Accessibility and Service Quality of Public Parks in Khulna City

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyze accessibility and service quality of public parks in the city of Khulna, Bangladesh. Compared with industrial and commercial development, there is a little progress in developing recreational facilities (e.g., parks) in the city. However, people need parks for their refreshment from a busy lifestyle. Moreover, parks provide opportunities for gatherings that strengthen community bonding among people. Assessment of accessibility and service quality of parks is an important task that is currently inadequately performed in Khulna city. Different factors (e.g., travel distance, time, mode, and cost) have been considered for analyzing accessibility of the parks. Moreover, service quality, service gap, and level of satisfaction have been taken as factors for analyzing the quality of the parks. A user satisfaction index (USI) has been calculated to assess the level of satisfaction of users regarding existing facilities and the service quality of the parks. In addition, the existing service area of the parks has been calculated using threshold population calculation, buffer analysis, and network analysis. A suitability analysis examined the existing park locations. The study found that there is an insufficient number of public parks in Khulna, and that most parks are located far from the residential area, which reduces accessibility by increasing travel distance and cost. The service quality of the parks is, therefore, unsatisfactory. This study proposes additional parks with better services and facilities to meet demands of people.