Comparison of Public Parks in Zliten in Terms of Design and Use

Abstract

The paper aims to analyze the impact of public park design elements on visitors' behavior and experience of their evaluation, within the needs and usage of the local community. Public Park is considered a fundamental component of contemporary urban planning due to their role in enhancing the quality of life and supporting the active among people. This study presents a comparative analysis of three public parks within the general plan of the city of Zliten (Libya): Dhill Al-Teen Park, Sidi Abdelsalam Al-Asmar Park, and Al-Montazah Park in terms of design and usage. Although all three parks underwent development processes in late 2022, usage rates remain limited, especially among residents. The study's methodology relied on field observation and a statistical questionnaire, which was distributed to 142 visitors, along with additional interviews to ensure clarity and understanding of the questionnaire content. In this research, the data was analyzed by using Google Sheets. The results revealed that the three parks suffer from a clear shortage of water bodies and a small percentage of green spaces, which negatively affects the quality of the parks and their attractiveness to visitors. The findings also indicated that the majority of visitors were children accompanied by their families for the purpose of play and recreation. The study recommends that the integration of water elements and green spaces into garden designs, while taking into consideration the socio-cultural factors to be more effective and meet the needs of the local community.