Safety perceptions related to park environments: a scoping review

In the context of rapid urbanization leading to the encroachment of green spaces, parks provide various recreational values as well as psychological and physical benefits. However, safety concerns often hinder their use, highlighting the necessity of enhancing perceived safety. This study reviewed 44 studies published between 2014 and 2024 that met the inclusion criteria of the PRISMA extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) to explore the attributes influencing people’s perceptions of safety in park environments and identify research gaps. This study provides an overview of the included literature, covering study authors, geographical distribution, research methods, landscape stimuli, respondent types, and key findings. The results indicate that personal, social, and physical factors influence safety perceptions in parks. Among physical environmental factors, park design, management, and intrinsic characteristics have a significant impact on perceived safety. In addition, perceived safety is a phenomenon comprising different aspects, involving not only physical environmental factors but also the interplay of personal and social factors. The complexity of these interactions concerning park-related physical features must be considered. These findings offer valuable insights for future research and inform park designers and managers in creating safer parks.

Actions (login required)

View Item