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Choi Y. Exploring the impact of pandemic fear on visitation to park attractions in urban city: A case study in Seoul, South Korea. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301869. [PMID: 38625971 PMCID: PMC11020851 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
This research explores changes in perceptions and utilization of parks during the COVID-19 pandemic in Seoul, South Korea. It investigates the relationship between fear of the pandemic and individuals' opinions about open spaces and their visiting decisions. The study surveyed 600 adults from February 22-23, 2022, and used structural equation modeling to analyze the data. The findings revealed that increased fear of the pandemic led to more positive park sentiments, resulting in higher park visits and fewer visits to other public spaces. The research highlights the significance of parks during the COVID-19 pandemic and how people's perceptions were influenced by their pandemic-related fear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunwon Choi
- Climate & Environment Data Center, Gyeonggi Research Institute, Jangan-gu, Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Yao XA, Crooks A, Jiang B, Krisp J, Liu X, Huang H. An overview of urban analytical approaches to combating the Covid-19 pandemic. ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING. B, URBAN ANALYTICS AND CITY SCIENCE 2023; 50:1133-1143. [PMID: 38602958 PMCID: PMC10160829 DOI: 10.1177/23998083231174748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- X Angela Yao
- Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Andrew Crooks
- Department of Geography, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Bin Jiang
- Urban Governance and Design Thrust, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jukka Krisp
- Institute of Geography, Applied Geoinformatics, Augsburg University, Germany
| | - Xintao Liu
- Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR
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Matasov V, Vasenev V, Matasov D, Dvornikov Y, Filyushkina A, Bubalo M, Nakhaev M, Konstantinova A. COVID-19 pandemic changes the recreational use of Moscow parks in space and time: Outcomes from crowd-sourcing and machine learning. URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING 2023; 83:127911. [PMID: 36987409 PMCID: PMC10030267 DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2023.127911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The limited access to urban green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the human-nature interaction in cities and human well-being. Number of visitors to green areas, initially declined due to imposed restrictions, was restored after they were lifted as established by several studies across the globe However, little is still known about changes in behavior and preferences of park visitors in the post-COVID time. In this study, we investigated spatial-temporal patterns of recreational activities in the three urban parks in Moscow (Russia) prior, during and after the COVID-19 lockdown (in 2019 and 2020). The selected parks represent two different types: a centrally located park with much infrastructure and open landscapes (Gorky Park) and parks located at the outskirts of the city center with a more forested landscape and little infrastructure (Timiryazevski and Sokolniki parks). Recreational activities were identified based on the analysis of social media photos using machine-learning algorithms. As expected, park closures during lockdown resulted in overall decrease in the number of taken photos. After the parks were re-opened, however, the number of photos did not grow immediately. The number of photos only restored after almost three months, and the visiting peak shifted to autumn. Differences between parks were related to the type of the park and its landscape structure. The lowest decrease in the number of photos was observed for the Timiryazevsky park - a semi-natural green area, while the centrally located Gorky Park was the most affected, likely due to the strictest control measures. In comparison to 2019, photos in 2020 were more evenly distributed across the area in all the three parks. Besides, 'natural' areas became the main attractors for the visitors - photos under 'nature observation' category became the most popular. Spatial distribution of the recreational activities in post-lockdown period was characterized by larger distances between photos, likely corresponding to the social distancing. COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the value of green areas for citizens, but also changed their recreational preferences and overall behavior in parks. The observed shift from high density of visitors around entertainments and attractions in 2019 to a more homogeneous and less dense distribution along the natural zones in 2020 reveals a new pattern in visitors behavior and preference, which shall be considered in spatial planning of the parks. Increasing availability of natural green areas and their integration in urban green infrastructures can become the most relevant policy to consider the crucial role of urban nature as a source of resilience in turbulent times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Matasov
- Smart Urban Nature Research Center, Agrarian-technological Institute, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117198, Russian Federation
- Faculty of Geography and Geoinformation Technology, Higher School of Economics (HSE University), 11 Pokrovsky boulevard, 109028 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Viacheslav Vasenev
- Smart Urban Nature Research Center, Agrarian-technological Institute, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117198, Russian Federation
- Soil Geography and Landscape Group, Wageningen University, 6708PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Dmitrii Matasov
- BestPlace LLC, Leninskaya Sloboda street, 26/28, Moscow 115280, Russian Federation
| | - Yury Dvornikov
- Smart Urban Nature Research Center, Agrarian-technological Institute, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117198, Russian Federation
- Laboratory of carbon monitoring in terrestrial ecosystems, Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems of Soil Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya str., 2 142290, Pushchino
| | - Anna Filyushkina
- Smart Urban Nature Research Center, Agrarian-technological Institute, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117198, Russian Federation
| | | | - Magomed Nakhaev
- Kadyrov Chechen State University, 32 Sheripova st., Grozny, Chechen Republic 364093, Russian Federation
| | - Anastasia Konstantinova
- Smart Urban Nature Research Center, Agrarian-technological Institute, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117198, Russian Federation
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Sainz-Santamaria J, Moctezuma D, Martinez-Cruz AL, Téllez ES, Graff M, Miranda-Jiménez S. Contesting views on mobility restrictions in urban green spaces amid COVID-19-Insights from Twitter in Latin America and Spain. CITIES (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 132:104094. [PMID: 36407936 PMCID: PMC9648905 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2022.104094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Positive sentiments towards urban green spaces (UGS) unequivocally increased worldwide amid COVID-19. In contrast, this paper documents that views on mobility restrictions applicable to UGS are of a contested nature. That is, while residents unambiguously report positive sentiments towards UGS, they do not share views on how to administer access to UGS-which is a matter of public policy. These contesting views reflect opposite demands that managers of UGS had to balance during the pandemic as they faced the challenge of reducing risk of spread while providing services that support physical and mental health of residents. The empirical analysis in this paper relies on views inferred through a text classification algorithm implemented on Twitter messages posted from January to October 2020, by urban residents in three Latin American countries-Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico-and Spain. The focus on Latin America is motivated by the documented lack of compliance with mobility restrictions; Spain works as a comparison point to learn differences with respect to other regions. Understanding and following in real-time the evolution of contesting views amid a pandemic is useful for managers and city planners to inform adaptation measures-e.g. communication strategies can be tailored to residents with specific views.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Sainz-Santamaria
- Department of Public Administration, Centro de Investigacion y Docencia Economicas (CIDE) Sede Región Centro, Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - Daniela Moctezuma
- Laboratorio Nacional de GeoInteligencia Territorial, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de Información Geoespacial (CentroGEO), Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - Adan L Martinez-Cruz
- Department of Forest Economics and Centre for Environmental and Resource Economics (CERE), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Umeå, Sweden
| | - Eric S Téllez
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación en Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (INFOTEC), Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - Mario Graff
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación en Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (INFOTEC), Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - Sabino Miranda-Jiménez
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación en Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (INFOTEC), Aguascalientes, Mexico
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Lee B, Yeon P, Park S. The Factors and Relationships Influencing Forest Hiking Exercise Characteristics after COVID-19 Occurrence: At Seoul Metropolitan Area and in Hikers' 20s and 30s. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16403. [PMID: 36554284 PMCID: PMC9778998 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The growing interest and usage of green space during the pandemic relates to why greenery increases enjoyment of daily life and alleviates troubles arising from infectious periods. However, it is necessary to understand what reactions to the degree of COVID-19's spread were expressed in hiking exercise characteristics (hiking frequency, actual movement distance, average speed, total exercise time). To understand the progress of forest usage behavior during the pandemic, we analyzed factors influencing hiking exercise characteristics and relationships between those factors and hiking exercise characteristics. Hiking record data were obtained (2019-2020) from the workout app "Tranggle" pertaining to hikers in their 20s and 30s who visited the 13 mountains in the Seoul Metropolitan Area most frequently. The differences in hiking exercise characteristics (2019 data subtracted from 2020) were linked with factor data that could be related to them, including the degree of COVID-19's spread (Rt). To explore relationships between hiking exercise characteristics and factors, we developed four models with a linear mixed model. We found that Rt, week, weekdays/weekends, and PM10 contributed to explaining the hiking exercise characteristics' differences. As a result of this analysis, the degree of COVID-19's spread (Rt) affected hiking frequency; the week affected hiking frequency and actual movement distance; weekdays or weekends affected hiking frequency, actual movement distance, average speed, and total exercise time; and PM10 affected hiking frequency. These findings indicate that hiking was an alternative way for those looking for a new strategy to replace lost opportunities for physical activity. Therefore, we conclude that it is necessary to induce the usage of green space so that many people can take advantage of the functions and benefits of greenery, which stood out during the pandemic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bobae Lee
- Department of Information Statistics, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Poungsik Yeon
- Department of Forestry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Seoncheol Park
- Department of Information Statistics, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
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