Illuminating Perceptions: A Mixed-Methods Study of Public Views on Urban Park Lighting

Rengin Aslanoğlu, Kornelia Kwiecińska, Agnieszka Jakóbiak, Magdalena Zienowicz, Aleksandra Wiśniewska, Małgorzata Bartyna-Zielińska and Katarzyna Tokarczyk-Dorociak ()
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Rengin Aslanoğlu: Department of Systems Research, Faculty of Spatial Management and Landscape Architecture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. Grunwaldzka 55, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland
Kornelia Kwiecińska: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Spatial Management and Landscape Architecture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. Grunwaldzka 55, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland
Agnieszka Jakóbiak: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Spatial Management and Landscape Architecture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. Grunwaldzka 55, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland
Magdalena Zienowicz: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Spatial Management and Landscape Architecture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. Grunwaldzka 55, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland
Aleksandra Wiśniewska: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Spatial Management and Landscape Architecture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. Grunwaldzka 55, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland
Małgorzata Bartyna-Zielińska: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Spatial Management and Landscape Architecture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. Grunwaldzka 55, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland
Katarzyna Tokarczyk-Dorociak: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Spatial Management and Landscape Architecture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. Grunwaldzka 55, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-14

Abstract: Urban parks are vital public spaces that provide opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and social interaction. At night, their accessibility and functionality depend strongly on the quality of artificial lighting, which must balance user safety and comfort with ecological sustainability. This study investigates public perceptions of urban park lighting through a mixed-method approach combining participatory workshops and surveys. A workshop ( n = 15), involving local residents recruited through community networks, included introductory presentations, group discussions, and open voting to map the related problems in the park activities. Data were collected through participant notes, visuals, and sketches. In parallel, an online and on-site survey ( n = 144) was distributed via Google Forms during winter 2025. Results reveal three main themes. First, users consistently emphasized safety and orientation as the most critical functions of park lighting, though the 52.5% perception of safety remained moderate even in lit areas. Second, respondents and workshop participants expressed a preference for adaptive, functionally targeted lighting over uniform illumination. Third, ecological awareness was evident as more than half of the respondents recognized the negative effects of artificial lighting on the natural environment, with strong support for warm-spectrum lighting and light zoning to protect biodiversity. These findings highlight the potential of participatory methods to inform evidence-based, ecologically sensitive lighting strategies for urban parks.

Keywords: urban lighting; park design; public perception; participatory methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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