0.171	4	1.200	0.316	3	4.936	0.003
C4	1	20.035	0.157	4	0.689	0.601	3	3.620	0.016
C5	1	20.439	0.122	4	1.963	0.106	3	2.390	0.073
	Nearby residents			Use frequency			Purpose of park use

), occupation, distance from visitors’ homes, and the purpose of park use were factors affecting satisfaction with the facility.

For the sensory attributes of the park, 80% of the users were satisfied with the game sets in the park, approximately 20% of the users held neutral opinions, and only five users were satisfied with the safety of the game sets. One user was very dissatisfied with the overall experience, fun, stimulation, and challenges provided by park (

Table 4. Satisfaction with sensory attributes.

	Very Satisfied	Satisfied	Fair	Dissatisfied	Very Dissatisfied
B1. What is your overall satisfaction with the game sets in Sanxin Park?	25	52	22	0	1
B2. How satisfied are you with the fun of the game sets in Sanxin Park?	24	53	22	0	1
B3. How satisfied are you with the stimulation provided by the game sets in Sanxin Park?	24	53	22	0	1
B4. How satisfied are you with the challenge provided by the game sets in Sanxin Park?	24	52	22	1	1
B5. How satisfied are you with the safety of the game sets in Sanxin Park?	24	50	19	2	5

). According to the variance test (Table 3), occupation, nearby residents, and the purpose of park use were significant factors influencing satisfaction with the sensory attributes of the park. The use frequency was significant in influencing satisfaction with the game sets in the park.

4.3. Satisfaction with Park Management

In total, 80% of the users were satisfied with park management, approximately 50% of the users held neutral opinions, and nearly 10% of the users had barrier-free space in the park. One user was very dissatisfied with the proportion of green space and the game sets available in the park (

Table 5. Satisfaction with management.

	Very Satisfied	Satisfied	Fair	Dissatisfied	Very Dissatisfied
C1. Do you know about “Taichung Melody”?	23	28	47	2	0
C2. How satisfied are you with the “Taichung Melody”?	23	28	49	0	0
C3. How satisfied are you with the proportion of green space in Sanxin Park?	23	32	40	4	1
C4. How satisfied are you with the richness of the game sets in Sanxin Park?	23	38	37	1	1
C5. How satisfied are you with the barrier-free space in Sanxin Park?	21	31	33	6	9

). Occupation, among the demographic, characteristics was a significant factor influencing satisfaction with the management of the park. However, it was an insignificant factor influencing satisfaction with the barrier-free space of the park. The proportion of nearby residents to the green space of the park, the availability of game sets, and the barrier-free space were significant influences on satisfaction. Frequency of use was significant in terms of satisfaction with the proportion of green space in the park. The purpose of park use was a significant influencing factor, but understanding of Taichung Melody was insignificant.

5. Conclusions and Suggestion

In this study, more than 80% of the users were satisfied in the post-occupancy evaluation of the improved facilities, indicating that the park facilities had been improved to meet the needs of the users. Two users were very dissatisfied with the wheelchair swing and three users were very dissatisfied with the bird’s nest swing. The lack of accessibility of these two facilities might lead to poor user experience. Nearly 80% of the users were satisfied with the overall experience of the game sets in the park, indicating that the improved park met the sensory needs of the users. Five users were very dissatisfied with the safety of the game sets. The buffer space of the game sets might be insufficient, resulting in poor user experience. Nearly 50% of the users were satisfied with park management, while nearly 10% of the users were very dissatisfied with the barrier-free space in the park; they suggested that the accessibility and safety measures of the playground need to be improved. In addition, the users were not serious about the “Taichung Melody Project”, indicating that the public relations department also provided insufficient publicity and promotion. The users of Sanxin Park were mostly parents and children. Therefore, the park needs to have facilities with increased accessibility and that safety measures need to ensure greater protection to avoid user injuries. The public relations department needs to focus on the promotion efforts for Taichung Melody so that more people in the community can understand the objectives of the plan.