Neighborhood Park Quality Satisfaction and Perceived Barriers to Use: Evidence from Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

Neighborhood parks have the potential to support urban health, social interaction, and environmental quality; however, their usability depends not only on perceived quality but also on conditions that may constrain their use. This study examines neighborhood park performance by integrating user satisfaction with park quality and perceived barriers to use across three neighborhood parks in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Park quality was assessed through six dimensions and 25 indicators derived from a thematic synthesis of the literature, while perceived barriers were examined across six categories covering environmental and climatic conditions, accessibility and mobility, safety and security, facilities and services, maintenance and environmental quality, and social and personal conditions. Field observations and surveys of 327 existing park users supported an exploratory comparison of quality satisfaction and perceived barriers; non-users were not represented. Results showed that Al Thuqba exhibited the greatest quality deficiencies and strongest overall barriers, while Al Rakah and Al Safa generally performed better. Environmental and climatic conditions emerged as the most prominent barriers across all three parks, particularly extreme heat and insufficient shade. At Al Thuqba, lower park-level satisfaction means for environmental quality, safety and recreational facilities occurred alongside higher perceived-barrier means. Climatic barriers remained prominent at Al Rakah and Al Safa despite comparatively positive quality evaluations. These aggregate patterns suggest site-specific assessment priorities; they do not establish individual-level relationships or effects on visitation. The combined assessment provides complementary descriptive evidence for planning the three parks and warrants testing in other settings.