Examining spatial accessibility in public parks towards enhancing social cohesion: an empirical analysis

Urbanization is rapidly reshaping social and spatial dynamics in cities worldwide, making social cohesion an increasingly critical concern for community wellbeing. In Coastal Karnataka, a region marked by cultural diversity, economic transition, and rapid urban growth, neighbourhood parks serve as vital spaces where accessibility and design directly influence community bonds. This study investigates the interplay between demographic factors—such as age, education, qualification, and marital status—and key dimensions of spatial accessibility, including connectivity, proximity, visibility, safety and security, and amenities, to assess their impact on social cohesion within urban neighbourhood parks. The research adopts a positivist paradigm, employing a quantitative approach through survey-based data collection. A total of 249 respondents were selected using convenience sampling. The questionnaire, adapted from validated scales, underwent Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to ensure reliability and validity. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied to examine the influence of demographic factors, while Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to test five hypothesized relationships between spatial accessibility dimensions and social cohesion. Findings highlight that demographic factors shape perceptions of accessibility: age significantly influenced perceptions of proximity, while marital status showed a positive association with safety and security. Among the accessibility dimensions, proximity, visibility, safety and security, and amenities demonstrated significant positive effects on social cohesion, whereas connectivity revealed weaker associations in the studied context as the neighbourhood are strongly integrated towards its context at local level. These results underscore the importance of incorporating micro-level accessibility considerations into park design and planning. The study contributes to both academic discourse and practice by offering evidence-based insights into how spatial accessibility fosters inclusive, resilient, and socially cohesive communities. It provides practical guidance for urban designers and policymakers to enhance neighbourhood parks in ways that strengthen social bonds, support cultural diversity, and promote sustainable urban living in rapidly transforming regions such as Coastal Karnataka.