The Impact of Public Participation on the Effectiveness of, and Users' Attachment to, Urban Neighbourhood Parks

As Taiwanese people's awareness of civic consciousness has risen over the past decade, the government has undergone administrative reform to allow citizens to participate in public affairs. The Neighbourhood Park Improvement Plan (NPIP), as executed by the Taipei City Government, is aimed at encouraging community involvement in the planning and design of neighbourhood parks. The purpose of this study was to examine the outcome of the NPIP by comparing facility suitability and functional benefit, as well as park users' emotional bonding and involvement intention, with regards to improved and unimproved neighbourhood parks. The results indicated that park users considered the facility suitability and functional benefits of improved parks to be better than those of unimproved parks. In addition, users' emotional bonding to, and involvement intention for, improved parks were stronger than those of unimproved parks. Based on the findings, suggestions were made for community involvement in park improvement projects.