Examining perceived safety and park use in public open spaces: the case of Barcelona

Abstract

There is a current need for understanding existing relationships between park use and perceived safety. Six public open spaces were systematically observed for three months and sorted into three groups attending to a perceived safety questionnaire scores. Objective park use and environmental data were analyzed using polar coordinate analysis considering the perceived safety level as the focal behavior. We also considered sociodemographics, crime data, and district-level safety indicators. Sex and years living in the neighborhood influenced perceived safety scores but no association was seen with crime events. Perceived safety at the district level, neighborhood class composition, and disorder was also connected with perceived safety. Increasing perceived safety at the district level can promote physical activity and park use, especially among women, elders, young adults, and the disabled. Implications for public policy are discussed.