Thematic Analysis of Issues and Challenges in Linear Parks from the Perspective of Visitors: A Case Study of Golha Park in Gorgan City

Urban parks serve as invaluable spaces for play, recreation, and relaxation, playing a crucial role in reconnecting people with nature and improving the quality of life for city dwellers. These spaces provide suitable venues for social and cultural activities. Consequently, improving and developing urban parks and addressing their shortcomings is essential for enhancing citizens' quality of life. Golha Park, one of Gorgan's most important urban green spaces, hosts various groups of citizens and visitors but appears to face challenges that require improvement. Therefore, due to a lack of in-depth studies, this research adopts a qualitative approach and thematic analysis (TA) to examine the status of Golha Park and its associated issues and problems. Data was collected through interviews with 22 park visitors, achieving theoretical saturation. The findings were categorized into 28 subthemes and 8 main themes: inadequate recreational facilities, lack of sufficient recreational amenities, aesthetic shortcomings, poor spatial planning, environmental issues, insecurity, and prevalence of antisocial behavior. These results can guide urban planners and policymakers in enhancing parks and improving the quality of life for citizens. Improving these spaces enhances citizens' lives and contributes to environmental preservation and public health. Therefore, addressing this issue and taking effective measures to improve urban parks is essential.