Centre for Physical Activity and Life Sciences, University of Northampton, Northampton, England, NN1 5PH, UK.
Psychology and Sociology, University of Northampton, Northampton, England, NN1 5PH, UK.
Health Place. 2023 Sep;83:103049. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103049. Epub 2023 Jun 3.
Spatial education interventions in the built environment may increase engagement with urban greenspace. This research was a natural experimental study with mixed-method evaluation and repeated cross-sectional design. Twenty-four directional wayfinding signs were installed within an urban park to create a 3 km signposted walking route through the park's amenities in a clockwise direction. Manual counts on one path and bi-directional automated active infrared counts on six paths along the intervention route were conducted at baseline and 12-month follow-up. A QR code accessed intercept survey was open throughout the follow-up phase to capture user experiences, views, and attitudes toward the intervention. There was no consistent difference in manual counts at baseline or 12-month follow-up between intervention and control parks. Automated counts showed no consistent significant change in clockwise footfall between baseline (median automated count range across six counters: 10-130 clockwise counts per day) and follow-up (Autumn to Winter follow-up median automated count range across six counters: 13-103 clockwise counts per day; Spring to Summer follow-up median automated count range across six counters: 13-124 clockwise counts per day). However, 23% (11 out of 48 people) of clockwise travelling route users reported they were following the signs at 12-month follow-up. Intercept survey respondents (n = 27) appeared to be infrequent park users (number of respondents for 'my first visit': 7, and 'one to two times per month: 9), with the new signs making them feel less anxious about exploring unfamiliar areas, while motivating them to walk further than originally planned and helping them to 'take notice' of the landscape. Directional wayfinding for recreational walking appears to help infrequent users engage with urban greenspace.
空间教育干预措施可以增加对城市绿地的参与度。本研究是一项自然实验研究，采用混合方法评估和重复横断面设计。在城市公园内安装了 24 个定向导向标志，以创建一条 3 公里长的标志步行路线，顺时针方向穿过公园的景点。在基线和 12 个月的随访中，对一条路径进行手动计数，对干预路线上的六条路径进行双向自动主动红外计数。在整个随访阶段，开放了一个 QR 码访问拦截调查，以捕捉用户对干预措施的体验、看法和态度。干预和对照公园在基线或 12 个月随访时，手动计数没有一致的差异。自动计数显示，在基线（六个计数器中自动计数范围的中位数：每天 10-130 个顺时针计数）和随访（秋季到冬季随访六个计数器中自动计数范围的中位数：每天 13-103 个顺时针计数；春季到夏季随访六个计数器中自动计数范围的中位数：每天 13-124 个顺时针计数）之间，顺时针脚步没有一致的显著变化。然而，在 12 个月的随访中，有 23%（48 人中的 11 人）的顺时针行进路线使用者报告他们正在按照标志行进。拦截调查受访者（n=27）似乎是不常去公园的人（受访者中“第一次访问”的人数为 7，“每月一到两次”的人数为 9），新标志让他们在探索不熟悉的区域时感到不那么焦虑，同时激励他们走得比原来计划的更远，并帮助他们“注意”到景观。定向导向标志有助于不常使用公园的人参与城市绿地。
