Experts’ insights on physical environmental factors impacting the use of urban public open spaces for physical activity

Studies on physical activity (PA) in urban public open spaces (UPOS) have explored the individual, social, physical, and environmental factors influencing PA engagement. However, there is a lack of focus on identifying the factors that attract users to open spaces for PA. This gap is significant, especially given the declining health patterns among young adults due to insufficient PA and rapid urbanization in the 21st century. Consequently, there is increasing interest in identifying the physical and environmental factors that positively impact the use of open spaces for PA. This study aimed to identify the key physical and environmental factors influencing young adults' use of publicly accessible open spaces in urban settings for PA. Online semi-structured interviews with 18 experts in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, and public health were conducted between May and September 2023. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using NVivo 14 software, and thematic analysis was applied to derive categories and subcategories. This study validated broader concepts of physical and environmental factors affecting the use of UPOS for PA, highlighting perceived safety as a significant social and physical factor. This research identified both compositional (within) and contextual (outside) attributes as fundamental in attracting users to urban open spaces for PA. Other important subfactors that supported visiting the UPOS to perform PA included trees and vegetation, destinations within walking distance, mixed-use neighborhoods, proximity, and connectivity to open spaces. A combination of these physical and environmental factors was found to positively influence the use of UPOS for PA. • Physical environmental factors such as aesthetics, accessibility, land use mix, and safety interact and reinforce one another in shaping the use of the UPOS for physical activity. • The interplay between several factors shapes open spaces that support regular physical and social activities. • Aesthetic and safety attributes emerged as key physical factors enhancing user experience and making urban open spaces more attractive.