Identification of Effective Criteria for Locating Parks and Urban Green Spaces in Iranian Articles by Meta-synthesis Method

ABSTRACT
The appropriate location of parks and urban green spaces has always been of great importance in urban planning and achieving sustainable urban development. This research uses the meta-synthesis method to identify and classify the criteria that are effective in the location of parks and urban green spaces in Iranian scientific research articles. The unit of analysis in this research includes Persian-language scientific research articles with domestic case studies, published in databases such as Noormags, Magiran, SID, ISC, the Comprehensive Humanities Portal, and Elmnet between 2008 and 2022. By searching the aforementioned databases, 93 articles were found, which were evaluated for their validity using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP), ultimately reducing the number to 65 articles. The Sandelowski and Barroso seven-step method was used to analyze the selected articles. The results show that 81 criteria for the location of parks and urban green spaces have been used by Iranian researchers, which were condensed into 35 main criteria and classified into 6 components as accessibility and proximity to urban land uses, physical, environmental, social, economic, and legal. Among the identified criteria, the most significant ones include proximity to educational centers, accessibility to transportation networks, distance from existing green spaces, proximity to cultural-religious centers, proximity to residential areas, and population density. The findings of this research can serve as a suitable guide for researchers, planners, and managers in the field of locating parks and urban green spaces
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Urban parks and green spaces are among cities' most vital infrastructural elements, playing an indispensable role in enhancing the quality of life, promoting physical and mental health, providing recreational opportunities, and maintaining ecological balance. However, the proper location of urban parks and green spaces remains a significant challenge in urban planning. Inappropriate distribution of these spaces can lead to reduced accessibility, increased social inequalities, and inefficient use of urban resources. Selecting suitable locations for such spaces requires consideration of a comprehensive set of environmental, social, economic, and spatial-physical criteria. In recent years, several studies have been conducted on the location of parks and urban green spaces in Iran. However, these studies are often scattered and focused on specific aspects of the topic, with limited efforts toward presenting an integrated and comprehensive framework. Thus, there is a pressing need for research that employs systematic methods to integrate, synthesize, and analyze existing findings and propose a comprehensive and practical set of criteria. This study adopts the meta-synthesis method to identify and analyze the key criteria influencing the location of urban parks and green spaces in Iran. Its primary goal is to provide a comprehensive framework for planning and locating urban parks to guide planners and decision-makers in making informed and sustainable decisions. Moreover, it aims to pave the way for future studies in this domain.
 
Methodology
Given the objectives of the study, a qualitative research approach was employed using the meta-synthesis method, specifically based on Sandelowski and Barroso's seven-step model. A systematic search was conducted in domestic scientific databases, including the Scientific Information Database (SID), Islamic World Science Citation Database (ISC), NoorMags, Humanities Comprehensive Portal, Magiran, Civilica, and Elmnet. Relevant articles were identified using keywords such as "location," "site selection," "park," "urban park," "urban garden," and "urban green space." After screening the articles using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) method, 65 articles out of 93 were selected for final analysis. Data from the selected articles were extracted through coding and categorization, and the main criteria for locating were classified into six dimensions. Ultimately, these criteria were synthesized and analyzed within a comprehensive framework to provide a foundation for more effective planning of the location of urban green space.
 
Results and discussion
The analysis of the selected articles identified 81 initial criteria influencing the location of urban parks, which were subsequently refined and merged into 35 core concepts through comparison and elimination of overlaps. The findings indicate that the criteria affecting the location of urban parks and green spaces in Iran can be categorized into six dimensions such as social, accessibility, and proximity to urban land uses (adjacency), environmental, physical, economic, and legal. The final results were calculated by calculating the frequency of citations for each criterion across the reviewed articles. Among the identified criteria, proximity to educational centers, accessibility to road networks, distance from existing green spaces, proximity to cultural-religious centers, distance from residential areas, and population density emerged as the most significant. Accessibility and proximity to urban land uses were identified as the most critical dimensions, followed by physical, environmental, social, economic, and legal dimensions. The findings suggest that the location of urban green spaces in Iran requires a multidimensional approach, considering the country's unique social, economic, and environmental conditions. Key criteria identified in the adjacency dimension include proximity to educational centers, existing green spaces, cultural-religious centers, and residential areas. In the social dimension, population density was highlighted as a significant criterion. Environmental criteria such as proximity to water bodies and topography were emphasized, while less attention was given to criteria like distance from pollution sources. In the physical dimension, accessibility to road networks and the availability of vacant land were deemed crucial. Economic considerations were limited to land prices, overlooking other factors like construction and maintenance costs, which could be significant in future studies. In the legal dimension, only land ownership status was considered. Overall, studies on the location of parks and urban green spaces in Iran have gained increasing importance over the past two decades, with approximately 90% of the research conducted in the last decade. This highlights the emerging nature of the concept within the country's urban planning system. However, most studies have primarily focused on physical aspects, while social and economic criteria have received less attention. Additionally, geographical analysis revealed that most research has concentrated on major metropolitan areas, particularly Tehran, leaving other regions underexplored. This indicates an imbalance in the geographical distribution of studies on this topic in Iran.
 
Conclusion
Urban parks and green spaces are fundamental urban infrastructures that enhance citizens' quality of life, mitigate the environmental impacts of urbanization, and promote social and cultural balance. The proper location of these spaces plays a pivotal role in ensuring efficiency, spatial equity, and accessibility. This study, using the meta-synthesis method, identified and categorized the key criteria for the location of urban parks in Iran into six dimensions: social, accessibility and proximity to urban land uses (adjacency), environmental, physical, economic, and legal. The most important criteria identified across these dimensions include proximity to educational centers, accessibility to road networks, distance from existing green spaces, proximity to cultural-religious centers, residential areas, and population density. The proposed framework can guide urban managers and planners in Iran to utilize comprehensive and evidence-based criteria for locating urban green spaces. This approach not only addresses citizens' needs but also ensures environmental and social sustainability in cities. Furthermore, the findings of this research can pave the way for future studies, particularly those focused on developing operational models for urban green space planning and locating in Iran. To complement this study, exploring the weighting of locating criteria using meta-analysis and combining domestic and international research is recommended.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
 We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.