O parque urbano como elemento relevante para a qualidade de vida urbana

Abstract

Urban parks are public spaces that offer the citizen, contact with nature, environments to perform physical exercises and recreation, in addition to serving as places for leisure, meetings and social interaction. The objective of this research is to investigate the existing elements in urban parks that contribute to the quality of life of the human population. The parks analyzed were: Parque Arquiteto Otacílio Teixeira Neto (Bisão), Parque Urbano Rio Branco, Lagoa do Opaia Urban Park and Lagoa do Catão Urban Park. The research was developed in six stages, following the multimethod approach or methodological triangulation, according to Sommer and Sommer (2002) and Pinheiro e Gunther (2008). Thus, it began with a bibliographical review to support and prepare this study. The second stage was the investigation into the existence of urban parks in Fortaleza by consulting documents, reports and transparency portals developed by municipal bodies. Based on this information, the third stage was developed to define criteria for choosing the four urban parks that were verified on site. In the fourth stage, visits were made to the four urban parks to develop the study, analysis and discussion about the first parameter defined in the multi-method approach, which is morpho-spatial analysis. This parameter includes three scales, which are: scale of influence radius of 500 m, scale of the immediate surroundings and scale of the environment. The fifth stage was developed based on the second parameter established in methodological triangulation, which is use. This is data obtained through behavioral mapping, which was collected through to these places. In behavioral observation, the positions of people in each space of the park were identified. The sixth stage refers to the third parameter defined in the methodological triangulation, which is the users' perception. To get to know the users and their perception, a questionnaire was created consisting of three variables, such as sociodemographics, use of the park and users' perception. Through the results obtained, it is concluded that urban parks are important for the quality of urban life, as they are elements that favor social interaction, the practice of physical activities, proximity to nature and improving physical and mental well-being. of users. When these places are well maintained and offer a variety of equipment such as an outdoor gym, playground, benches, volleyball courts, soccer fields, kiosks, lawns for picnics and recreation, it is understood that they become inviting to people. The frequent participation of users in urban parks and the existence of their residential and mixed surroundings (residences and businesses/services) contribute to increasing the perception of safety and urban vitality. All of these factors attract people to occupy these environments and use them in different ways, favoring the democratization of these places.