Designing a public engagement process for long-term urban park development project

Area of Science:

• Urban Planning
• Environmental Psychology
• Public Policy

Background:

• Public consensus is vital for sustainable long-term urban open space development, yet increasingly difficult to achieve.
• Regular evaluation of public awareness is essential for maintaining project momentum and refining engagement strategies.
• The Yongsan Park Development Project, a multi-decade initiative, serves as a case study for public engagement in transforming military sites into urban open spaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate current public awareness regarding the Yongsan Park Development Project.
• To understand public expectations for engagement processes in urban open space development.
• To inform future public participation strategies, particularly in a post-pandemic context.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was administered to 2,000 respondents.
• Data analysis focused on assessing public awareness and expectations for engagement.
• The study considered the unique context of repurposing former U.S. army bases into public spaces.

Main Results:

• A hybrid methodology is recommended to effectively engage diverse age groups.
• Online surveys provide valuable insights for large-scale urban redevelopment projects.
• Survey findings facilitate the design of improved public participation processes for the new normal of virtual and distanced communication.

Conclusions:

• Effective public engagement strategies require adaptive methodologies tailored to different demographics.
• Online surveys are a viable tool for gathering public input on complex urban development projects.
• The study's findings support the development of inclusive and effective public participation frameworks for post-pandemic urban planning.