Restricted Mobility and Restorative Park Demand in Two Jeddah Public Gardens: Al Masarah and Al Jamaa, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The importance of urban parks may be enhanced by mobility constraints which affect recreation opportunities, family visits and relief from the stress of the day. This paper attempts to determine whether the sharp fall in usage at two public parks in Jeddah during the COVID period indicated lack of park value or limited access to an undiminished valued resource for well-being. The data used includes park profile values, answers of 215 visitors, percentages, visit frequency and duration categories, motivation factors, place attachment items and crisis perception responses, relating to Al Masarah Garden and Al Jamaa Garden located centrally in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Numerical data includes park profile values, visitor responses (n=215), percentage statistics, visitor loads per hectare, shares of suppressed access, concentration of one-hour visits and a Restorative Access Demand index including restorative, proximity, social and equity sensitivity measures. Of the total responses received during the crisis period, 66% in the case of Al Masarah garden and 68% in the case of Al Jamaa garden did not report any park visits, whereas the share of visits not exceeding one hour rose to 66% and 71% respectively. However, these figures co-existed with strong restorative dependency: 67% actually missing parks, 79% feeling parks help relieve psychological stress, 81% considering that parks meet crisis period requirements, and 86% feeling that they are necessary for good mental health. Al Jamaa Garden had higher expected load per hectare, while Al Masarah Garden belonged to the category of older public gardens. Clearly, the Jeddah crisis period park usage issue revolved around accessibility of nearby, socially engaging green relief, rather than loss of public park value.