Affiliation:
1. Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Trg D. Obradovica 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
2. ALGORITMI Research Center/Associate Laboratory for Intelligent Systems, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
3. Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest Research Station, US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
Abstract
Urban parks are vital components of city ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity, climate resilience, air and water quality, health, socialization, and economic benefits for citizens in urban areas. This paper examines urban parks in Novi Sad by gathering opinions on their qualities and functions through a questionnaire. The respondents were students enrolled in the landscape architecture course at the University of Novi Sad. To analyze their responses, multivariate statistical analysis techniques, including ANOVA, MANOVA, and contingency tables, were applied. The results highlight the primary reasons for visiting urban parks in general, as well as specific parks in Novi Sad. The paper offers insights into visitor behavior, including the frequency and length of their stays, etc., and provides an assessment of the parks’ educational functions, which were expected to be highly relevant for the respondent group. The results can be relevant for further urban park development and serve as a starting point for applying multi-criteria (MC) analysis. Specifically, the results can be used to define a set of criteria, goals, and other essential elements necessary for conducting Analytic Hierarchy Processes or similar MC analysis methods.
Funder
Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia