Fakultät Landschaftsarchitektur

Neighbourhood parks serve as essential recreational infrastructure, offering opportunities for immerse natural experiences near residential zones, thereby deliver social, physical, and cultural amenities that enhance the well-being of the neighbouring community, as well as the benefiting stakeholders. Nevertheless, numerous studies have shown the decrease in perceived safety has significantly impacted individuals’ ability to derive enjoyment and comfort from their outdoor green spaces. Consequently, this indicates a decline in the perceived quality of life among the Malaysians, as documented by the Malaysian Economic Planning Unit (EPU). A scarcity of research exists that investigates the relationship between well-maintained landscape and the perception of personal safety, with the majority of existing studies originating from foreign sources. Therefore, this study was undertaken to collect evidence addressing these gaps within the context of Malaysia. This endeavour is vital to assimilating valuable knowledge to enhance the ongoing processes of both place-making as well as place-keeping within Malaysian park management. This study was conducted within three neighbourhood parks under the supervision of Majlis Bandaraya Subang Jaya (MBSJ), with the aim of investigating the determinants influencing the perception of personal safety. A total of 300 participants partook in the survey, facilitated through a structured questionnaire survey distributed within the parks and the surrounding housing vicinity. The dataset, comprising twelve (12) measures extracted from literature concerning planting design, views and maintenance underwent comprehensive analysis using several statistical methods. These included one-way ANOVA, linear regression, and an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), all conducted using the SPSS statistical analysis platform. In contrast to previous research, the outcomes of this study demonstrated no adverse correlations regarding crime incidences or personal experience in crime. Nonetheless, the investigation unveiled the nature of the interconnection between individual preferences and their level of acceptance, alongside the nuanced perception of personal safety. Moreover, the inquiry did uncover the character of the interrelation between preference and acceptance, as well as the perception of personal safety. The primary outcomes of this study conclusively identify three distinct physical determinants that are indicated as cues of maintenance, significantly impacting how personal safety is perceived. These determinants encompass maintenance and aesthetic attractiveness, planting design and arrangement, and environmental satisfaction, highlighting an enhanced understanding of park maintenance knowledge and its impact on the perception of personal safety. These determinants contribute to the physical maintenance of neighbourhood parks, thereby enhancing the establishment of a safer environment.