A Research on the Usage Reasons of Urban Parks: A Case Study of Amasya Courthouse Urban Park

Kamusal acik ve yesil alanlar icerisinde bulunan ve kent halki tarafindan yogun olarak kullanilan onemli elemanlardan birisi kent parklaridir. Kent parklari genellikle kent merkezinde ya da kent merkezine yakin yerlerde bulunmaktadir. Kent parklari, kulturel degerler, politik ve sosyo-ekonomik yapi ile bicimlenmektedir. Kent parklari kent insanina sosyal, psikolojik, islevsel ve rekreasyonel acidan bircok olanak sunmakta, kent kimligine ve kent ekolojisine katki saglamaktadir. Bu calismanin amaci Amasya Adliye Kent Parki’nin yakin cevresinde yer alan binalarin islevleri dogrultusunda kente sagladigi katkilari, kent halkinin parki kullanim nedenleri ve yogunlugunu ortaya koymaktir. Kent parkinin yakin cevresinde cesitli kamu kurum ve kuruluslari, egitim kurumlari, is merkezleri, yeme-icme yerleri, konut alanlari gibi kullanimlar yer almaktadir. Calisma kapsaminda 100 kisiyle kent halki anketi ve yuz yuze gorusmeler gerceklestirilmistir. Calisma sonucunda Adliye Kent Parki’nin toplanma ve odak noktasi olma ozelligine sahip oldugu, rekreasyonel etkinlikler acisindan her yas gurubuna yonelik olarak kullanilmadigi tespit edilmistir.


INTRODUCTION
After the Industrial Revolution, due to the advancement of technology and rapid population growth, more than half of the world's inhabitants began to live in cities. This situation brought along rapid urbanization movements and caused both the growth of urban areas and an increase in pressure on the ecosystem. Thus, new urban spaces were created that had been completely transformed by human hands. Urban areas are actually ecosystems. In urban ecosystems, the life cycle of the system is ensured by establishing a balance between the elements that make up the system such as landform, climate, soil, and the presence of plants, animals, humans, and inanimate objects. Today, urban ecosystems (street trees, grassy areas, parks, urban forests, lakes, and wetlands) are in danger from rapidly increasing and unplanned urbanization movements.
Developed countries with a stable socio-economic status exhibit a very high rate of urbanization and many individuals are drawn to cities and live in urban areas (Kim et al., 2019). Consequently, public open green spaces are important, as they enable cities, with their concentration of social interactions, to meet the urban, social, and technical infrastructure and superstructure needs of the inhabitants (e.g., housing, work, education, health, and transportation) as well as their physiological, psychological, cognitive, aesthetic, and individual expectations (Boyacı, 2010;Karakaya and Cengiz Taşlı, 2019).
Urban open green spaces are generally regarded as being the places that provide the best air quality in a city and as spots where urban dwellers can relax, in addition to supporting the conservation of biodiversity (Lee et al., 2014;Huzlík et al., 2020). Open green lands create an urban setting for public interaction and a venue for recreation, education, and exploration. As such, they encourage urban creativity and efficiency, increase the aesthetic function of the city, beautify the urban environment on a micro scale, and provide active and passive recreational opportunities for socializing (Ridwan and Rusnada, 2019).
The roles of urban open-green spaces are mutually supportive. For example, in the city, ecological benefits produce economic benefits, and the economy supports ecological and social benefits. In this way, all units together form a chain of benefits. Urban open-green spaces are like green textural cells in the urban ecosystem pattern. Urban areas that constitute ecological cells of green texture include children's playgrounds, sports and playing fields, home gardens, city parks, district parks, neighborhood and pocket parks, squares, pedestrian zones, tea gardens, roof gardens, and other alternative areas. In addition, green areas are also found in the immediate vicinity of the city; e.g., botanical gardens, zoos, regional parks, golf courses, exhibition and fair grounds, hobby gardens, theme gardens. These green land textures established in and around the city form an ecological system in themselves (Bulut et al., 2010).
According to Kevin Lynch, urban parks, which are an important element of urban open green spaces, also serve a number of purposes, including recreational and social functions, promotion of health, and improvement of the urban environment (Byrne and Sipe, 2010;Rahmanov et al., 2019). Urban parks are managed by local authorities and are accessible to all residents (Dharmawan and Rachmanıyah, 2020). With more and more urbanization and housing built in constricted areas, urban parks have begun to play a strategic role in improving the quality of urban life (Fasihi, 2019). Urban parks have gained significance by providing an opportunity for the densely packed population of the cities to engage in interaction with nature and culture (Torabi et al., 2020).
An urban park is typically located at a distance of 2-4 km from the city center and is accessible by public transport or within a 30-60-minute walking distance. Here, individuals can get away from the busy and stressful environment of the city and have the opportunity to participate in various types of active and passive recreation appealing to all age groups. Urban parks are planned green areas that enable recreational activities to be organized individually or as a group and provide walking paths, sports areas, seating areas, picnic areas, children's playgrounds, and refreshment areas (Lam et al., 2005;Wong and Domores, 2005;Yorulmaz, 2006). In the end, the purpose of an urban park is to create a pleasant environment for various recreational activities (Bal, 2005).
Urban parks, which play an important role in balancing the urban ecosystem , have a significant impact on human health , and their positive effects on the ecological environment and public awareness have been confirmed (Jo and Jeon, 2020). Urban parks:  Contribute to social needs in terms of providing a place where different people can gather, meet, and talk, thereby ensuring socio-cultural continuity (Uzun, 2005),  Contribute to recreational sports in terms of enabling such activities as walking, cycling, and skating (Uzun, 2005;Mlynarz, 2005),  Contribute to conservation in terms of preserving and developing historical and cultural values and protecting birds, insects, and other wildlife in cities (Uzun, 2005),  Contribute to the environment in terms of regulating the urban climate and water cycle, providing light and air to the city, inhibiting harmful gases in the atmosphere, and absorbing noise (Yorulmaz, 2006),  Contribute to the economy of the urban population by providing a venue for organizing activities such as the neighborhood markets, art festivals, sports activities, food festivals, music concerts, and theatrical performances (Yorulmaz, 2006),  Contribute to the health of the urban population by making cities healthier places (Bruch, 2006),  Contribute to the aesthetics of the city by introducing landscaping designs using the size, form, texture, and color features of plants and trees to draw the attention of the urban population and create an attractive impression (Özkır, 2007).
Visits to urban parks increase environmental awareness and concern for conservation (Chang et al., 2019) and offer social and psychological advantages (Wan et al., 2020). Parks provide visual and psychological relief in urban areas through a variety of health, economic, and social benefits (Chen et al., 2020) that reduce negative outcomes related to urbanization (Ferdous, 2020).By promoting physical activity and social relationships among urban residents (Jahani and Saffariha, 2020), green spaces like urban parks create favorable conditions for recreation and the organization of cultural events (Bunakov et al., 2019). When urban parks are planned with these objectives in mind, they can play a vital role in the livability of a city (Fasihi and Parizadi, 2020).
The area where an urban park will be built and its immediate surroundings need to be thoroughly analyzed (Demir, 2004). The planning and design principles of urban parks are as follows (Polat, 2001;Özdingiş, 2007;Elinç, 2011).
 Urban parks are primarily associated with their immediate surroundings and should serve people living in that area. For this reason, the socio-economic structure of those living in the immediate vicinity should be established, and urban equipment elements should be included according to their desires and needs.  Users should be brought together and integrated, and there should be units that can serve all ages and cultures.
 Harmony should be created with other open-green area systems located in the city, and pedestrian walks and safe transportation should be provided.  In order to ensure the integrity of the urban green space system, it should be designed according to a specific plan. Relations and activities within the urban park should reflect the integrity of the land, the plan, and the design.  The long-term usability of the park depends on its safety for use both day and night and the selection of durable surface coatings suitable for intensive use.
The purpose of this study was to reveal the contribution of the Amasya Courthouse Urban Park to the city, the extent of the park usage, and the reasons for its use, considering the functions of the structures in the vicinity.
Within the scope of the study, a survey was administered and face-to-face interviews were conducted with 100 individuals.

Material
The main focus of the study was the Amasya Courthouse Urban Park and its immediate surroundings. The existence of a variety of establishments in the immediate vicinity of the park (various public institutions and organizations, educational facilities, business centers, restaurants, cafes and residential areas) played a role in the selection of the study area. The Amasya Courthouse City Park is located in the Amasya Province Central District city of Amasya, in the Black Sea Region of Turkey.
Amasya Courthouse Urban Park is located between the Yeşilırmak River and the Amasya Courthouse and is seven decares in size. In the immediate vicinity of the Urban park are located various public institutions and organizations (the Courthouse, the Regional Forest Directorate, the Highway Directorate, and the Amasya Municipality Cultural Center), educational institutions (Mehmet Varinli Primary School, Amasya Atatürk Anatolian High School, and a nursery school), four and five-storey business centers, restaurants/cafés, four-storey residential areas, and the Bahçeleriçi District Market (Figure1).

Method
For the study, first, a literature review was carried out on the concept of the urban park. Afterwards, a current situation analysis was performed in order to determine the uses of the buildings in the immediate vicinity of the Amasya Courthouse Urban Park, and a multi-storey building analysis was conducted to determine the floorto-floor heights of the buildings. In order to determine the green areas used actively and passively in the study area, a green land analysis was carried out, and to determine how access to the study area was provided, a transportation analysis was conducted. A SWOT analysis of the area was also performed to determine the current 'strengths and weaknesses' of the area, as well as the 'opportunities and threats'.
Quantitative research methods were used to examine how, in terms of their functions, the buildings located in the immediate vicinity of Amasya Courthouse Urban Park played a role in contributing to the city. For the study, a questionnaire-based survey was administered and face-to-face interviews carried out to determine the reasons the people of the city used the park and how frequently they visited it. The purpose of the quantitative research method was to qualify the numerical information. Before the survey questions were prepared, onsite observations were made by going to the study area. The studies of Atabeyoğlu and Bulut (2007), Onsekiz and Emür (2008), Kavak (2010), Çetinkaya et al. (2015), Gürer and Uğurlar (2017), Başalma et al. (2017), Güngör (2017) and Beyli and Yeşil (2019) were consulted during the preparation of the questionnaire. The urban population of 2019 was taken into account when determining the number of people to be surveyed. According to the data obtained from Turkish Statistical Institute, the population of Amasya Central District in 2019 was 150,828. During the preparation of the questionnaire, care was taken to ask clear and understandable questions that could be answered while still respecting people's privacy. The questionnaires were designed for individuals over the age of 16, with the idea that they would take a more conscientious approach. The survey was carried out between March and June, under the impression that as the weather got warmer, the city people would use the open areas more.
The random sampling method was used to determine the sampling size for the survey study (Kalıpsız, 1981;Karasar, 1982;Orhunbilge, 1997). According to Turkish Statistical Institute data, the population of the city of Amasya was 150828. Accordingly, the sample size was determined as 150828. The following formula was used to determine the sample size (Equation 1).
n =Sample size Z = Confidence coefficient P = Probability that the property to be measured is found in the mass (Probability mass function)  Although the sample size considering the research area was found as 72, the survey based on this number was conducted with 100 people living in the city of Amasya. The survey study was administered to the people of the city by the face-to-face (one-on-one) interview technique.
The city residents who participated in the survey were asked a total of 10 multiple-choice questions and also provided information about their demographic characteristics. Each survey took an average of 15 minutes. The frequency (percentage) of the answers given to the survey was evaluated in the SPSS 16.0 statistics program.

Current Situation Analysis
In the immediate vicinity of Amasya Courthouse Urban Park, the buildings consist mostly of residential housing, public buildings, and mixed-use buildings with housing and commercial establishments together. In the close vicinity of the park, the building functions are mostly in the form of housing, education (e.g., Mehmet Varinli Primary School, Amasya Atatürk Anatolian High School, and a nursery school) and public buildings (e.g., the Courthouse, the Regional Forest Directorate, the Highway Directorate, and the Amasya Municipality Cultural Center) ( Figure 2).

Multi-storey Building Analysis
In the close vicinity of the study area, there are two 2storey buildings, one 3-storey building, eight 4-storey buildings, sixteen 5-storey buildings, ten 6-storey buildings, and one 7-storey building (Figure 3). The 4-and 5-storey buildings generally dominate the immediate vicinity of the area, with the lowest being 2-storeys and the highest 7-storeys. Because the Amasya Courthouse Urban Park is immediately surrounded by 4-and 5-storey buildings, the visibility of the park is negatively affected.

Green Land Analysis
There is no continuity of green texture in the study area and its immediate surroundings. The green lands are not sufficient due to the residential texture, and the active use of green lands takes place in the small patches of residential gardens (Figure 4).

Transportation Analysis
From the city center, there is easy access on foot and by motor vehicle to the study area. Mehmet Varinli Street forms a part of the Amasya-Tokat-Erzincan Highway. This street is a first-degree road and the main one used to reach the study area. Talat Öncel Street, located on the banks of the Yeşilırmak River, and the streets between the main road and the river are used as seconddegree access roads ( Figure 5).

SWOT Analysis
The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the study area are listed in Table 1.

Strengths
-It is close to the Yeşilırmak River -Easy access from the city center -Approximately 2 km from the city center and an average of 30 minutes of walking distance -Being close to the main transportation axis and public transportation vehicles, which are important for the city Weaknesses -Lack of qualified green area -Inadequate parking area -Disability transportation is not possible -Insufficient urban reinforcement elements in the area -High noise due to residential and educational buildings around the area -Have bad odor due to Yeşilırmak River -Does not allow for different recreational activities other than sitting, eating and drinking, chatting, meeting with friends, taking photos, physical exercises in the area.

Opportunities
-It is close to the city center and Yeşilırmak River -Availability of the area due to its proximity to public buildings such as Courthouse, Amasya Municipality Cultural Center Threats -The city is located in the 1st degree earthquake zone -Unable to control security in the area during evening hours

Demographic Factors
According to the survey results of the 100 participants, 46% of Amasya Courthouse Urban park users were women and 54% men. The urban park was preferred by 29% of those aged 16-25 and by 21% of middle-aged individuals aged 36-45; 50% of the park users were graduates of university and 36% were high school graduates. The income level of the park users, generally being students (26.5%), was below 500 TL, at a rate of 32.5% (Table 2).

Frequency (Percent) Analysis Values
As a result of the survey, it was observed that 41% of the urban participants preferred to use Amasya Courthouse Urban park during the summer months, while 22% preferred using it in the spring ( Figure 6).

Figure 6. Preferred season analysis
Survey results revealed that 22% of the urban residents preferred to use Amasya Courthouse Urban Park between the hours of 16.00 and 18.00, whereas 19% preferred to use the area between 14.00 and 16.00 ( Figure  7).

Figure 7. Time analysis of the space usage
The survey results showed that the urbanites clearly preferred Amasya Courthouse Urban park for physical exercise, at a rate of 50%, while 15% preferred to use the area for enjoying a pleasant time (Figure 8).  The survey results showed that 30% mentioned the insufficient lighting of the Amasya Courthouse Urban park. Other major shortcomings were security and transportation, at 15% ( Figure 10).

Figure 10. Inadequate services analysis
The main problems existing in the study area according to the survey and face-to-face interviews were identified as the insufficient number of parking spaces and the high noise pollution due to the construction around the area. In addition, the lack of recreational activities that enable city inhabitants to socialize and the absence of a green land were mentioned.

DISCUSSION
With the development of technology after the industrial revolution, the structure of the cities completely changed with the rapid population increase coming from the countryside. This rapid increase in the urban population over a short time resulted in the growth of the cities being unplanned and without infrastructure. The emergence of new means of transportation led to the construction of new roads and the deterioration of the historical texture in the city centers. The deterioration of the social and economic conditions of the urban population and the demand to meet housing needs brought about the disruption of the natural landscape texture and the emergence of cultural landscapes that were incompatible with nature.
Within the scope of these global developments, the city of Amasya entered a rapid urbanization process after the 1950s. By 1965, the city had lost its green areas due to a rush of concrete construction, and the traditional 2-3storey residential texture had been replaced by 5-6-storey buildings, thus destroying the historical city landscape. After 1980, the historical texture in the city center was taken under protection and agricultural areas were opened for development (Canik, 2014;Şenol, 2014;Kurt Konakoğlu and Kurdoğlu, 2017). Accordingly, the Amasya Courthouse Urban Park has been used by the urban dwellers left between the buildings in the city center. This urban park provides a place for them to relax and socialize in their free time.
The park, as a pleasant outdoor facility and a venue for environmental education for city residents, provides a platform to promote biodiversity and conservation of nature, reduction of climate change, and aesthetic values (Li, 2020). These benefits vary depending on the age, gender, demographic character, and physical and cognitive qualities of the users. In general, the reasons for visiting urban parks include (Akkam, 2019):  Meeting with friends, strolling with the family, socializing, chatting, and taking photos,  Alleviating the pressures and difficulties of daily life and as a break in the routine,  Walking, individually or in groups,  Carrying out passive activities by sitting on benches or on the grass,  Having fun and participating in physical exercise,  Observing official ceremonies, watching festivals and musical or artistic performances. In order for these kinds of park activities to be carried out in a healthy way, urban parks should be centrally located within the community, easily accessible, and reachable via public transportation. In the design of an urban park, appropriate relationships should be established between the park square and the park grounds, plant species, and water elements, between the pedestrian paths and vehicle roads, parking areas, and sports areas, and between the urban equipment elements and infrastructure and superstructure components (Mohandespor, 2019). Good city planning should be carried out in order to establish these relations.
The following are needed in order to achieve good urban park planning (Öztürk Kurtaslan, 2017):  Establishment of a legal directive, the purpose of which is clearly declared,  Preparation of a master plan and implementation of a participatory approach,  Provision of an adequate-sized area, an appropriate number of activities, sufficient staff and equipment, and a well-managed budget,  Planning that enables easy access to the park for individuals from all walks of life,  Periodic assessment of the level of public satisfaction,  Ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of the park,  Provision of benefits and an identity for the city.
The main purpose of the study was to reveal the contributions made by the buildings in the immediate vicinity of Amasya Courthouse Urban Park to the city in terms of their functions and to determine the reasons the people of the city used the park and how frequently they visited it. Accordingly, relevant studies were examined, including those of Atabeyoğlu and Bulut (2007), Onsekiz and Emür (2008), Kavak (2010), Çetinkaya et al. (2015), Gürer and Uğurlar (2017), Başalma et al. (2017), Güngör (2017) and Beyli and Yeşil (2019). This survey was conducted between March and June 2019 with 100 people from the city in order to determine the contributions of urban parks to the city, and the reasons for and intensity of their use. The answers of the survey conducted on the urban population revealed that Amasya Courthouse Urban Park was used intensely in hot weather in summer and spring by people aged 16-35 between 16.00 and 18.00, which are the after-work and after-school hours. The survey found that the park was used for a period of half-an-hour to three hours for the purpose of taking physical exercise and passing enjoyable time. This situation is a result of the presence of various public institutions and organizations, educational facilities, and business centers located in the immediate vicinity of Amasya Courthouse Urban Park. Most of those who use this park are people working in these centers rather than those living in residential areas. The park has the feature of being a gathering and focal point since it is 7 decares in size and there is no other park in the vicinity. The recreational activities carried out in the park include sitting, eating and drinking, chatting, meeting with friends, taking photographs, and engaging in physical exercise. Participants in the survey study pointed out that the park could not be used by all age groups, that they felt unsafe as the park lacks lighting, that they could not get to the park conveniently, and that the park offered no opportunities for use by the disabled.

CONCLUSIONS
Population growth has been observed in cities because of their rapid and unplanned expansion, and this situation has brought about negative consequences for urban life. The correct planning and design of green spaces in rapidly developing cities is an important stage in the creation of livable and sustainable cities in parallel with urbanization movements. During these stages, the expectations of the park users should be thoroughly analyzed by the relevant professional groups. Responding to the expectations of the users of the parks, a location analysis was suitably carried out, and a functional design was completed. Urban parks that are at one with their reinforcement elements constitute an important part of urban life in terms of socialization. Thus, their contribution to the city, and especially to the region, is great in terms of social, economic, recreational, health and aesthetics issues.
Within the scope of the study, a literature review, analysis studies (current situation analysis, multi-storey building analysis, green area analysis, transportation analysis, and SWOT analysis), a survey study, and on-site observation studies were carried out regarding the urban park.
According to the analysis studies, in the immediate vicinity of the Amasya Courthouse Urban Park, the buildings consist mostly of residential housing, public buildings, and mixed-use buildings with housing and commercial establishments together. The park is not visible because of the 4-and 5-storey buildings in the area surrounding the park. There are not enough green areas in the close vicinity of the park and active use of green spaces takes place in small patches in residential gardens. The park is easily accessible from the city center on foot and by car/public transport. Located in the city of Amasya, Amasya Courthouse Urban Park and its immediate surroundings (different public institutions and organizations, educational facilities, business centers, restaurants and cafes, and residential areas) with their various functions have made significant contributions (social, recreation, health and aesthetic) to city life and to the urban population.
As a result of the survey conducted in this study, it was observed that Amasya Courthouse Urban Park is mostly used as a gathering and focal point by people aged 16-35 working in centers located in the close vicinity of the park. In addition, a variety of recreational activities take place in the park (sitting, eating and drinking, chatting, meeting with friends, taking photographs, etc.). It was determined that the park does not offer a variety of opportunities for physical exercise, that the park is used intensively after work and school hours (16.00-18.00) in hot weather in summer and spring, and that the users spend a minimum of half-an-hour and a maximum of three hours in the park. The major problems found with the park were that the variety of recreational activities is inadequate and therefore, it cannot be used by every age group, the number of lighting fixtures is insufficient, it is not easily accessible, and it lacks facilities for use by the disabled (urban equipment elements, foot paths in accordance with standards, etc.).
When the results obtained in the study were evaluated, it was predicted that if the Amasya Courthouse Urban Park corrects the above-mentioned deficiencies and the diversity of recreational activities is increased. The park would be used by all age groups, not only by the people working in the area, but also by those living and working in other neighborhoods of Amasya. In order for urban parks to be used efficiently by all age groups, a relationship must be established between the wishes of the users and the park grounds, the plant species in the park, the water element, the pedestrian-vehicle-bicycle paths, the parking areas, and the sports areas. If the amount of green space in the park is increased with plant species that do not require much water or maintenance, the park would contribute positively to the urban climate and pollution seen in the city, and therefore to the inhabitants of the city in terms of their health.