Improving the Landscape of Urban Parks Based on the Needs of Citizens (Case Study: Gorgan Parks)

Urban parks and green spaces, like other urban spaces, are subject to erosion and need repair to sustain their environmental and social services. Citizens' priorities should be studied when improving urban green spaces. This study aims to identify the priorities and needs of citizens regarding the improvement of parks and public green spaces in Gorgan, Iran. The documentary and analytical survey in which data were mostly collected by distributing questionnaires among the residents of Gorgan. The results showed that the preferences of citizens varied with demographic variables and their socio-economic characteristics in some areas so that each group had its own needs. However, according to the citizens, the plant species of the parks and green spaces in Gorgan generally need to be diversified and this should be achieved by using all types of plants (broadleaf, coniferous, cover, and seasonal plants). Most people prioritized improving sanitation, supplying drinking water, and providing children's play equipment. Also, considering the needs of the disabled in the improvement of parks was the highest priority, and stone sidewalks were the most popular.