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A key issue causing mental health problems among older adults is the lack of social engagement. For senior citizens living in urban areas, especially those residing in communities built before the 2000s, the only spaces for outdoor activities were sidewalks with no green features. These narrow outdoor spaces result in a lack of community engagement, which decreases the quality of life for both senior and younger residents (Han, 2005; Han, 2018). In China, older adults tend to grow vegetables wherever possible. The planting process and the harvest promote social engagement and enhance their sense of achievement (Li, Lin, and Yang, 2016). This study aims to investigate how urban agricultural gardens benefit community engagement in old residential areas in northeast China. To identify residents’ perceptions of agricultural gardens, a study was conducted in a selected neighborhood in Dalian, northeast China, an old residential area with a large aging population.
Mixed methods were used to collect data. Before conducting fieldwork, we reviewed articles containing the keywords "agricultural garden," "community engagement," "mental health," and "older adults" to investigate the correlation between agricultural activities and the well-being of senior citizens. Residents' behaviors were observed at different times to collect data on their use of outdoor spaces. Face-to-face surveys were conducted on-site to gather residents’ perceptions of the community environment and their preferences for outdoor activities and spaces. Most of the participants were 60–70 years old, along with some younger residents. The results indicated dissatisfaction with the existing outdoor environment. Residents expressed a high preference for community engagement spaces and agricultural gardens. "Growing vegetables and fish" were the most preferred activities.
Based on these results, this study proposed an alternative plan for an agricultural community garden to enhance community engagement. In terms of design strategy, the site is equipped with several multifunctional spaces, including a slow-moving loop, a fitness area, and a playground. To enhance communication among different age groups, these functional spaces were connected by a roofed corridor surrounding a mulberry fish pond. The pond's circulation system is used to moderate the neighborhood's microclimate(Dikann, 2020). Additionally, a farmer’s market is regularly held in the garden to activate the community and promote the mental health of older adults who desire social interaction and to be held in esteem (Clements, 1989).
References
Clements, W. (1989) Ministry with the aging: Designs, challenges, foundations. New York: Imprint Routledge.
Dikann, A. (2020) 'Land art therapy, a return to the essence of the creative process', Soins. Psychiatrie, pp. 27-30.
Han, Y. (2005) 'Role of garden in urban park', Construction Building Technology, pp. 1020-1021.
Han, Y.F. (2018) 'Study on the landscape design of urban aged community based on humanistic care', in 2018 4th International Conference on Social Sciences, Modern Management and Economics (SSMME 2018), 22-23 June, Chengdu, People's Republic of China. pp. 139-143. doi:10.23977/ssmme.2018.62232.
Li, M., Lin, W. and Yang, X. (2016) 'Comparison and analysis of urban and rural old people demand for elderly care services, illustrated by the case of Changping, Beijing', Elderly’s Demand, pp. 2-5.
| Keywords | Community Engagement；Urban Renaissance；Open Space；Equity； |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
