Do neighborhoods affect active park use: A study on urban parks' characteristics in Chiang Mai Municipality in Thailand.

Proximity is the main determinant for people in actively use of urban parks. Many studies have argued that facilities provision is a significant factor in drawing people. However, recent studies have highlighted adjacent neighborhoods as a crucial factor when considering park-based physical activity design. This study examined a correlation between these factors and the active use of six urban parks which are located in Chiang Mai city, Thailand. The aim is to produce supportive data for urban park design and planning for active uses. We investigated facilities provision through site survey, using Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify park characteristics and its size. While active use levels were examined through retrieved data on physical activity from the running application, to help understand which park is preferable for the users. The results reveal the distinguishing characteristics of six urban parks as a result of building use within its neighborhood boundaries, that may associate with availability for active users. To enhance healthy urban planning and policies, this study informs urban planners and park designers to inclusively consider the use of surrounding neighbors as well as its connectivity into park design strategies and urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]