Eighth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

Parks and open green spaces are of vital importance when it comes to establishing and maintaining the quality of community life, ensuring public health and contributing to the environment, economy, and social bondage of a region. Well-connected and accessible parks with their surrounding areas are integral parts of urbanization. This study investigates the adequacy of neighborhood parks within Sheikhupura in terms of road network accessibility and spatial distribution of the parks. Potential park sites are also suggested to overcome the scarcity of these facilities. GIS-based service area analyses were performed to assess the serviceability status by the existing parks in the study area. Results depict only 38% of the population is currently served by existing parks in the study area. To improve the serviceability, new potential park sites are proposed by using a multi-criteria approach in integration with GIS. Potential sites proposed on the basis of these analyses have undergone the service area calculation process as done for existing parks in order to determine the rate of increase in the serviceability status. Results revealed a significant increase in served population from 38% to 78% which proves the authenticity of the adopted service area and multi-criteria analyses approach. These proposed sites not only will be equitable in resolving the accessibility issues of the people by establishing a vindicated spatial distribution pattern, but will also play a crucial role in improving the ecology and maintain the equity.