Exploring public values through Twitter data associated with urban parks pre- and post- COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Environmental Social Science
• Urban Planning
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread closures, increasing urban park usage for recreation and escape.
• Parks and recreation agencies require evidence-based insights to adapt policies to changing public demands during the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze shifts in public values associated with New York City (NYC) parks before and after the COVID-19 outbreak.
• To leverage social media data analytics for understanding park valuation changes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Twitter microblogging data from March 2019 to February 2021.
• Applied topic modeling techniques to analyze short text data and identify changes in park-related themes.

Main Results:

• Despite reduced social activities due to lockdowns, some parks remained valued for physical activity and nature contact.
• Concerns about physical distancing and potential coronavirus transmission emerged in crowded park areas.
• Social media data effectively captured park-specific values and usage patterns.

Conclusions:

• Social media analytics provide valuable, real-time insights into public park valuation during crises.
• Findings can inform park management strategies for adapting to altered usage and public needs during disruptions.