Social Expectations Regarding Municipal Parks in the Aspect of Work-life Balance (Using the Example of Lubelskie Voivodeship)

Objective: Using the Lubelskie voivodeship as an example, this paper seeks to identify and analyse consumers’ (users of municipal parks) expectations regarding the functions of municipal parks in the context of work-life balance. We determined expectations regarding the parks’ functions based on the reasons for visiting them. Research Design & Methods: The primary data collection method was a survey method, which used a questionnaire technique. Non-random sampling was used. Respondents were recruited online using a snowball technique. The survey was conducted remotely using Google Forms. The gathered primary data were subjected to quantitative analysis, that is, the mean score test, Mann-Whitney U test and exploratory factor analysis. Findings: We confirmed that the offer of municipal parks improves the likelihood of achieving a work-life balance, mainly due to recreation and leisure and health-promoting functions. The pilot survey revealed that interviewed consumers who used municipal parks in the Lubelskie voivodeship had varying expectations regarding the parks’ roles. The foremost expectations involved parks’ leisure function, which is the ability to relax in a natural environment, experience tranquillity and seek shelter from the sun, admire the beauty and sounds of nature, and engage in leisure activities, including meeting family and friends. Furthermore, the Mann-Whitney U test showed that the variable frequency of visits to city parks was not a statistically significant differentiating variable for most respondents’ expectations regarding their function. Nevertheless, through factor analysis, segments were identified for each category of respondents analysed that differed in their expectations regarding the urban park offer. Implications / Recommendations: The study’s findings can be utilised by city authorities to develop local municipal park management policies. Knowing what residents look for from municipal parks allows them to update their municipal park management strategies to align them with the demands of the public and to boost their appeal to city inhabitants. It can be applied to the management of existing parks and the development of new park spaces in cities. Contribution: The review of the literature and the analyses enrich the literature focusing on work-life balance, specifically examining the impact of municipal parks on worker well-being and the significance of measures and innovations related to developing green areas as part of city policy. The presented findings can be a starting point for further research on this topic.