Learning from Older Adults’ Use of Urban Parks in Hong Kong’s Low-income Areas
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19486172 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Cédric Villani (0000-0003-4941-7379, Hong Kong Polytechnic University), Kin Wai Michael Siu (0000-0002-9820-8576, Hong Kong Polytechnic University), Zi Yang (0000-0003-0707-2544, Hong Kong Polytechnic University) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 9-28 |
| Publication date | 2022-06-26 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Journal of Public Space (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2206-9658 • E-ISSN: 2206-9658 |
| Publisher | City Space Architecture (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.32891/jps.v7i2.1473 |
| OpenAlex | W4287846223 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 15 |
Spatial justice, specifically accessibility, Universal Design and the fulfilment of human rights for vulnerable groups are increasingly important issues in urban research and city-level agendas concerning public spaces. Although the development of older adult–friendly urban environments is part of the agenda to promote healthy ageing societies, public spaces (e.g., urban parks) often exclude those in the advanced age group in the community. This article aims to clarify the everyday activities of older adults in urban parks by focusing on the extreme case of Sham Shui Po. Sham Shui Po is a low-income, high-density and public space–scarce neighbourhood in Hong Kong, a city characterised by a rapidly ageing population and high socio-spatial inequality. Through on-site observations and notetaking, two small urban parks, namely the Nam Cheong Street Park (NCSA) and Tai Hung Tang Park (THTP), were studied. NCSA, located in a congested vehicular street median, is predominantly for social activities. It forms a part of the daily route of residents and inhabitants from different ethnicities. Unaccompanied older adults, with limited mobilities, regularly use NCSA to navigate the neighbourhood. THTP is a site for older adults to engage in physical activities and also accommodates large groups and caregivers. Defensive architecture and design layout may affect the group size in the parks, while sittable edges may directly contribute to the park use by older adults with physical impairment, particularly near street crossings. The findings from this extreme neighbourhood highlight the critical role of landscape infrastructure for healthy ageing societies. Read the full article in accessible html-format here
Economic growth · Economics · Geography · Low income · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Medicine · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies · Urban Green Space and Health · Urban Transport and Accessibility · Gerontology
Seeking Spatial Justice
Look Closely and You Will See, Listen Carefully and You Will Hear
The elderly in green spaces
Observations on Access and Use of Public Space during Covid-19 in Hong Kong and Taipei
Missed Pauses and Everyday Interactions for Migrant Indian Women during Covid-19 Times
Understanding Older Adults’ Usage of Community Green Spaces in Taipei, Taiwan
Propositions for more just urban public spaces
Contributions of Neighborhood Parks to Physical Activity in High-Poverty Urban Neighborhoods
Urban space and leisure in Hong Kong
Socio-spatial polarization and the (re-)distribution of deprived groups in world cities
Pedestrianised streets in the global neoliberal city
Spatial justice in public open space planning
Inclusive public open space for all
Contradictory and consistent views on designing an inclusive community-based centre for older people
Desire lines and defensive architecture in modern urban environments
| Citations per year | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |