Enhancing Public Open Space Usability: The Impact of Accessibility and Activity Diversity in Unguja, Zanzibar
Enhancing Public Open Space Usability: The Impact of Accessibility and Activity Diversity in Unguja, Zanzibar

Summary/Abstract: Public open spaces are essential for enhancing well-being, fostering social interaction, and supporting environmental sustainability in urban settings. Objective of this study was to assess the usability of public open spaces focusing on Mwanakwerekwe neighbourhood, in Unguja, Tanzania. Primary data were collected through in-depth interviews and field observations, while secondary data were sourced from existing literature on public space management. The data were analyzed using Past 4.03 software, applying univariate and multivariate statistical methods within a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The results revealed that accessibility was the leading factor affecting the usability of public open spaces, accounting for 94.18% of the variance in user perceptions. Activity diversity is the secondary factor, explained only 5.82% of the variance. Population size was found to significantly influence the usability of these spaces, with the mean score for population size (men) being 82.73, while for women it was 134.34, indicating that areas with a higher female population are largely accessing open spaces. Additionally, a p-value confirmed that gender had a statistically significant impact on the perceived accessibility of the spaces. Overall, the findings highlight that accessibility is the most important factor influencing the usability of public open spaces, while environmental quality and activity diversity had relatively lesser impact. These findings offer valuable insights for urban planners, policymakers, and community leaders in managing public spaces.

• Details
• Contents