2025/07/01 by Jorge Andrade, María Laura Guerrero-Valarezo, Gabriela Naranjo · 1 voice
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Social Sciences · #Economic and Environmental Valuation #Place Attachment and Urban Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.5354/0718-8358.2025.72604
openalex publication_date 2025/07/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/19
Public open spaces offer a wide range of benefits to the community; however, more clarity is needed on how people value their diverse conditions. This study focused on understanding user preferences when choosing these spaces. A virtual discrete choice experiment was carried out where participants were shown images of public spaces with different characteristics and were asked to select their preferences. Of the 758 responses, five main characteristics were identified that influenced their choices: shade from trees, abundance of trees, artistic expression in public space, presence of indoor paths, and grass areas. These preferences were also related to intangible qualities such as friendliness and safety, as well as typologies such as parks or squares. The importance of natural elements, adequate facilities, and activities or expressions was highlighted for the success of public spaces. This knowledge can be essential when designing public spaces or planning urban policies.