A Comprehensive Understanding of Urban Park Accessibility: Integrating Physical and Psychological Dimensions

Access to urban parks is widely recognized for its role in enhancing community well-being and fostering inclusive neighborhoods. While previous studies have examined various dimensions of park accessibility, few have systematically integrated both physical (geographic) and psychological (perceived) factors into a unified framework particularly through qualitative synthesis. This study addresses this gap by exploring how physical and psychological elements intersect to shape urban park accessibility, especially across diverse socio-economic groups. The research adopts a qualitative content analysis approach grounded in an extensive literature review. A total of 53 academic books, peer-reviewed journal articles, and conference papers published between 2000 and 2024 were systematically analyzed. The selected works focus on physical design features, user perceptions, socio-economic influences, and access-related behaviors within the context of urban parks. Findings reveal that user perceptions such as feelings of safety, cleanliness, inclusivity, and crowding strongly influence psychological accessibility. Simultaneously, physical characteristics like proximity, walkability, infrastructure quality, and transportation connectivity shape both actual and perceived access. The study also finds that access barriers vary across socio-economic lines, with vulnerable groups including women, the elderly, and low-income residents encountering greater challenges. Crucially, negative perceptions such as fear of crime, poor maintenance, or overcrowding can discourage park use even when physical access is available. Conversely, positive perceptions promote frequent visitation and foster social cohesion. In conclusion, urban park design and planning should go beyond spatial accessibility to include strategies that enhance user perception and emotional comfort. Designing parks that reflect the diverse needs and experiences of users can significantly improve accessibility, encourage regular use, and support more inclusive and livable urban environments.