Authors
1
Associate Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
3
M.A. Student of Criminal Law and Criminology, Department of Law, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
Abstract
A feeling of safety and security is an essential prerequisite for the active and lasting presence of citizens in urban green spaces. This study aims to identify the key factors that influence this feeling in Mellat Park in Sanandaj, based on the theoretical framework of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). The study is applied and uses a quantitative survey approach. Data were collected using a researcher-generated questionnaire distributed to 400 park visitors in the spring of 2024, focusing on five dimensions, including environmental, physical-spatial, landscape, social, and functional. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 27 and Pearson’s correlation test. The results clearly show that the most effective factor for improving feelings of safety was "lack of blind and hidden spots through the use of low vegetation and trees with tall trunks" (r = 0.581), which reinforces the CPTED principle of "natural surveillance." This was followed by "adequate nighttime lighting" (r = 0.547) and "lack of risky behaviors" (r = 0.595) as the strongest predictors. In contrast, factors such as "excessively large open spaces" (r = -0.105) and the "presence of risky behaviors" (r = -0.301) were associated with a lower perception of safety. In addition, the presence of "supervised parking lots", "active security personnel," and "various activity spaces" had a significant positive impact on feelings of safety and security. Therefore, strategies such as eliminating blind spots, improving lighting systems, enhancing formal and social surveillance, and creating diverse spaces with a human scale can make Mellat Park a successful model for other urban green spaces.
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