Urban Security; Public Spaces, A Review and Survey of Security Levels in Parks of Qom's Second District

Nowadays, improvement of security levels in public spaces around the world is considered as one of the most important issues for managers, planners and urban designers. Parks can be very effective, particularly from the viewpoint of urban planners, in increasing or decreasing sense of security. They are one of the most important components of urban and natural systems and their characteristics such as location, design, accessibility, lighting, construction, population, etc. should be considered seriously in urban planning. Urban parks have scattered trees with synthetic or natural grass. They are the most popular place for human recreation and usually provide a pleasant environment for citizens to get involved in social activities, comfort, leisure, family affairs. This paper explored the security level of parks in Qom's 2nd district as one the most populated destinations of travelers in the city. As for defining the term security, different sources have different definitions. For example, Moein's dictionary defines security as something which is safe, secure and immune, without fear. Likewise, in Amid dictionary, security is defined in terms of comfort, convenience and safety, which above all, is said to have an important role in the origin of city life in modern time, especially in public places. This research is a practical research and its method is descriptive – analytical, which is based on case study. However, a theoretical framework is used besides field method in order to collect data. Based on Cochran formula, 384 individuals were selected as sample size and a researcher-made questionnaire was distributed among them randomly during the summer of 2012. Meanwhile, few hypotheses were developed concerning the situation of security in aforementioned parks. SPSS software was used to analysis the data and measure sense of security.Discussion of Results & The result of the study show that only 11 percent of inhabitants in the 2nd district are native, and the remaining 89 percent are rural and urban immigrants from other parts of the country. Most citizens go to these parks in their leisure times, when they feel tired, and when they are unemployed. The study shows that the most common offense crimes in the parks are drug dealing and consumption, conflict, robbery and sexual harassment, which more than 80 percent of respondents have been witnesses of them. Overall, what is clear is lack of residents’ satisfaction (park users) from parks’ security.The study shows that 3rd and 4th areas in 2nd district have a more inappropriate security situation in the parks due to highest marginalized communities that live in these places. What is witnessed in all areas of the studied district is the deep connection between the issue of safety and financial, economic and cultural problems, demographic and ethnic heterogeneity. Since residents of the parks are a heterogeneous group with different attitudes, beliefs, traditions, and religious mores, they are likely to have physical problems such as conflict, mass violence, and ethnic conflict. Findings show that women have a lesser feeling of safety then men. Using questionnaire results and field studies, it can be totally said that social, cultural and particularly economic status of residents in different parts of the district along with ethnic porosity are the most related issue regarding citizen's sense of security in the park. Considering that inhabitants of 3rd and 4th areas live in slums, are marginalized, and have more unsuitable social and economic situation, they also feel a reduced sense of security in parks.