Cities 52 (2016) 114–122

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Cities

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/cities

Social needs of the elderly and active aging in public open spaces in
urban renewal
Esther H.K. Yung a,⁎, Sheila Conejos b, Edwin H.W. Chan a
a
Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
b
School of Design and Environment, Department of Building, The National University of Singapore, Singapore

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Urban renewal districts have a relatively high concentration of elderly people. Open spaces are important for the
Received 26 June 2015 elderly for enhancing social interaction and active aging. However, planning and design of open spaces tend to
Received in revised form 23 November 2015 stress on the physical and safety needs of the elderly, while social needs are not frequently addressed. This
Accepted 27 November 2015
study intends to identify whether the social needs of the elderly regarding the use of public open spaces in
Available online 29 December 2015
urban renewal districts are addressed in the standard planning and design guidelines which newly planned de-
Keywords:
velopment and districts are often based upon. Eight focus groups were conducted in elderly community centers
Open space in two urban renewal districts in Hong Kong. The results indicate that elderly people consider ‘social and physical
Active aging activities’, ‘community life facilities and services’ and ‘social network’, as well as a ‘clean and pleasant environ-
Social needs ment’ to be their most important needs. Thus, planners and designers should take into consideration these
Urban renewal criteria for enhancing the social well-being of the elderly and active aging in public open spaces in urban renewal.
Hong Kong Furthermore, it stresses that urban renewal districts are part of the elderly's past living experiences and
established social networks, which is not the case in new developments and areas. As such, the users' actual
needs should be elicited rather than perceived by planners and designers.
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
With reference to an aging society, urban renewal is an important
planning strategy that can help retrofit a city's existing conditions ac-
cording to the needs of different people. Lau, Giridharan, and Ganesan
(2005) explain that parks located near homes serve as convenient lei-
sure spaces and extended living rooms for residents in compact cities.
These open spaces provide the elderly with a venue for social interac-
tion and also enhance active aging. Kellet and Rofe (2009) report that
open spaces promote active living, while physical active lifestyles, social
integration and mobility are a few of the factors that contribute to suc-
cessful aging (Labus, 2012; Rowe & Kahn, 1998). Social interaction ben-
efits the physical and psychological health of the elderly. However,
while planning and design of urban renewal areas tend to emphasize
on the physical and safety needs of the elderly people, the social needs
are not often addressed. As socio-economic, cultural and political envi-
ronments have changed, elderly people have obtained more education,
better health and higher incomes. These factors allow them to have
more time for leisure, recreational and learning activities. As a result,
their needs and expectations of outdoor spaces have also changed.
Hong Kong is experiencing pressure as its population ages rapidly at
an unprecedented speed. While the elderly population (aged 65 and
⁎ Corresponding author.
E-mail address: esther.yung@polyu.edu.hk (E.H.K. Yung).
over) was 14% of the total population in 2012, it is projected to be 23%
by 2025(Census and Statistics Department, 2012). Moreover, the elderly
population is usually clustered around older districts that are experienc-
ing rapid urban deterioration. These areas are often in need of urban re-
newal, according to the government policy agenda. With the problem of
land scarcity and the development priorities of a city like Hong Kong,
open space is generally inadequate and unsatisfactory both in quantity
and quality (Hong Kong Planning Department, 2011; Tang & Wong,
2008). Moreover, the need to foster social well-being for the elderly is
not effectively addressed or incorporated into the planning of urban
spaces. Kwok and Ng (2008) report on the lack of inclusive and compre-
hensive planning for the aging society in Hong Kong, but, despite this
shortcoming, there is still inadequate research carried out on leisure
and aging in Hong Kong (Hung & Crompton, 2005).
Aside from spatial issues, the Hong Kong Department of Health
(2010) reports that 49.4% among people aged 65–74 and 41.9% for
people aged 75 and above are overweight or obese, while 18.7% of
people aged 65–74 and 30.9% of people aged 75 and above are classi-
fied as having “low” levels of physical activity (Hong Kong
Department of Health, 2010). It has been suggested that one of the
most effective preventions of dementia is to stay active and have fre-
quent social interaction with other people (Hong Kong Alzheimer's
disease Association's, 2015). These situations confirm the need for
more open spaces in older districts to promote the well-being and
active aging of the elderly.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2015.11.022
0264-2751/© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
 E.H.K. Yung et al. / Cities 52 (2016) 114–122
The social science field has provided much research on the social and
psychological needs of the elderly (Michael, Green, & Farquhar, 2006;
Sugiyama & Thompson, 2007; Wiles, Allen, Palmer, & Hayman, 2009).
However, urban planners and designers seem to focus more on the
physical comforts and needs of the elderly in the built environment
(Fadda, Cortes, Olivi, & Tovar, 2010; Turel, Yigit, & Altug, 2007). Thus,
this paper aims to identify the social needs of the elderly and link
these needs to concrete public open space planning and design criteria.
The elderly living in the old districts have already had real experience of
using public open space in their daily lives. As such, they may have dif-
ferent emphasis on the social needs than those in newly planned devel-
opments or districts. While this paper acknowledges that the literature
provides a list of factors for the design of open spaces, some focusing on
the use by the elderly in newer planned districts, no previous attempts
have evaluated the applicability of these design considerations in the
special context of urban renewal, thus, the research questions in this
study include how existing settings in the old districts affect the social
preferences of the elderly in the context of their use of public open
spaces and how these spaces encourage or inhibit active aging.
This research has selected two urban renewal districts, Kwun Tong
and Sham Shui Po in Hong Kong, and used open ended questions in a
focus group setting. This study adopts NVivo software as a robust tool
to systematically analyze the literature and the focus group results.
2. Theoretical framework
2.1. The concept of active aging and public open space for the elderly
“Active aging” pertains to elderly people's aspirations and needs in
terms of integrating physical activity into their daily routines
(e.g., walking or transportation, exercise or pleasure).
Participation in physical activity has been shown to generate posi-
tive effects on the cognitive functioning of older people (Sugiyama &
Thompson, 2007). Active aging refers to the process of optimizing op-
portunities for participation, better health and security in order to en-
hance quality of life as people age. According to WHO (2007), active
aging depends on a variety of influences or determinants, such as health
and social services, physical environment and behavioral, personal, so-
cial and economic determinants. Thus, the roles that open spaces can
play in enhancing active aging are worth examining. This study particu-
larly focuses on the consideration and better integration of social needs
and the well-being of the elderly and the physical activities carried out
in public open spaces, which contribute to active aging.
2.2. Public open space and the benefits to the elderly
In the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines, open space re-
fers to “a statutory land use zone for the provision of open space and rec-
reation facilities for the enjoyment of the general public” (Hong Kong
Planning Department, 2014). The scope of public open space is very
broad and includes “children's playgrounds, parks and gardens, grass
games pitches, different balls courts, golf course, running and jogging
tracks, beaches, swimming pool complexes, multi-purpose indoor
games halls, roller-skating rinks, table tennis tables, aviaries and mam-
mal exhibits, concrete chess tables, model boat pools, open-air theater,
bandstands, barbecue pits, composite beach buildings, changing rooms,
fountains, dogs' gardens, refreshment kiosks, public toilets, public librar-
ies, pavilions/shelters, spectator stands, camps, water sports centers,
sports centers, fitness centers, stadia (outdoor), athletic grounds, cycling
tracks, boating parks, sitting-out areas and zoos”(Hong Kong Council of
Social Service, 2012; Hong Kong Planning Department, 2014).
According to Kellet and Rofe (2009, p. 5), a public open space is defined
as a “community space within the urban environment which is intended
for amenities or physical recreation either for active or passive use”. The
WHO (2007) has also identified eleven elements for the design of outdoor
spaces in global age cities, such as environment, green spaces and
115
walkways, outdoor seating, pavements, roads, traffic, cycle paths, safety,
services, buildings and public toilets. These spatial planning considerations
can be adopted in revitalizing open spaces for the elderly population.
In regards to the benefits of public open spaces and parks,
Pasaogullari and Doratli (2004) state the important role of public spaces
in enhancing social interaction and enhance people's sense of community
and safety. Particularly, these spaces offer a place for the elderly to breath
and connect with nature and people (Kwok & Ng, 2008; Sugiyama &
Thompson, 2007). Borst, Sanne, Graham, Dongen, and Bakker (2009)
also report that walking is a major outdoor physical activity for elderly
people. This is confirmed by Sugiyama and Thompson (2007) who
state that outdoor environments have various benefits for older people,
such as the physiological benefits needed for the maintenance and en-
hancement of physical health and functioning. Moreover, a sense of be-
longing to a place helps maintain a sense of identity and well-being, as
well as facilitates successful adjustments in old age (Wiles et al., 2009).
The benefits of using public open spaces are commonly known. The
question is what are the underlying planning and design considerations
of public open spaces that can enhance the social well-being and active
aging of the elderly. The renewal of urban facilities in older districts
must be flexible in such a way that it accommodates the different activ-
ities of the elderly and addresses the social participation of older people
so as to achieve long-term improvement in the quality of lives of all cit-
izens, regardless of their age (Labus, 2012).Kwok and Ng (2008) discuss
that good quality of life for the elderly includes care from family and chil-
dren, social contacts, mobility, health, activities and living environment.
In addition, the perception of a supportive environment, comfort, pleas-
antness, safety and lack of nuisance are the quality of life aspects that are
influenced by the outdoor environments (I'DGO, 2007). Thus, these fac-
tors will be considered in determining the social needs of the elderly in
using public spaces in the current study. Table 1 provides a list of 27 de-
sign criteria identified from the literature that could enhance the social
needs of the elderly in using open space. It addresses four major areas,
namely physical setting, community features, personal and community
life and transport directions and mobility. These factors apply to the de-
sign of open space in general with no specific attention to the special
context of urban renewal. To what extent is this list of criteria applicable
to the elderly living in urban renewal districts is worthy of investigation.
3. Issues concerning public open space planning for the elderly in
Hong Kong
Since Hong Kong is a city that is highly compact and dense, the gov-
ernment has adopted a practical standard for open space provisions
which is relatively low compared to other countries. In terms of quantity,
open space provision for urban areas is 15 ha per 100,000 persons, where
9 hectares is allocated for district open spaces and 6 ha for local open
spaces (Hong Kong Planning Department, 2014). The guiding ratio of pas-
sive to active open space provision is 2:1. Most of the planning standards
are quantitative in nature and are based on population ratio in terms of
the provision of various open spaces and facilities. It is also worth noting
that these standards of provision have not been reviewed for more than
15 years, which means that the guidelines were based on the leisure
habits and recreation preferences set 20 years ago (Chan, 2014).
Previous research has raised a number of quality issues concerning
the planning of public open space for the elderly in Hong Kong. Al-
though, the newly developed public open spaces have followed the
guidelines on universal accessibility and precautionary installations,
such as handrails, ramps, proper inclination slopes, the social needs
and well-being of the elderly have not been fully addressed.
Research has indicated that elderly leisure activities are at present
mostly passive and lacking in social interactions (Chou, Chow, & Chi,
2004; Wong, 2009; Zhao & Chen, 2013), such as slow walk and Tai Chi
(Chan, 2014). The lack of diversity in terms of leisure patterns provided
in open spaces has also reduced the potential of engendering active
physical and social lifestyle among the elderly (Chan, 2014).
116 E.H.K. Yung et al. / Cities 52 (2016) 114–122

Table 1
List of design criteria for public open space for the elderly.

Design criteria Description References

(social aspect)

A. Physical setting
1. Clean and pleasant environment
2. Access to nature and landscape
3. Outdoor seating/urban furniture/
spatial setting
4. Interior to exterior linkages
5. Secure environment and sense of
security
6. Relationship to culture and history
7.Sufficient maintenance and
management
8. Adequate lighting
Physical comfort: Cleanliness, visual attractiveness, fresh air, free Borst et al. (2009); I'DGO (2007); Michael et al. (2006); WHO
from noise and congestion (2007)
Contact with nature, green spaces, parks, gardens, micro-climate Labus (2012); Kwok & Ng (2008); Sugiyama & Thompson
(2007); WHO (2007)
Seating area for rest, communal spaces, special seating, talking Clarke & Nieuwenhuijsen (2009a, 2009b); Kwok & Ng (2008);
spaces Turel et al. (2007); WHO (2007)
Connectivity and inter-linkages: Layering and sequence from Kwok & Ng (2008); Hong Kong Planning Department (2002);
private zone to community gathering zone and neighborhood URGE (2004)
Perceived safety, access to protection, environmental support, Borst et al. (2009); Kwok & Ng (2008); I'DGO (2007); Temelova
close environment satisfaction, care and support from family, & Dvorakova (2012)
social support and Medicare
Heritage, sense of place, importance of local identity, cultural Fadda et al. (2010); URGE (2004)
components integrated in the planning and management of site
Maintain structural and planting quality, upkeep of scenic beauty Turel et al. (2007)
Outdoor lighting Clarke & Nieuwenhuijsen (2009a, 2009b); Kwok & Ng (2008);
Woo, Chan, Leung, & Wong (2010)

B. Community features
1. Community life facilities, services and Amenities and facilities, such as library, community center, local Clarke & Nieuwenhuijsen (2009a, 2009b); Labus (2012);
public toilets shops, traditional clinics, community outreach projects Temelova & Dvorakova (2012); WHO (2007)
2. Privacy Lack of nuisance, free from crowds Andersson (2011); I'DGO (2007)
3. Proximity of the home block and its Close destinations of amenities, facilities, etc. Michael et al. (2006); Temelova & Dvorakova (2012)
neighborhood amenities
4. Safety outside home The safety condition surrounding the home is satisfactory and
won't hinder the elderly from going out
5. Multi-functionality Permanent and occasional functions reserved for the area URGE (2004)

C.Personal and community life

1. Psychological health Personal esteem, autonomy and empowerment, independence,
self-efficacy, attachment to place
2. Social participation Sense of community ownership and involvement in site planning
and management, social activities
3. Social inclusion Ability to participate in economic and social activities
(paid/volunteer work)
4. Self-actualization Provide opportunities for learning, gaining knowledge
5. Social contact and network; need to Community and social participation/interaction/relation, sense of Andersson (2011); I'DGO (2007); Labus (2012); Temelova &
talk to each other community, community building, sense of belonging
6. Social and physical activities Forms of recreation, such as walking and other exercises
7. Healthy living environment Sense of health, emotional well-being, relaxation and avoiding
distress, happiness
8. Conflict of use Different uses of space per day and time of day, better
management
Clarke & Nieuwenhuijsen (2009a, 2009b); I'DGO (2007); Woo
et al. (2010)
Andersson (2011); I'DGO (2007); Fadda et al. (2010); Labus
(2012)
I'DGO (2007); Kwok & Ng (2008); Andersson (2011); Temelova
& Dvorakova (2012); Labus (2012)
I'DGO (2007); Kwok & Ng (2008); Temelova & Slezakova, 2014;
Labus (2012)
Dvorakova (2012)
Borst et al. (2009); Clarke & Nieuwenhuijsen (2009a, 2009b);
Kwok & Ng (2008); Sugiyama & Thompson (2007)
Clarke & Nieuwenhuijsen (2009a, 2009b); I'DGO (2007); Kwok
& Ng (2008); Woo et al. (2010)
URGE (2004)

D. Transport, directions and mobility

1. Walkways and cycle paths Circulation routes, strolling places Kwok & Ng (2008); WHO (2007)
2. Pavements and roads; safe pedestrian Pedestrian infrastructure, good sidewalks, surface area of open Hong Kong Planning Department (2002); Kwok & Ng (2008);
crossings space, Turel et al. (2007); WHO (2007)
3. Accessibility Exterior and interior accessibility Labus (2012); Fadda et al. (2010); Wiles et al. (2009); WHO
(2007);
4. Access to public transportation and Adequate and affordable public transport; bus stops Clarke & Nieuwenhuijsen (2009a, 2009b); Labus (2012);
infrastructure Michael et al. (2006); Temelova & Dvorakova (2012);
5. Unconstrained legibility Way finding, understanding and legibility of directions I'DGO (2007); Turel et al. (2007)
6. Mobility Ease of activities, convenience, disabled facilities, comfortable I'DGO (2007); Kwok & Ng (2008); Fadda et al. (2010)
movement

In addition, the quality of public open space is also lowered by
fragmented institutional responsibilities, the lack of a comprehensive
open space planning strategy and the rigidity of planning standards
(e.g., the population-based calculation). These deficiencies have led to
a discrepancy between the planned and existing provisions of public
open space (Chan, 2014). Moreover, there is no channel given to the
general public and end users through which they can voice their opin-
ions and share their experience during the planning of open spaces.
4. Hong Kong's urban renewal initiatives
Hong Kong's urban renewal started in 1973. The government-led
urban renewal approach then shifted from comprehensive
redevelopment to area improvement in 2001, during the time that
the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) was established. Due to urban
decay problems, the URA pledged to improve the living conditions
of its dilapidated urban areas. The URA adopted a comprehensive
and holistic approach in rejuvenating older urban areas through
the 4R business strategy, which includes redevelopment, rehabilita-
tion, renewal, revitalization and heritage preservation. A “people
first, district-based, public participatory” urban renewal strategy
was developed by the URA in order to consider the needs of all sec-
tors of the community in terms of enhancing the quality of life of res-
idents and building a quality environment through urban renewal
(Development Bureau, 2011). However, the community has per-
ceived different urban renewal approaches and researchers have
 E.H.K. Yung et al. / Cities 52 (2016) 114–122
criticized Hong Kong's urban renewal policy for being non-people
centered (Ho et al., 2011)due to the displacement of residents living
in these urban renewal areas.
Since 2001, the URA has completed 59 redeveloped or rehabilitated
projects, including 10 ongoing projects of the former Land Development
Corporation in different older urban areas. As part of its urban renewal
strategy, the URA has concentrated its urban renewal projects in local-
ized parts of older urban areas, such as Kwun Tong and Sham Shui Po,
two of the nine districts delineated for redevelopment and rehabilita-
tion action in a coordinated manner. An example is the Yue Man Square
project, which is considered a large, major URA redevelopment project in
Kwun Tong (URA, 2013a). The ongoing Yue Man Square project has creat-
ed many social issues, including forced eviction of inhabitants and tradi-
tional businesses which have led to the destruction of social networks
and community life. It has especially affected the daily lives of the elder-
ly who have lived in the district for many years. Though the project has
emphasized the provision of open space, whether the planning and de-
sign has indeed embraced the social needs of the elderly still remains
questionable. In the latest urban renewal strategy, no special consider-
ation was paid to their needs. Brief profiles of the two selected districts
are described below:
• Kwun Tong is the most densely populated district among the district
councils. Its population density, as of 2013, is 56,540 persons per
square kilometer. The elderly population in Kwun Tong has the largest
elderly population in the whole of Hong Kong and ranks 2nd in terms
of the percentage of the local population among the 18 districts
(Commission on Poverty, 2005; Census & Statistics Department,
2013). Perceived as a poor district with mostly 1960s era buildings,
Kwun Tong is now progressively being converted into a commercial
and business center. Although most of that part of southern Kwun
Tong still consists of old-fashioned industrial buildings, many of
them have been adaptively reused into offices and storage areas.
• Sham Shui Po is an old district and considered the poorest one in Hong
Kong (Census and Statistics Department, 2013). The district currently
contains 13 urban renewal projects, wherein each site contains mostly
four to six story reinforced concrete structures built in the 1950s
(Woo & Hui, 2011; URA, 2013b). The Sham Shui Po District has a den-
sity of about 36495 person/km2 with a population of about 400,000. In
Sham Shui Po, the number of single elderly is 12,300 and the number
of two elderly people living together is 5400, as of 2005 (Hong Kong
Planning Department, 2002; Census and Statistics Department,
2006; Home Affairs Department, 2015).
5. Methods
A comprehensive literature review was undertaken to identify the
needs of the elderly in using public open spaces. The literature review
provided the background of the study, as well as a list of shortlisted de-
sign criteria for designing public open spaces. Focus groups were con-
ducted in two urban renewal districts in Hong Kong with the aim of
eliciting the social needs of the elderly in using public open space.
Then, the stated social needs of the elderly expressed in the focus groups
were compared to the list of open space design criteria identified from
the literature review. This determined the criteria applicable to the
Hong Kong situation, specifically to the context of urban renewal.
The research methodology involved qualitative analysis, which com-
bined a comprehensive literature review and focus group interviews.
NVivo 10, the qualitative data analysis software, was used in this re-
search. Welsh (2002) indicates that better data management, higher ac-
curacy and greater transparency are achieved with computer supported
analysis. Therefore, NVivo is a valuable tool used in this research for
supporting the analysis of qualitative data, such as: (1) Managing and
organizing data, (2) Managing ideas and (3) Querying data to help
find patterns, particularly through using the matrix coding query
(QSR, 2010).
117
Focus groups in the two selected districts were conducted and el-
derly people who live in the districts and frequently go to the elderly
centers participated in the focus groups. The participants were gath-
ered together by the center's director and informed about the re-
search study and its significance. The participants' ages ranged
from 56 to 85 years old and either lived in their own homes or resi-
dential care centers in the studied districts. These are those elderly
who are trying to stay as independent and active as possible. Open
ended questions were employed to guide the focus group discus-
sions, which consolidated the planning and design considerations
on open space in urban renewal. Open ended questions are preferred
than giving the predetermined list of design criteria identified from
the literature. The focus group sessions lasted for 60 to 90 min. The
participants were asked the following questions based on previous
studies (Michael et al., 2006; Kwok & Ng, 2008; I'DGO, 2007):
1. What are your major social needs (e.g., talk with other people, devel-
op self-esteem, discuss the development issues of HK)?
2. What are the characteristics/features that you would like to have in
public open spaces?
3. What is your purpose of going to public open spaces?
4. What are the activities you would like to participate in public open
spaces?
5. What are the factors that prevent you from going to public open
spaces?
6. Focus groups results
Two old urban districts were identified in conducting the focus
group interviews. The two districts were selected because of their
high proportion of elderly populations and both districts have under-
gone significant urban renewal interventions. Kwun Tong and Sham
Shui Po are the districts. The proportion of elderly (persons aged 65 or
over) is highest in Wong Tai Sin (17.6%), while Kwun Tong (16.8%)
ranks second followed by the Sham Shui Po (16.3%) district (Census &
Statistics Department, 2013).
Eight focus groups were conducted in the Sham Shui Po and Kwun
Tong districts between July–August 2013 and October 2013. Four
focus groups were conducted at elderly centers in each district. There
were a total of 77 focus group participants, wherein 34 and 43 lived in
Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong, respectively. However, only 66 partici-
pants' responses were considered, since 5 participants from Sham
Shui Po and 6 participants from Kwun Tong were not able to share
their answers with the focus group facilitators. Table 2 shows the per-
sonal characteristics of the focus group participants:
The results of the eight focus group sessions were audio taped, tran-
scribed and reviewed before encoding in NVivo. The interview tran-
scriptions imported into NVivo were performed manually. A matrix
coding query was used in this data analysis to determine the number
of cases and references coded by the attributes. These attributes pertain
to the five questions set to guide the focus groups' discussions.
The responses from the focus groups, which are referred to as cases,
were coded into different themes which became nodes. These codes
were also categorized according to the five established attributes to
make each node distinct from each other with no redundancy occurring.
These various nodes have their corresponding frequencies as this refers
to the number of times the cases responded to a code (see Fig. 1).
Table 3 illustrates that the common responses of the elderly for each
question asked in the focus group (as shown by the representative state-
ments) clearly match the corresponding criteria of the social aspects of
planning and designing public open spaces for the elderly, which was pre-
viously identified in the literature in Table 1 of this paper. Fourteen out of
27 from the list of criteria were more concerned with the elderly living in
the two urban renewal districts, which means the remaining thirteen
were more applicable to planning and design for public open spaces, in
general, particularly for newly planned developments.
118 E.H.K. Yung et al. / Cities 52 (2016) 114–122

Table 2 affected elderly social concerns. In terms of public open space features,
Personal characteristics of the focus group participants. a number of characteristics and amenities in the public open spaces
Description Kwun Tong Sham Shui Po are preferred by the elderly regarding the two studied districts. First,
district district the ‘Community life facilities and services’ criterion is important; this in-
Gender: cludes cafés, TV, Wi-Fi connections, jogging trails, cycle paths, children's
• Male 26 (60%) 11 (32%) playgrounds, first aid kiosks, chess playing areas, swimming pools, pa-
• Female 16 (37%) 21 (62%) vilions, water fountains, sufficient toilets, spaces for interaction, hand-
Age (years)
rails for stretching, educational facilities, elevators, covered walkways,
• 51–60 2 (5%) 0 (0%)
• 61–70 23 (53%) 19 (56%) clinic. In addition, the criteria on ‘Clean and pleasant environment’; ‘Ac-
• 71–80 15 (35%) 14 (41%) cess to nature and landscape’ and ‘Outdoor seating/Urban furniture/
• 81–90 2 (5%) 1 (3%) Spatial setting’ are identified as important characteristics for public
Education level open spaces. Moreover, the ‘Mobility and secure environment’ criterion
• Primary 17 (40%) 17 (50%)
is another elderly major concern in public open space in urban renewal.
• Secondary 20 (47%) 13 (38%)
• University 6 (14%) 2 (6%) The major reasons for the elderly going to the public open spaces are
Number of hours spent in the open space (hrs/week) ‘Social and physical activities’ and ‘social participation’. The elderly also
• Less than 1 h 7 (16%) 7 (21%) indicated that the activities they would like to do in the public open
• 1 to 5 h 17 (40%) 13 (38%) spaces are those that benefit their ‘Psychological health’. The reasons
• Over 5 h 17 (40%) 14 (41%)
which hinder them from going to public open spaces include four
Total respondents 43 34
criteria, which are in line with the literature on the planning of open
space, including ‘Healthy living environment’, ‘Access to public trans-
portation’, ‘Proximity to home’ and ‘Accessibility’.
The focus groups' responses to the open ended questions emphasize, Furthermore, as indicated in Table 3, the top three most important
in particular, that the ‘Social contact and network’ criterion is the most criteria in addressing the social needs of the elderly when using public
important social need that has to be addressed when designing public open spaces are the following: 1. ‘Social and physical activities’; 2. ‘Com-
open spaces in urban renewal. This reflects that the conditions of the munity life facilities and services’ and 3. ‘Social contact and network’, as
old districts, which are currently undergoing urban renewal, have well as ‘Clean and pleasant environment’. Among other criteria for

Fig. 1. NVivo coding based on the focus group discussion results.

Table 3
Representative statements from the focus groups and the corresponding social design criteria for public open space from the literature.

Focus group questions Social needs — Most common responses from all focus groups Corresponding to the criteria
(representative statements) for planning and design of pos from
literature/planning guidelines
Kwun Tong District Sham Shui Po District

Q1. What are your major social needs? KTF1: My major social need is to interact with people, know more about SSPF19: I guess one of our major social needs is to have a place C5. Social contact and network; Need to talk to
them, gain more friends and discuss the history of Hong Kong, its past and where we can communicate with others and to help us maintain each other
its political issues. our mental health. Many elderly live alone and whenever we go to (Frequency = 49; 74.2%)
the park we feel better.
Q2. What are the characteristics/features KTF2: I like to have a cafe in the open space so that I can drink Chinese tea SSPF16: Universal accessibility of outdoor facilities, such as public B1. Community life facilities, services and public
that you like to have in the public open with friends. My friends and I also like to play chess and I would like to have toilets, chairs, exercise and sports equipment. toilets
spaces? more chess playing areas in the open space. (Frequency = 52; 78.8%)
KTF37: The park should be clean with fresh air. SSPF4: I want to stay in quiet and pleasant places, so the open A1. Clean and pleasant physical condition
space should have this ambience. (Frequency = 49; 74.2%)
KTF18: It would also be better to have a beautiful landscape and trees in the SSPF16: I like scenery and nature, so I would like to have more of A2. Access to nature and landscape
open space. these in the open spaces. (Frequency = 24; 36.4%)

E.H.K. Yung et al. / Cities 52 (2016) 114–122

Q3. What is your purpose in going to the KTF18: I like to go to the open space and use the physical training facilities SSPF22: I love to do some physical training in the open space. I
public open spaces?
Q4. What are the activities you would
like to do in the public open spaces?
Q5. What are the factors that affect you the transportation system and my health condition.
from going to public open spaces?
KTF36: For pedestrians, there are not enough chairs for us to sit in. SSPF1: I am concerned about the number of occupants/users in the A3. Outdoor seating/urban furniture/spatial setting
open spaces, since the chairs provided are not enough for all of us. (Frequency = 24; 36.4%)
Sometimes, if there are many of us, I do not have a space to sit.
KTF24: Convenience and quality of the environment are the factors that will SSPF17: Another factor is convenience; it would be better to have D6. Mobility
affect me from going to the open spaces. I like using the facilities in the open lifts and covered walkways in the open spaces. (Frequency = 13; 19.7%)
spaces, so it would be better that they are all conveniently accessible and
easy to use.
KTF3: Most of us elderly users would like the open space to have CCTV's SSPF4: Another thing, aside from the estate guards, I think it A5. Secure environment and sense of security
installed for monitoring the public area's security. would be better if there were extra security guards that take care (Frequency = 12; 18.2%)
of the open spaces.
C6. Social and physical activities
in there while enjoying the peaceful landscapes. I like strolling and doing Tai sometimes run slowly along the area. (Frequency = 56; 84.8%)
Chi in the open space. Tai Chi makes me healthier.
KTF28: Another thing is building my social network and community SSPF15: To join in group activities and events, so I won't be lonely. C2. Social participation
participation. (Frequency = 24; 36.4%)
KTF16: My major social needs are to interact with other people, build my SSPF24: Asense of self-respect is important to me. Talking to other C1. Psychological health
self esteem and self confidence. elderly in the public open spaces enhances my sense of self-respect. (Frequency = 17; 25.8%)
KTF9: The factors that prevent me from going to the public open spaces are SSPF11: There should be more simple facilities for the elderly C7. Healthy living environment
where they can do exercise to keep them in good health, breath (Frequency = 32; 48.5%)
fresh air and see beautiful scenery.
KTF5: One of my social needs is to have better accessibility, such as a better SSPF33: It is the accessibility that matters to me in terms of going D4. Access to public transportation and
transportation system going to the open space. to open spaces. If there is a convenient transportation system, then infrastructure
I will like going to the open spaces. (Frequency = 19; 28.8%)
KTF19: It is also important for me that the open space is near my home so I SSPF15: I prefer the open space to be within walking distance or B3. Proximity
can go there everyday. Another thing, I like going to shopping malls convenient for transportation access. (Frequency = 17; 25.8%)
whenever it is too hot so I can take a rest there. It would be better if the open
spaces were near the elderly centre and some amenities like the shopping
malls, too.
KTF16: It would be the size of the public space and its accessibility that will SSPF26: I would like good accessibility and convenience in all open D3. Accessibility
affect my going to the open space. spaces. (Frequency = 14; 21.2%)

Bold emphasis indicates that more than 70% of respondents agree on the planning and design criteria.

119
120 E.H.K. Yung et al. / Cities 52 (2016) 114–122
planning and designing public open spaces in newly developed areas,
were that more attention should be paid to enhance these underlying
aspects which are specific in the context of urban renewal districts.
7. Discussions
The elderly in both urban renewal districts have stated that ‘social
and physical activities’; ‘community life facilities and services’; and ‘so-
cial network’, as well as a ‘clean and pleasant environment’ are the most
important design criteria for open spaces. These factors are vital in en-
hancing their well-being and active aging. This paper brings out some
significant differences in the planning and design of public open spaces
between urban renewal districts and newly developed areas. Thus,
planners and designers should take due consideration of the highlighted
differences in order to better enhance active aging in the renewed
districts.
The elderly's responses to the five open-ended questions in the focus
groups are further discussed and compared with the general planning
and design considerations and guidelines of public open spaces identi-
fied from the literature:
Q1. Major social needs of the elderly:
Most of the elderly agree that ‘social contact and network’ as well as
the ‘need to talk to each other’ are their most important social needs.
These elderly have been in the old districts for a period of time and
they have already established their own social networks and neigh-
borhood ties. This is unlike new development areas where the resi-
dents and users are new to the areas and do not have friends who
live in the same districts. They will have to develop their new social
networks through time.
Q2. Preferred public open space features of the elderly:
The elderly preferred ‘community life facilities, services and public
toilets’, which clearly indicates that the elderly in these old districts
consider quality of community life is relatively below their expecta-
tions. Community life and facilities are important aspects which they
have developed and treasured over the past years. In addition, the el-
derly also desire a ‘clean and pleasant environment’, since it is evi-
dent that urban renewal districts are usually old and dilapidated.
The elderly have suffered and been affected by the low standards
of living in the areas for many years, so they aspire for better physical
conditions of the overall environments. The responses of the elderly
show a clear emphasis on these when looking at the general plan-
ning and design guidelines and criteria for designing the newly de-
veloped areas.
Q3. The purpose of the elderly going to the public open spaces:
The elderly also express that ‘social and physical activities’ are the
main reasons for their going to the public open spaces, since they
need space to do some walking and other physical activities with
their friends. For the elderly, going to the park is a convenient
place to meet and catch up with their friends, rather than meeting
up in their small, cramped homes. The elderly also mentioned that
in the open spaces they are also able to meet new friends who are
new to their neighborhood. Another reason is ‘social participation’.
Since the elderly have spent most of their lives in their communities,
they are very concerned about the development of their areas, so
most of them would like to participate in planning workshops and
consultation forums related to the urban renewal process. Apart
from planning issues, they also look for other social participation op-
portunities that can enrich their social lives.
Q4. Preferred elderly activities in the public open space:
Most of the elderly yearn for activities that improve their ‘psycholog-
ical health’ and build up their self-esteem. As the old districts are
often dilapidated and unpleasant, people's sense of enjoyment and
comfort are often affected, which is closely linked to psychological
health (Burton & Mitchell, 2006). Moreover, research also stresses
that interactions between the elderly in public open spaces can
increase elderly independence, confidence and self-fulfillment.
Thus, the provision and quality of the amenities should encourage
elderly interaction, rather than the elderly using the amenities
singly.
Q5. Factors preventing the elderly from going to public open spaces:
Three factors that prevent the elderly going to the public open
spaces are identified, including “accessibility, transportation and
proximity” to other amenities in the area. This is due to the fact
that the old districts are often compact and are not well planned
and may do not have good connectivity. The elderly may not be
able to access different amenities within a short distance and this
makes it difficult for the elderly to walk, especially those who suffer
from low mobility. It is found that a walking distance of about 100–
200 m in the neighborhood is already quite far and tiring for many of
the elderly (Lau, 1995).In newly developed areas, open spaces are
supposed to be well planned and not isolated and well connected
to other amenities.
Since urban renewal redevelopment projects have raised a lot of
controversies and social issues in terms of displacement of neighbor-
hood residents and business owners in the area, they have attracted tre-
mendous community concerns, especially in terms of the question of
the social benefits they bring to the districts, rather than the economic
benefits. The two urban renewal districts studied are dense districts
that are mostly populated by elderly people. The elderly living in
these districts know the communities very well and have direct and
long established feelings of attachment and, thus, they are very con-
cerned with their future development, most specifically regarding the
planning of public open spaces that are responsive to their needs.
The elderly have already developed strong social networks among
their families, friends and the neighborhood, which they want to main-
tain. Temelova and Slezakova (2014) also state that long-term residents
are more likely to have motivation to establish closer local social rela-
tions. The past experiences of the elderly in regards using public open
spaces and a sense of nostalgia of the district can guide the planners
and designers of urban renewal areas. The planners and designers of
open spaces in new development areas may be able to provide quality
and active recreations in those areas, but the criteria is not the same
for urban renewal areas where most elderly people live. The planning
of open spaces for the elderly in urban renewal areas needs thoughtful
consideration of the aspirations and preferences of the elderly, which
could be emphasized on different aspects compared to those of the
planners and designers. Thus, more involvement opportunities should
be given to the elderly in the planning of open spaces in urban renewal
areas. By doing this, the effectiveness of the planning standards for open
spaces would be reviewed and enhanced in order to make it more inclu-
sive for all ages to use and not purely based on quantitative measures.
8. Conclusion and policy implications
This study highlights that the planning of public open spaces in
urban renewal districts should address the special social needs of the
relatively concentrated elderly population. It is stressed that one of
their major social needs is maintaining constant interaction with each
other in order to avoid the feeling of loneliness. This differs from the
needs of residents in new development areas who are mostly of a youn-
ger generation and who prefer active lifestyles and independence. This
is supported by the findings of Temelova and Slezakova (2014) that
how public spaces should be used is different among different genera-
tions. It is an utmost challenge for planners and designers to incorporate
the broad spectrum of needs of the different age groups. Therefore,
purely based on the general design guidelines and universal accessibil-
ity standards, we argue that the planning and design of public open
spaces have not adequately incorporated the social needs of the elderly
into urban renewal projects. The issue is not just about providing ade-
quate areas of open space, which have been currently implemented in
 E.H.K. Yung et al. / Cities 52 (2016) 114–122
newly developed areas in Hong Kong. Instead, it lies in the provision of a
sense of place that is inclusive and caring to its residents, especially to
the elderly people living in urban renewal areas.
It is vitally important to pay more attention to the social needs of the
elderly in urban renewal areas than in new development areas. This is
because social networks have already been established within the
urban communities in the old districts. Whereas in new development
areas, people have not yet developed a strong bonding and sense of
community. The social needs include social participation, because the
elderly have been living in these areas for many years, and anything
that may change their everyday lives are of utmost concern to them.
The planning of public open spaces should also ensure an understanding
of the socio-cultural roots of their residents and communities, which are
deeply embedded in their lives as they age in these old districts. In par-
ticular, people's roots are closely linked to the cultural heritage ele-
ments, memories and local characteristics of these old districts.
It is of utmost importance to determine and understand the social
needs of elderly people, then translate these needs into actual design
criteria for planning public open spaces that are deemed fit for users
of all ages. In this sense, the local government and the district councils
have a vital responsibility to collect the opinions and consider the social
needs and concerns of the elderly in planning public open spaces. The
important role of the local government as liaison between the public
and the government must be encouraged, especially during the early
planning stage of public open spaces (Lau, 1995). Encouraging the el-
derly to voice their social need preferences through community partic-
ipation activities in the planning of public open spaces to enhance the
well-being of the elderly and active aging is important. Since the unique
social needs of the elderly should be considered during the planning
process, a user oriented approach should be adopted. More interactive
recreational activities, while ensuring close contact with natural envi-
ronment and social connections, are suggested. Another important sug-
gestion is the establishment of qualitative measurements that are useful
in identifying the different needs of users of open spaces (e.g., socio-
economic, demographic profiles) and providing a more balanced plan-
ning and design to meet the current population ratio in high density
urban renewal districts.
As urban renewal projects provide the opportunities to rectify the
inadequacies of the planning and designs, planners should pay due con-
sideration to the evolving needs of all age groups, particularly, with the
high concentration of the elderly people who usually spend relatively
more of their time in public open spaces in the old districts than the
other age groups. In addition, they have spent many years of their
lives in the older areas and have developed a strong sense of community
and belonging. Thus, the ways in which the planning of public open
spaces can enhance the social network and social well-being of the el-
derly should be carefully explored and enriched. By doing so, they guar-
antee inclusive city living for all age groups, which stimulates elderly
participation in all aspects of planning and governance.
Acknowledgments
This paper was fully supported by a grant from the General Research
Fund of the Hong Kong SAR Government (Project No. PolyU5405/12H).
References
Andersson, J. E. (2011). Architecture for silver generation: Exploring the meaning of ap-
propriate space for ageing in a Swedish municipality. Health & Place, 17, 572–587.
Borst, H., Sanne, I., Graham, J., Dongen, J., & Bakker, I. M. H. (2009). Influence of environ-
mental street characteristics on walking route choice of elderly people. Journal of
Environmental Psychology, 29(4), 477–484.
Burton, E., & Mitchell, L. (2006). Inclusive urban design: Streets for life. Oxford: Architectur-
al Press.
Census and Statistics Department (2006). Hong Kong 2006 population by-census — Sum-
mary results. Retrieved June 2013, 2013, from http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/
sub/sp440.jsp?productCode=B1120036.
121
Census and Statistics Department (2012). Population census thematic report: Older persons.
Retrieved June, 2014, from http://www.census2011.gov.hk/pdf/older-persons.pdf.
Census and Statistics Department (2013). Population and household statistics by district
council district. Retrieved June 2014, from http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/
sp150.jsp?productCode=B1130301.
Chan, P. T. (2014). Review on planning and design of public open space for ageing population
in Hong Kong: A case study in Wan Chai District. (Masters Thesis) Department of Plan-
ning and Design, University of Hong Kong, 176.
Chou, K. L., Chow, N. W. S., & Chi, I. (2004). Leisure participation amongst Hong Kong Chi-
nese older adults. Ageing and Society, 24, 617–629 (Jul).
Clarke, P., & Nieuwenhuijsen, E. R. (2009a). Environments for healthy ageing: A critical re-
view. Maturitas, 64, 14–19.
Clarke, P., & Nieuwenhuijsen, E. R. (2009b). Environments for healthy ageing: A critical re-
view. Maturitas, 64(1), 14–19.
Commission on Poverty (CoP) (2005). CoP paper 13/2005: District visit: Kwun Tong. (Re-
trieved March 2013, from Commission on Poverty www.povertyrelief.gov.hk/
archive//CoP%20Paper%2013.2005(e).pdf).
Development Bureau (2011). Urban renewal strategy: People first: A district-based and pub-
lic participatory approach to urban renewal. Hong Kong: Development Bureau.
Fadda, G., Cortes, A., Olivi, A., & Tovar, M. (2010). The perception of the values of urban
space by senior citizens of Valparaiso. Journal of Aging Studies, 24, 344–357.
Ho, D. C. W., Yau, Y., Poon, S. W., Law, C. K., Chui, E. W. T., Wong, Y. C., ... Wong, K. H. Y.
(2011). Urban renewal study: A community aspiration in Hong Kong. Surveying and
Built Environment, 21(1), 63–77.
Home Affairs Department (2015). My district: Sham Shui Po District. (Retrieved October
26, 2013 http:/…/www.had.gov.hk/en/18_districts/t_my_map_07.htm).
Hong Kong Alzheimer's disease Association (2015). Prevention. (Retrieved June 20, 2015,
from http://www.hkada.org.hk/disease_03.php?lang=eng#.VYy_z2fywfg).
Hong Kong Council of Social Service (2012). Social indicators of Hong Kong: Per capita area
of public open space (sq. meters). (Retrieved June 14, 2014, from http://www.
socialindicators.org.hk/en/indicators/environmental_quality/23.13).
Hong Kong Department of Health (2010). Action plan to promote healthy diet and physical
activity participation in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Department of Health.
Hong Kong Planning Department (2002). Ageing population and planning for the elderly.
(Retrieved June 12, 2006 http://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/p_study/comp_s/
hk2030/eng/wpapers/pdf/workingPaper_12.pdf).
Hong Kong Planning Department (2011). Planning statistics. Planning Department, Govern-
ment of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong. (Retrieved 16 Septem-
ber 2011, from http://www.pland.gov.hk/pland en/info serv/statistic/landu.html).
Hong Kong Planning Department (2014). Chapter 4: Recreation, open space and greening.
(December 2007. Retrieved April, 2014, from http://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/
tech_doc/hkpsg/full/ch4/ch4_text.htm).
Hung, K., & Crompton, J. L. (2005). Exploration of the ageing phenomenon in Hong Kong
and its implications for leisure service delivery. World Leisure Journal, 47(3), 42–53.
I'DGO (2007). Inclusive design for getting outdoors: How does the outdoor environment af-
fect older people's quality of life? http://www.idgo.ac.uk/older_people_outdoors/
outdoor_environment_qol.htm.
Kellet, J., & Rofe, M. (2009). Creating active communities: How can open and public spaces in
urban and suburban environments support active living?: A literature review. Australia:
Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies, University of South Australia.
Kwok, J. Y. C., & Ng, C. H. K. (2008). User friendly living environmental research and de-
sign for older persons. In P. Langdon, J. Clarkson, & P. Robinson (Eds.), Designing inclu-
sive futures. London: Springer-Verlag London Ltd.
Labus, A. (2012). Concepts of urban renewal in an ageing society in the XXI century —
Case studies in Polish cities. Paper presented at the REAL CORP 2012 Tagungsband,
Schwechat.
Lau, W. K. (1995). Recreation planning and provision of urban open spaces for elderly in
Hong Kong: A case study in Mongkok. (Masters Thesis) Centre of Urban Planning
and Environmental Management, University of Hong Kong, 218.
Lau, S. S. Y., Giridharan, R., & Ganesan, S. (2005). Multiple and intensive land use: Case
studies in Hong Kong. Habitat International, 29, 527–546.
Michael, Y. L., Green, M. K., & Farquhar, S. (2006). Neighborhood design and active ageing.
Health & Place, 12, 734–740.
Pasaogullari, N., & Doratli, N. (2004). Measuring accessibility and utilization of public
spaces in Famagusta. Cities, 21(3), 225–232.
QSR (2010). NVivo 10. (Retrieved March 2014, fromhttps://www.qsrinternational.com/).
Rowe, J.W., & Kahn, R. L. (1998). Successful ageing. New York: Random House.
Sugiyama, T., & Thompson, C. W. (2007). Outdoor environments, activity and the well-
being of older people: Conceptualising environmental support. Environment &
Planning A, 39, 1943–1960.
Tang, B. S., & Wong, S. W. (2008). A longitudinal study of open space zoning and develop-
ment in Hong Kong. Landscape and Urban Planning, 87, 258–268.
Temelova, J., & Dvorakova, N. (2012). Residential satisfaction of elderly in the city centre:
The case of revitalizing neighbourhoods in Prague. Cities, 29(5), 310–317.
Temelova, J., & Slezakova, A. (2014). The changing environment and neighbourhood sat-
isfaction in socialist high-rise panel housing estates: The time-comparative percep-
tions of elderly residents in Prague. Cities, 37, 82–91.
Turel, H. S., Yigit, E. M., & Altug, I. (2007). Evaluation of elderly people's requirements in
public open spaces: A case study in Bornova District (Izmir, Turkey). Building and
Environment, 42, 2035–2045.
URA, Urban Renewal Authority (2013a). URA to issue revised offers for Kwun Tong Town
Centre Project. (Retrived June 13, 2013, from http://www.ura.org.hk/en/media/
press-release/2013/20130621a.aspx).
URA, Urban Renewal Authority (2013b). URA commences the 15th redevelopment project in
Sham Shui Po. (Retrived March 08, 2013, from http://www.ura.org.hk/en/media/
press-release/2013/20130308.aspx).
122 E.H.K. Yung et al. / Cities 52 (2016) 114–122
URGE (2004). Making greener cities. (from http://www.urge-project.ufz.de/CD/
booklet.htm).
Welsh, E. (2002). Dealing with data: Using NVivo in the qualitative data analysis process.
Forum Qualitative Social Research, 3(2), 1–7.
WHO (2007). Global age-friendly cities: A guide from World Health Organization.
Wiles, J. L., Allen, R. E. S., Palmer, A. J., & Hayman, K. J. (2009). Older people and their social
spaces: A study of well-being and attachment to place in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Social Science and Medicine, 68(4), 664–671.
Wong, K. K. (2009). Urban park visiting habits and leisure activities of residents in Hong
Kong, China. Managing Leisure, 14(2), 125–140.
Woo, P. L., & Hui, K. M. (2011). Continuity and change in the urban transformation of old
districts — A case of Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong. Projections, 10, 101–116.
Woo, J., Chan, R., Leung, J., & Wong, M. (2010). Relative contributions of geographic, socio-
economic, and lifestyle factors to quality of life, frailty and mortality in elderly. PloS
One, 5(5), 8775. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0008775.
Zhao, M., & Chen, S. (2013). A survey on senior/elderly participation in leisure activity in
Hong Kong. Asian Journal of Exercise & Sports Science, 10(2), 92–101.