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1. Introduction
In 1994, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined quality of life (QoL) as “individuals’ perceptions of their position in life, in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations and concerns.” [1]. This definition emphasizes a subjective and multi-dimensional concept because it includes several aspects such as health, psychological status, degree of independence, relationships with other people and with the environment, and spiritual or religious beliefs [1].
The growing level of urbanization worldwide makes the quality of cities and the built environment relevant in defining quality of life of their citizens [2]. In the environmental context, parks are identified as green spaces for collective use that act as regulators of environmental balance and represent an element of the natural heritage. They are designed for recreation, contemplation, and leisure of the citizens [3,4]. Parks also contribute to the conservation of natural resources and the ecosystem, reduce pollution, generate equality in inhabitants’ development, contribute to the preservation of historical memory and create a sense of identity in the communities [3]. Besides, parks enhance the population’s active lifestyles, mental health, and social cohesion while decreasing exposure to toxic conditions [3,5]. The availability of open spaces to people (such as appealing and safe parks) contributes to more active behavior in the population, social responsibility, and care of the public resources. It also improves coexistence, tolerance, health, and QoL of inhabitants [3,6].
The literature on associations between the use of parks and quality of life is scarce. From an ecological level, Larson [7] established a positive yet not significant relationship between park quantity (measured as the percentage of city area covered by public parks), park quality (measured as per capita spending on parks), and accessibility (measured as the overall percentage of a city’s population within ½ mile of parks). The study suggests that increasing these public spaces contribute to health and well-being in cities and positively impact urban quality of life.
Recently, Koramaz [8] proposed a conceptual model to understand the relationships between urban parks and health, physical activity, social relations, satisfaction with the neighborhood and their contributions to improve quality of the residential environment. The purpose of this model is to create a healthy society, especially...