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Dr. Michele Romolini, Director of Research Dr. Michele Romolini, Director of Research

Dr. Michele Romolini, Director of Research - PowerPoint Presentation

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Dr. Michele Romolini, Director of Research - PPT Presentation

Viktoria Kuehn Research Fellow February 5 2016 The Value of Urban Parklands A User Study of the Baldwin Hills Park System Semiannual Report Season 1 Overview of Presentation Background ID: 784330

field park study research park field research study user survey students season camera collection 2015 game select baldwin findings

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Slide1

Dr. Michele Romolini, Director of ResearchViktoria Kuehn, Research FellowFebruary 5, 2016

The Value of Urban Parklands: A User Study of the Baldwin Hills Park System

Slide2

Semiannual Report – Season 1Overview of Presentation

BackgroundPark User SurveyGame Camera Visitation StudyStudent Involvement

Current Status

Slide3

BACKGROUNDIntroduction to Project

Slide4

Purpose of StudyResearch shows that urban parks are critical resources providing users with extensive mental and physical health benefits,

and protecting open spaces and natural habitatUrban parks often are not given as much appreciation or funding at the state and federal levelsThe Baldwin Hills urban park system serves diverse residents of Culver City, Los Angeles, Inglewood, local unincorporated counties, and the Larger Los Angeles County, as well as tourists and visitors from other parts of the

regionA large-scale

study of

park

users has

not been

done until now

Coincides with the implementation of

“Park to

Playa

This

study seeks to better understand BH park user behavior to inform stakeholders and future park planning efforts.

Slide5

Research ApproachA 3-year study examining park user behavior using two different methods:

Park User Survey: delivered on-site to visitors in the Baldwin Hills park system during several field collection periods

Game Camera Visitation Study monitoring five locations in the park continuously

Slide6

Research Timeline

Aug 2014:

Pilot survey began. Collected ~250 surveys in 7 locations over 2 months. Tested survey instruments & field methods.

Dec 2014:

Presented pilot results to BHC Board and solicited feedback.

July 2017:

Project ends. Final report and related presentations and products to be submitted to BHC.

Early 2015:

Modified methods and survey design to incorporate input from researchers, BHC staff & Board.

May 2015:

Identified locations for game camera visitation study, began study design.

Jun-Sept 2015:

Season 1

of full field collection. Collected 363 surveys in 14 locations, using updated methods.

Aug 2015:

Launched game camera visitation study. Field tested cameras and began data collection.

Jan-Apr 2016:

Season 2

of full field collection.

Currently in progress!

Jun-Sept

2016:

Season 3

of full field collection.

Jan-Apr 2017:

Season 4

of full field collection.

Slide7

PARK USER SURVEYSeason 1 Progress

Slide8

Slide9

Park User Survey

Visitor survey questions

focused on the following:

1) Frequency of use,

2) Demographics,

3) Park activities,

4) Park accessibility, and

5) Environmental awareness

Slide10

Survey Distribution

Slide11

Select Findings – Visitation Rates

Slide12

Select Findings – Demographics

54% Female,

44% Male

Age range from 18-64, with average of 32

23% Hispanic or Latino

Slide13

Select Findings - Activities

When asked to indicate all of their activities in the park, users reported both active (walking and jogging) and passive (enjoying nature and social activities) in their top uses. This indicates

the need to be sensitive to multiple user communities when making improvements and changes to the park.

Slide14

Select Findings - Accessibility

Mode of Transportation

How did you get to the park today?

If given the choice of transportation options, what would be your preferred way to get to the park?

Walk

12%

19%

Bike

10%

21%

Car/SUV/Truck

73%

54%

Bus

4%

2%

Train

0%

1%

Motorcycle/Scooter

1%

1%

Other

1%

1%

Related: Only

12% reported their awareness of the

County shuttle

, but 41% said they would

utilize this service.

This suggests there may need to be increased signage or other

outreach.

Slide15

Select Findings - Environment

A large majority (73%) responded

“yes” when asked “would you like to better understand the region’s environment from the parks to the ocean?” Most are interested in learning more about human health and the

environment.

Slide16

GAME CAMERA VISITATIONSeason 1 Progress

Slide17

Game Camera StudySupplement to the user surveyGame cameras are good at capturing rare behaviors and ongoing activity

Monitor both official and “unofficial” entrancesBeginning in May 2015, research team went on a series of site visits in the Baldwin Hills parks to assess the scope of sites, determine

logistics of positioning and settings, and finalize location choicesDeveloped study design and purchased

five Browning “Dark Ops” High Definition Trail Cameras, SD cards and

batteries

Hired and trained an

undergraduate research technician to monitor the cameras and collect

data

Conducted field testing

Installed cameras

Began collecting data in October 2015

Collected 100s of hours of data from each site

Slide18

Slide19

Slide20

STUDENT INVOLVEMENTTraining & Research Experiences

Slide21

Students in the Field

Slide22

Students in the FieldIn addition to producing research and reports, we believe an important part of this project is training the next generation of professionalsStudents are receiving extensive training in social science and environmental studies theories and methodologies, but they are also being exposed to a park system right next to campus that many of them have never been to before

Students provide qualitative observations that contribute to the research process, thus engaging them in the results and giving them a sense of personal responsibility for the project and how it informs park management and improvement

Slide23

Examples of Student Observations

Slide24

Student TrainingSince August 2014, we have involved a total of 33 LMU undergraduates in the Baldwin Hills Park User Study In Season 1, we had a team of 14 students

13 survey research assistants who spent 532 hours in the fieldOne game camera research technician who spent 34.5 hours on set-up and data collection

Slide25

CURRENT STATUSSeason 2 Progress

Slide26

Season 2 ProgressRecruited students and held an orientation during the second week of LMU’s spring semester, in mid-January Students completed online survey research training

Held a field training on January 30 and sent the first students into the field on January 31Students scheduled for 25 4-hour shifts in February, covering all weekends and every MWF during the week

Slide27

Future PlansStudents will be scheduled throughout March and possibly April, depending on completion rateSurvey will be closed by the end of April, results analyzed and a report sent by June 1

Students will be recruited for Season 3 starting in March/April and trained in May

Slide28

Questions?Michele Romolini, Ph.D. & Viktoria

KuehnLMU Center for Urban Resiliencemichele.romolini@lmu.edu(310) 338-7443