Time spent outdoors and outdoor activities

the presence of facilities, such as seats, toilets, and shelters in their neighbourhood open space

good paths (easy to walk on and enjoyable) to reach their open spaces the presence of water features such as a fountain or a river, beach or lakeside, contributed to longer time spent in outdoor activity Neighbourhood open space and quality of life the suitability for children's play and for chatting with people

a variety of activities to engage in (or to watch)

the quality of trees and plants

good facilities such as seats, toilets, and shelters

Preferences for environmental attributes

an open space which is without nuisance (e.g. from dog mess or undesirable people hanging about),

cafes and/or toilets, dense trees and plants, light traffic on the way to the park, wildlife to watch, and well-maintained open space.

Travel to the open space

Public transport: participants would like their open spaces to be easily accessible by public transportation (91%).

Car park: most participants valued having a car park nearby (96%). Traffic: light traffic on route (93%) is greatly valued when compared with medium

and heavy traffic. Distance: most people (57%) preferred an open space which is 5-10 minutes away

from their homes as compared with shorter (0-5) and longer distances (10-15 or 15+ minutes).

Seats en route: most people preferred to have some seats en route (95%) in their local open space.

Sub-group preferences in the sample of older people

When considering different sub groups in the sample, defined by: whether or not people live alone and whether or not they have difficulty in getting around, the findings showed that:

those who live with someone place a higher importance on the provision of facilities (e.g. cafes and toilets) and a car park;

those respondents who live alone place a relatively higher importance on the shortness of the distance to the open space and whether there are trees planted along the footpath; and

respondents who have greater difficulty getting around place greater importance on the provision of seats, both at the open space and en route.

6.1. Linear promenade by coastal/riverside edge

Experiential characteristics (ideal/desired effect)

Path activity (leisurely movement of people moving back and forth) Edge activity (visual and physical engagement with water, such as viewing, gazing, and fishing) Path characteristically distanced from water edge by level change or spatial structure (e.g., river bank, dunes, shingle beach)

Key design challenges (problems/potentials)

Making provision for conflicting needs, such as car users, pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists. Making a good edge, that is, places to stop, sit, view, and gaze out.

6.2. Circular promenade in urban park setting around body of water

Experiential characteristics (ideal/desired effect)

Path activity (leisurely movement of people moving round water with people entering, leaving at different points Edge activity (visual and physical engagement with water, such as gazing across water, feeding ducks, and watching other people Path and edge relationship act as one combined element and is more immediate and direct than at coastal/riverside

Key design challenges (problems/potentials)

Making provision for conflicting needs of users Making a good edge

6.3. Urban neighbourhood and pocket park with thoroughfares

Experiential characteristics (ideal/desired effect)

Path activity (shoppers/people thoroughfaring through; dog walkers circuiting) Space activity (unstructured, such as football kickaround and structured, such as tennis) Focal points and hubs of activity (e.g., caf, sitting terraces, and childrens play area) Edge activity (people penetrating in/out at various points around perimeter)

Key design challenges (problems/potentials)

Making provision for passive and active uses of park of all age groups Thorough faring activity that will also encourage incidental social interactions and other inadvertent activities, such as sitting, watching and playing with dog

Table 1. Place attributes that work

CATEGORY PLACE ATTRIBUTE DESCRIPTION PHOTOS SKETCH

Light traffic and easy parking

Easy parking This means the ability to park near open space access points, with space to park easily. 'Easy' parking means having plenty of parking spaces, and easy manoeuvrability, with light traffic if it's on-road parking.

parking

parking2

Easy to find access, with no barriers to open spaces

'Natural gateway'

A cluster of trees at main park access points and/or start of main pathways, can create a 'gateway' effect. This is particularly helpful in an open landscape, such as along the coast, where there is no formal gate entrance to a park. The 'natural gateway' of trees signifies 'welcome', enhances a sense of arrival, and creates a park-like atmosphere.

gateway

gateway2

Facilities such as cafes and toilets

Easy to find and accessible toilets.

Toilets should be located at 'gateway' points with clear views and ready access to them. A natural tree canopy helps provide shelter and a comfortable micro-climate, but lines of visibility should be maintained from main paths/key areas of activity.

toilets

toilets2

Easily accessible food place

A place to get a cup of tea or ice cream and somewhere pleasant to sit near by and that offers shelter is desirable. The facilities need to be easily accessible.

foodplace

Dense trees and shrubs

Evidence of maintenance

Dense trees and shrubs are attractive so long as there is evidence of maintenance e.g. mown lawns, pruned shrubs; bins emptied, dog mess and graffiti removed.

maintenance

Aesthetics and things to watch, including wildlife

Attractive places and view points

Vantage points with comfortable seating or leaning walls or railings can encourage people to stop and take in a view looking outwards to surrounding areas and provides potential interest for engaging with wildlife.

viewpoint

Promenading path (linear)

A wide main path along the edge of something of interest, such as a riverside, is very attractive. This should have a pleasant sitting area no more than 50 m along the path from the main entry point to give older people an easy to reach destination point.

linear

Promenading path (circular)

A main circular route around something of interest, such as a lake or pond, is very attractive. Ideally it should have frequent smaller paths joining, to link it with exit and entry points into or out of the space around the edge, to maximise the opportunity for people to come and go at any point, and provide short circular routes for people exercising their dogs.

circular

Promenade and sport

Paths can encourage people to take an interesting route, stop and view sporting activities at the edge of football and cricket pitches etc, for example by providing a tree lined path, and/or by placing a group of seats for viewing from a safe distance.

sport

Promenade and wildlife

Opportunities to engage with wildlife can be provided near a main path. Providing good 'leaning places' and/or seats, at places which give good access to sights, sounds or other experiences of wildlife, helps make these activities easy and pleasant.

promenade

wildlife

Well maintained open spaces

Active maintenance

The presence of gardeners or rangers weeding, mowing etc., or their vehicles in evidence give confidence that the open space is being maintained and provides an added feeling of security. Making gardeners' sheds visible can also help.

active

Open edge A feeling of open-ness with paths not tightly enclosed by walls or hedges enhances a sense of the space being well cared for with clear visibility in

open edge open edge2

and out of the open space through permeable edges.

Natural

surveillance Natural surveillance can be provided by a permeable edge that allows passers by or those in adjacent buildings to look into or across the space; open views across site from high points also help.

surveillance

surveillance2

Good paths, easy to walk on and enjoyable.

Thoroughfaring hierarchy

A choice of paths across a site, helps encourage a constant through flow of people. This can be achieved by providing convenient and pleasant short cuts, such as to shops. A good hierarchy of paths of differing widths would have a main boulevard 5-8 m wide, with smaller paths of between 2-5 m. width

hierarchy

hierarchy2

Multiple exit/entry points

Many entrances around the edge of a park provide many opportunities for short-cuts across the open space. These must be clearly defined to help people see where they are.

exits

Multi-activity path

A wide main path (5-8 m wide) to allow for activity along both edges (with seats along the edge) and a wide walking space works well. This allows people to sit on the path and feel part of something going on without feeling crowded.

path

Multi-activity space

Paths where grandparents and older carers can move at a leisurely pace whilst children (or dogs) can run around alongside e.g. round and round a grassy area, or up and down sloping banks, work well.

space

'Dog bank' A sloping bank with a path along the top provides a place for dog walkers to throw a ball for their dog: the height advantage means no real effort is needed to propel the ball (good for people with weak arm strength). Such a bank is equally good for young children to roll down/run up and down with grandparents/carers walking alongside.

dogbank

dogbank2

Multi-activity walls

Low walls that are good for both sitting and leaning on encourage incidental inter-generational use; younger people can sit on them while older people might lean on them. Such walls, depending on their height, can encourage two types of activity: passive (e.g. sitting/leaning) and active (e.g. children walking

walls

walls2

along them). Leaning places Walls and railings are good for

leaning on, especially when located at scenic places, such as a water edge or wildlife viewing or listening points. Sturdy railings of at least waist height are good for leaning/resting on, the smoother the better. At the water's edge, especially, a lower rail provides both safety and a fun element for younger children so that all ages can enjoy the edge experience together e.g. a view out to sea.

leaning

leaning2

Tree-lined paths

Tree-lined avenues

Defining the main walking paths as tree-lined avenues helps people to see where they begin and end.

avenues

'Natural' Cyclist/ pedestrian segregation

Design can help encourage 'natural' segregation of cyclists from other path users by making the walking paths look completely different e.g. using avenue of trees. Cycling paths should be made deliberately unappealing to older people, such as by having no seats.

cyclist

Sociable path Paths with a well-defined edge and seating on one side can encourage people to linger when talking. If the path width is not too wide, it can maximise opportunities for incidental social interaction e.g. verbal exchange between walking people and sitting people.

Sociable

Seats in the open space and en route to it

Seats everywhere

It is good to provide a seat for every purpose: seats that are easily accessed from the paths in a park or public space, but which provide different types of sitting places each with distinct purpose.

seats

Garden seat A seat in a lawn area, although harder to access than on a footpath, can be attractive with shrubbery or trees immediately behind and an open area in front. The seat should be set back from main path at least 2 metres (but no more than 10 metres) to create a more peaceful place to sit, but not far from the path.

garden

garden2

Path as sitting place.

Seats on a wide path in a sunny, pleasant spot are very attractive. A path of 4-5 m width should create a place where people can take a rest and stretch out their legs comfortably and not feel forced to move on quickly.

sitting

sitting2

Snoozing seat. Seats can act like armchairs if they snoozing snoozing2

have arms and high backs, placed in peaceful but people-active spots such as a riverside, away from children's play areas. Snoozing seats should be set back from path approximately 2-5m. Garden seats also make good snoozing seats.

Playground sitting.

A choice of seats both inside and outside a playground boundary are popular; trees can provide shade and shelter, as well as hide and seek opportunities for children.

playground

playground2

Dog-sitting. Garden seats are popular in places

where dogs can run around and owners can sit. This seat would be easier to use if it had arms.

dog

A crescent of seats

A crescent of seats can provide a relaxed sitting area, close to but set back from, a busy entrance and/or main thoroughfare path. A sitting area with good views creates a sitting terrace where people will happily sit for some time.

crescent

crescent2