Napat Suwannapuk. Management guidelines for urban public parks: a case study of Lumpini Park, Bangkok, Thailand. Master's Degree(Environment, Development and Sustainability). Chulalongkorn University. Office of Academic Resources. : Chulalongkorn University, 2018.
Management guidelines for urban public parks: a case study of Lumpini Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Abstract:
Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand. It is one of the most primate cities in the world. Bangkok also the center of the country in all areas, being a major source of work and attracts people from across the country, which resulted as population overgrowth, mental illness, pollution, rapid urbanization, and the like. Even though the government succeeds to increase public parks area to be recreation and a lung for the urban dweller's life, but the inconsistency between rules and practices in park management is one of the key factors that hinder Bangkoks sustainable development. In order to explore the problems and recommend the management approaches, this study was chosen Lumpini Park as a case study area by using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The study was conducted semi-structured interviews with 202 people; 200 respondents consisted of park users and non-park users, and two respondents was the executive from the government sector. The research studying in the behavior and surveying opinions of both users and non-park users. The findings found that most of the respondents are working people, students and/or residents of condominiums not far from Lumpini Park that can travel to the park easily, and mostly travel to the park by using public transportation or walking. Therefore, the main reason for choosing to use Lumpini Park is the location and ease of travel, followed by service and facilities. Furthermore, there are also demanding for additional security systems and increase the cleanliness of the toilet. However, some respondents felt uncomfortable with the lack of individually security systems. For the policy issues and practices at the government officials level based on the interview with two relevant government executives, it was agreed that the government places importance on parks, especially for Lumpini Park which has sufficient budget allocated. However, experiencing the lack of skilled employee and the problem of the liberation of people to use the area, which contrary to the primary purpose of the park. In addition, the staff at Lumpini Park are also facing a serious problem of not being able to cooperate with some users that carry dangerous goods into the park area by claiming that everyone has the right to access the park service and the authorities do not have right to exclude, and the like. Such problems must be resolved at the policy level and law enforcement. Therefore, the proposed model highlighted the need for the supportive system, leveraging policy opportunities, minimizing structural barriers, and promoting education, and training to create an enabling environment for user participation in responding to urban public park management.