| dc.description.abstract | Sustainably utilized and managed Public Parks in Urban areas are significant due to their historic, social, environmental, economical, and aesthetic functions. Thika Sub-County is highly populated with a population of 179,885 and a 4.7% annual growth rate but has only about 7.5 acres of Public Parks in the entire Sub-County. The demand for Public Parks increases as the population increases. Urban development policies afford sustainable utilization of Urban Public parks but this seems disregarded in Thika. It is from this gap that this study is born; to examine sustainable utilization of Public Parks in Thika; a case study of Christina Wangari Garden which is 1.5 acre and located in the Central Business District (CBD) of Thika.
The objectives of this study is to examining type, use and current level of utilization, factors that influence and constrain utilization of Public Parks, existing institutional, policy and legal provisions that guide sustainable utilization. The study employed a scientific methodology to ensure data required was collected effectively. Literature review was used to collect secondary data that was designed to complement objectives of the research. Primary data was collected during site visits where observations, questionnaires, interviews, mapping, photography and focused group discussion methods were applied. The data collected was analyzed and presented in a booklet form.
It was established that Christina Wangari Garden attracts about 2500 visitors daily who include mostly the low income population, students and youths who visit for relaxation, meeting, socializing, visiting smoking zone, public washroom, for commercial activities and engaging with natural environment. Comfort, good state, affordability, centrality/proximity, landmark and security are among the factors that attracted visitors in the park. The park suffers a number of constrains such as congestion, problematic design, lack of vital facilities, inadequate facilities, decay of some facilities, littering, misuse of the park by visitors, insecurity, poor management and poor maintenance/improvement activities. Intervention such as; acquiring land to balance demand and supply for Public Parks, enhancing land banking for future demands, strengthening stake-holding, effective maintenance of Public Parks, supporting adequate funding, professional synergy in parks management, and redesigning of Christina Wangari Garden were recommended to guarantee a sustainably utilized Public Park | en_US |
