Elderly Friendly Urban Park Design: The Case of Asgar Höyüğü City Park in Karatay District

Abstract

According to the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute Address Based Population Registration System, the population aged 65 and over, which is defined as the elderly population in Karatay district, consists of approximately 5% of the district population. This figure is a very important ratio in urban life, especially elderly people should be able to chat with each other outside their homes and meet their needs for daily healthy living activities in their immediate surroundings. The park area subject to the research was opened to public use at the end of 2012 in the Grade I archaeological site located in the Karatay District center of Konya. A field study was carried out to determine the current situation and problems encountered in terms of environmental standards of the area entrances, walkways, ramps, stairs, parking areas, plants, toilet area, information and direction signs and urban equipment (seating elements, lighting elements, garbage cans, fountains) in the park, and it was determined that the park is suitable for elderly users in terms of the results obtained by evaluating the results of photography, measurement and observation.