Community preferences on urban park availability at Pekanbaru City-Province of Riau

Abstract

Urban park is one type of public open space in urban areas that people use to interact with the environment and other people. At present, many parks are available at urban area but rarely used or visited by the urban community because of those parks are not suitable to people preferences. This study aims to determine and analyze community preferences on the availability of urban park in Pekanbaru City. The method used in this study were qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis, which consist of content analysis and Multiple Correspondency Analysis (MCA). The study showed that the current system of urban park system in Pekanbaru City are the distribution pattern of the park where the park has not been evenly spread across the center of city, the availability of the park is still low (0.17 m2/jiwa of 0.3 m2/person it should be) and 93.8% of the whole park is a large garden (> 1500 m2), the shape and design of the park tend to be equal to the characteristic feel of Malays in the ornaments, the dominant function of the park that is a function of architecture as part of the aesthetic aspects of the city, and facilities predominantly recreational park (children playground, lawn, sports facilities (reflection track, volleyball court, basketball court and the tenant of the park is dominated by the city government's. Analysis of legal aspects related park system shown that the existing regulatory system already supports existing landscaping, but has not spelled out in technical detail and the lack of community participation in planning and formulation of regulations. Community preferences to park variables are park location close to settlements (<1,000 m), large park size (> 1500 m2), the function as a place of recreation and sports, and facilities within the park area. Recommendations resulting from this study that urban park availability based on community preference in Pekanbaru City are distribution within the city evently, short distance from home or center of daily activities, active type of recreation, quite large park size, organic design, save and comfort park. The recommendation of the availability model of a city park are expected to contribute to the Government of Pekanbaru City in determining the policies and actions in the management of urban parks in the future.