Examining perceived safety and park use in public open spaces: The case of Barcelona

• Published in: Journal of environmental psychology 2022-06, Vol.81, p.101823, Article 101823
• Main Authors: Pérez-Tejera, Félix, Anguera, M. Teresa, Guàrdia-Olmos, Joan, Dalmau-Bueno, Albert, Valera, Sergi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fear of crime; Park use; Perceived safety; Polar coordinate analysis; Systematic observation
• ISSN: 0272-4944
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101823

There is a current need for understanding existing relationships between park use and perceived safety. Six public open spaces were systematically observed for three months and sorted into three groups attending to a perceived safety questionnaire scores. Objective park use and environmental data were analyzed using polar coordinate analysis considering the perceived safety level as the focal behavior. We also considered sociodemographics, crime data, and district-level safety indicators. Sex and years living in the neighborhood influenced perceived safety scores but no association was seen with crime events. Perceived safety at the district level, neighborhood class composition, and disorder was also connected with perceived safety. Increasing perceived safety at the district level can promote physical activity and park use, especially among women, elders, young adults, and the disabled. Implications for public policy are discussed. •Women reported more fear of crime, perceived risk, experiences of victimization, and worst opinions about the neighborhood.•Residents living in the neighborhood for five to 20 years expressed higher levels of perceived safety.•Parks perceived as safer attracted more females, groups of different ages, disabled, and physical activity.•Perceived lack of safety was associated with unemployment and less educated residents, not with reported crime events.•Perceived safety regarding a specific public open space was strongly connected to perceived safety at the district level.