Table 1 Summary of key findings

Factors influencing decisions to (re) develop parks and park design:

• Overarching policy and strategic planning documents

• Condition of existing parks

• Availability of land and characteristics of site

• Desire to meet evolving needs of the community

Current use of evidence in policy and planning:

• Evidence currently used included: academic evidence, evidence collected by their own organisations and evidence distributed by other non-academic organisations

Barriers to using evidence to inform park design:

• Time and cost constraints: enhanced due to deadlines and short time frames

• Difficulties locating and accessing relevant research: enhanced due to lack of skills and knowledge of how to find relevant research and insufficient access to databases/academic literature

• Lack of relevant research relevant to real-world settings

Ways to enhance evidence-based park design:

• Develop research partnerships between research academics/institutions and park developers/planners

• Provide more accessible research, communicated in a timely, succinct and informative format such as short summary reports, infographics, regular research updates, dedicated research databases, and conference and seminar presentations

Research gaps:

• Identifying park features that would encourage visitation across varying demographic groups to inform the planning and design of future park developments and re-developments

• Cost-benefit analysis studies of park and open space developments