Tuvar Sunny Dinesh

AR3596

The two significant forces currently shaping the global social environment are urbanization and the aging population. In this context, developing senior-friendly cities should be a priority, particularly in countries that face the highest rates of aging populations. Urban parks are vital components of city infrastructure, serving a wide range of purposes and delivering multiple benefits. The social pressures of urban life, combined with the physical and cognitive decline that occurs with aging and chronic illnesses, have resulted in increased levels of depression in older persons when compared to other age groups. Parks are the most accessible natural places in urban environments for older people, positively enhancing physical and mental health and well-being. However, in public settings such as parks, elderly people’s needs and consideration were found as less important compared to other age groups. As a result, the study emphasized the importance of including the demands and desires of elderly people in urban parks to develop inclusive and senior-friendly parks. A study was conducted on the parks in Ahmedabad, the seventh-largest city in India and the largest in Gujarat, which is experiencing rapid urbanization due to the increasing population. This study aimed to create a perception-based framework for evaluating the park to foster an age-friendly atmosphere in the park and improve the life patterns of the elderly. The parameters for the questionnaire were determined by reviewing various peer-reviewed literature. In addition, the survey was designed using several inferences from the contextual mapping, case study, and pilot survey. The survey was conducted on elderly persons in order to understand their preferences and needs in the park. The multiple inferences derived from the survey analysis were used to develop the framework to evaluate the park.