Survey of People’s Activities and Opinions on Area Management of Her Majesty the Queen’s 60th Birthday Park (Bangphli Housing Authority), Samut Prakan Province

Abstract

Public parks are essential to urban residents as places for recreation and doing activities. However, it appears that many public parks are not able to address the needs of people effectively because most organizations which are in charge of taking care of public parks never conduct a survey of people’s behaviors or manage areas to address their needs that have been changing over periods. This study, thus, investigated people’s activity areas in Her Majesty the Queen’s 60^th Birthday Park (Bangphli Housing Authority) as well as surveyed people’s satisfaction and opinions on area management of the park in 4 aspects: (1) environment and maintenance, (2) facilities, (3) area utilization, and (4) security. Besides, the study created recommendations for area management for the park to address people’s needs. Methods of the data collection were field observation and questionnaire survey with 100 people who used the park, applying geographic information system as a tool for data survey, analysis, and presentation.

The results show that major activity areas are road areas, exercise equipment areas, and courtyard area. People mainly came to exercise in the park, mostly for running or walking, followed by exercising with equipment. Other exercise activities, played in the courtyard area, include football, futsal, sepak takraw, aerobics, badminton, biking, and skateboarding. Whilst people who came for recreation activities and meetings mostly stay in cement-ground areas at the rim of the courtyard, roads, and around exercise equipment.

Results of people’s satisfaction indicate the strength of the park that are suitability for exercise and health activities. On the other hand, the park has two major weaknesses. The first one is the inability to effectively address people’s need for recreation activities due to a lack of big trees, beautiful vegetation, and benches for sitting. The second one is a security issue since there is no regular guard, no sign or message informing about liquor control, no official opening time, and no door at the gate. Initial recommendations for improving area management of the park therefore are to increase trees, flower and ornamental plant areas, benches, trash containers, and gazebos throughout the park, as well as to increase areas for particular activities such as additional sepak takraw fields, children’s playground, petanque court, and skateboard area.