McEachern, Morven and Cheetham, FC (2011) Visualising the Role of the Public Urban Park: Consumer Perspectives : Abstract plus short film. In: 2nd International Visual Methods Conference, 2011-09-13 - 2011-09-15.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
This research responds to calls to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the nature and structure of consumption-related practices associated with dog owners and urban park users (Lee et al., 2009). In so doing, the study focuses on urban, public parks in both disadvantaged and affluent areas around Manchester. There is significant evidence of a strong correlation between quality of life and accessibility to high quality, public parks, (Lee et al. 2009; Ward-Thompson, 2002), therefore, shaping policy around the needs and wants of a community provides a powerful means to transform individual wellbeing and social welfare (Dolan et al., 2010). To help capture the diversity and complexity of human action in this socio-cultural context, we employ both visual ethnography in the form of still photography and film (Pink, 2007) as well as walking interviews with park users (Clark, 2009). The visual narratives produced as a result of these complimentary methods help us to make sense of contemporary social uses of the urban, public park. The paper concludes by reflecting on the challenging and evolving process of using these visual methods as well as examining how policymakers can provide an accessible, multi-functional, public space suitable for both dog owners and non-dog owners alike.