mehdi abbas zadeh soorami

The increase in life expectancy, along with the decrease in the birth rate in Iran, has caused a similar condition in recent years, and it is expected that many big and small cities, such as Varamin, will experience this condition in the future years. The current research was conducted to analyze the physical and social components of attaining an age-friendly city in the urban space of Varamin. The present research method is descriptive-analytical and, according to the purpose, is among applied studies. The data and information of this research were collected through the study of library and survey sources, and qualitative and quantitative methods were used for their analysis. The results of the research indicate that the highest rank in the components is related to "social participation," and the lowest average is related to the component "respect for the elderly and social respect," and respectively, the highest percentage of dissatisfaction of the elderly is related to the lack of conventional medical services, family counselors, and access to a safe transportation network for the elderly. Also, the findings of the research showed that the average of all the examined criteria is not at the standard level, and they are far from reaching the desired level. Also, in order to identify the factors effective for the age-friendly city of Varamin, the factor analysis method was used, which explains 64.05% of the total variance of 26 items out of 10 factors obtained with an eigenvalue higher than 1. Among them, 2 factors "Transportation and social activities" and "Physical infrastructure" have been the most important in this field with the explanation of 12 items.

AbstractIn addition to enabling the relationship between city dwellers and nature, urban parks enhance social interactions, and even affect the social functions of adjacent public spaces. Factors affecting the social functions of urban parks can be divided into two categories; internal features such as the size, facilities and physical characteristics of the park; and external features, i.e. the park's relationship with the surrounding public spaces. This article examines the two Tonekabon urban parks, which are markedly different in terms of these characteristics, to explain how these distinctive features affect their social functioning.This is a descriptive study and data collection was done by survey and field observation. The statistical sample includes 400 park users, which are selected exclusively from the residents of this city, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, t-test, correlation and regression were used to analyze quantitative data. According to the findings, the higher the relationship between parks and activities in the surrounding public spaces, the higher their security and vitality. In the Javan Park, the effect of the interrelationships of the parks with the surrounding activities and public spaces on user satisfaction, and in the Madar Park, the effect of physical quality and facilities on user satisfaction is higher. Although the social functions of urban parks are influenced by various physical factors and characteristics, but parks are integral part of public spaces and activities in it, and even the effectiveness of these factors and characteristics is more influenced by the specific spatial-social context in which the functions of the park are performed.

When using the capacities of urban rivers, attention should be paid to maintaining the balance between the ecological capacity of the river, the interests of economic stakeholders and the needs of different social groups. The present study investigated the environmental effects of recreational activities along the river in Babolsar. Since most of these functions are located in the riverbed and have become an integral element of the ecosystem and its landscape, questions arise about their effects on the environment and the quality of use of public spaces along the river. Some questions include: What are the effects of exploiting the space capacities along the river in the form of existing recreational functions on the environment and the landscape of the river bank? And, in response to these effects, what range of users' needs do they meet? Or, what effect do these recreational activities have on the quality of citizens' use of other public spaces along the river? This research has tried to answer such questions through field observations and analysis of findings with the help of statistical tests. Findings show that hospitality and recreational uses along the river, despite the adverse impact on the river ecology, have not been able to provide a desirable and safe public space for some users and stakeholders, including youth, women and children. In addition, by being located in the river and destroying its landscape, they have even had a negative impact on the use of public spaces along the river.