Park access policies: measuring the effects of the introduction of fees and women-only days on the volume of park visitors and physical activity in Bahrain

ABSTRACT

Some parks suffer from overuse, which raises safety issues. Municipalities introduced access-control policies such as entrance fees and women-only days. We studied the impact of these policies on the volume of visitors in one park and the consequent reduction of physical activity. A year-long timestamped categorized visitor log allowed for before/after comparisons tested for statistical significance at a 99% confidence level. We used the International Physical Activity Questionnaire to quantify physical activity at the park and estimated the amount lost due to the new admittance policies. The number of park visitors declined 86% after the introduction of entrance fees, with a consequent loss of 24% of an individual’s weekly physical activity, reducing the efficiency of the park. Unexpectedly, women-only days are associated with an increase in the ratio of children per woman from 1.4 to 2.33, reflecting a change in parental behavior, which suggests an increased sense of security.

KEYWORDS:

• Policy
• urban park
• entrance fee
• women-only
• park fee
• Bahrain

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

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Joao Pinelo Silva

Joao Pinelo Silva is alumnus for University College London where he earned his doctorate in Architecture and currently, he is Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Bahrain. His research focus on the influences of the built environment in its inhabitants and institutions and he follows an evidence-based approach.