Using Social Media Data to Evaluate Urban Parks Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mihai Răzvan Niță, Miruna Arsene, Giorgiana Barbu, Alina Gabriela Cus, Mihail Ene, Ramona Mihaela Serban, Constantin Marian Stama and Larissa Nicoleta Stoia
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Mihai Răzvan Niță: Centre for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania
Miruna Arsene: Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania
Giorgiana Barbu: Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania
Alina Gabriela Cus: Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania
Mihail Ene: Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania
Ramona Mihaela Serban: Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania
Constantin Marian Stama: Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania
Larissa Nicoleta Stoia: Centre for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-15

Abstract: In the context of increasing urbanization and associated economic, social and environmental challenges, cities have increasingly acknowledged the importance of urban parks in delivering social, economic and environmental benefits to the population. The importance has been demonstrated also during the COVID-19 pandemic that generated lockdowns and reduced the capacity of urban inhabitants in accessing such benefits. The present study aims to determine how the presence in urban parks was reflected on social media during the pandemic period of 2020. We examined Instagram posts associated with a sample of eight urban parks in Bucharest, Romania and also the entire history of Google reviews between January and August 2020. The selection of parks was made according to their size, location in Bucharest, previous reported number of visitors and profile of attractiveness. Results revealed that the peak period of the COVID-19 pandemic and the first initiation of the lockdowns strongly affected the recreation and leisure activities that people performed almost daily in the parks of Bucharest. Reviews and comments of the population were not that focused on the pandemic even after the restrictions were lifted, but they evidenced the positive and negative aspects of each park. Our results can represent a useful instrument for local administrations in determining both the flow of visitors but also their perceptions towards the endowments, landscape and most important management of urban parks.

Keywords: social media; urban parks; visitors; pandemic period; urban planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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