The Impact of Parks on Sustainable Urban Living: a Survey on Park Use in Tehran

It is believed that enhancing the quality of life of citizens contributes to a strong and sustainable society. By providing people and the city with ecological, social and economic services, urban nature and parks have a positive influence on the quality of life of their users. This paper investigates the benefits which urban parks bring to citizens and the amount of satisfaction people feel towards them. A survey is conducted among users of different urban parks in Tehran (Iran) to explore people's motives for park use and a valuation of these parks is carried out as people are questioned about the degree of satisfaction they derive from different aesthetic and functional aspects of the parks. Results confirm that parks are of high value for the well-being and quality of life of citizens because of the various beneficial services they provide which loss can have serious consequences. Discussion and analysis of the results provide information of how to make parks suitable to people's needs and demands and how urban parks contribute to the sustainability of this city.