The effects of shopping malls on using urban parks: The case of Ankara, Turkey

摘要

Urban parks and shopping malls are some of the important recreation sources of our present cities. Dense rush-hours of cities and time varying life styles affect the recreation need, choices and recreation source usage of urban people. In this study, the effects of shopping malls, which have become important part of the present urban life, on using urban parks were examined. During the process of determining the mentioned effect, 25 motivation items that direct the recreational preferences were questioned. The items were evaluated in the processes of "preference of urban parks and shopping malls'' and "choice between an urban park and a shopping mall". The study was carried out with the users of Ankamall, Cepa, Kent Park and Armada shopping malls in Ankara, Turkey. Within the scope of the study, questionnaire forms were used to gain data. The questionnaire was conducted to 492 participants with the techniques of random choice and face-to-face interview between May 2011-May 2012 on Saturdays and Sundays, when user density was high. The data was analysed with descriptive statistics, K-means cluster analysis and paired sample t-test. The results of the analysis showed that 25 motivation items had different levels of effect on the preference of urban parks and shopping malls. However, 15 motivation items were detected in the choice between urban parks and shopping malls. Among these criteria, bringing "easy transportation, cultural contributions, food-drink facility, accessible places and ergonomic outfits", which direct the users to the shopping malls, in the urban parks will be effective on attracting the users to the urban park. Along with that, user satisfaction and preference will be increased in urban park choice by developing some motivation items of different effect levels.