Presenting Author: Ladan Ghahramani, MA, NC State University College of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT

Background: Social inactivity is one of the main issues among older adults in the U.S. To address the issue, parks try to offer opportunities for elders' social activity. However, increase of demand for urban park visitation and park budgetary pressures raise concerns regarding quality of elders' park visitation. The quality of park visit is of interest to both tourism and park managers and requires agreement on their goals and actions.

Objectives: We conducted a systematic literature review to identify, and characterize the ways in which the older adults' park-based social activity is represented through peer-reviewed literature.

Methods: The electronic scientific database CAB abstract was searched using search terms including (""open space*"" OR plaza* OR Parks OR ""green space*"" OR greenspace*) AND SU (""social impacts"" OR ""social benefits"" OR sociability OR social*).We controlled for journal subjects using two CABI codes, tourism and park literature.

Results: 22 publications focusing on older adults were included in the analysis. Findings from the systematic literature review, qualitative and quantitative analysis, revealed a slow but increasing interest in the older adults' park based social activity over the past decades. This review found several similarities and differences across both literatures regarding the definition of social activity and social well-being of park users. Park studies focused primarily on park design and facilities whereas tourism studies focused on events and park image as factors influencing social activity in a park.

Implications: We hope that this review can support and inform partnership related to age-friendly park environments.

Authors: Ladan Ghahramani, MA, and Aaron Hipp, PhD.