Cultural diversity in urban park use and perception

Abstract Given increasing migration and cultural diversification in urban contexts, understanding how people with different cultural backgrounds use and perceive urban green areas is relevant for inclusive planning. This exploratory, context-specific study examines how park users categorized as Swiss and non-Swiss report motivations, emotions, and ecological preferences in four public parks in Zurich, Switzerland. Based on 100 face-to-face go-along interviews, the study applies a mixed-methods design combining descriptive quantitative summaries with qualitative insights. Findings show shared appreciation for health-related benefits across both groups, alongside patterns of variation in reported motivations, emotional experiences, and preferences for vegetation structure. These patterns are discussed descriptively in relation to a simple Swiss vs. non-Swiss cultural background. The article contributes to urban studies by applying a three-dimensional framework—motivational, emotional, and ecological—that considers vegetation characteristics alongside reported user experiences, offering context-specific insights into culturally differentiated park use in Zurich.