Kuwait City Parks : A Critical Review of Their Design, Facilities, Programs and Management

The purpose of this study, first published in 1985, was to investigate the management practices of the Kuwait City Park System and the relationship of these practices to user satisfaction. The decision making process affecting the parks had been fragmented between three agencies, and this created conflicts in different goals, responsibilities and objectives. The study shows how much impact the uncoordinated and fragmented decisions had on user satisfaction in the parks. Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- PART 1: INTRODUCTION -- Objective -- Geographical Orientation -- Topography -- Climate -- Government -- Economy -- Culture -- Recreation -- Study Scope -- PART 2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON DECISION MAKING AND SURVEY TECHNIQUES -- Decision Making Process and Conflict -- Decision Making -- Conflict -- Survey Techniques -- Observational Technique -- Mail Questionnaires -- Telephone Survey -- The Personal Interview -- Glencoe Park and Recreational District -- LaSalle Community Survey -- Kuwait Urban Park Survey -- Kuwait Planning Board Research -- Summary -- PART 3: METHODOLOGY -- The Problem -- Need for the Study -- Objectives -- Design of the Interview Questionnaire -- Pretest -- Sampling Techniques -- Administration of Questionnaire -- Interviewing Agencies' Personnel -- Statistical Analysis -- PART 4: THE STUDY AREA -- The Municipality Park -- The Greenbelt -- The Greenbelt Park -- The Sheraton Park -- PART 5: FINDINGS -- Findings from Park Users and Potential Users -- Park Preferences -- Visitation Pattern -- Park Design -- Satisfaction with Design -- Park Facilities -- Satisfaction with Park Facilities -- Programs -- Satisfaction with Programs -- Park Management -- Satisfaction with Management -- Open-Ended Questions -- Demographic Variables -- Findings from Interviewing the Agencies' Personnel -- Department of Agriculture -- Ministry of Information -- Ministry of Municipality -- PART 6: DISCUSSION OF RESULTS -- Introduction -- Satisfaction with Design -- Park Size -- Parking Area -- Park Fence -- Walking Area -- Summary -- Satisfaction with Park Facilities -- Playing Areas for Adults -- Facilities for Children -- Praying Areas -- Restrooms -- Summary -- Satisfaction with Programs -- Programs Attendance and Quality -- Summary -- Satisfaction with Park Management Time of the Day When the Park Opens and Closes -- Rules and Regulations -- Store Cleanliness -- Restroom Cleanliness -- Summary -- Inter-Agency Coordination and Communication -- Conflict in Attitude -- Coordination and Communication -- PART 7: RECOMMENDATIONS -- Recommendations for the Department of Agriculture from the Research Results -- Author Recommendation -- Recommendations for the Ministry of Municipality from the Research Results -- Author Recommendation -- Recommendations for the Ministry of Information from the Research Results -- Author Recommendation -- Overall Summary and Conclusion -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- APPENDIX 1: Survey Questionnaire -- APPENDIX 2a: Number of Residents who made a return visit to Kuwait City parks, 1979 -- 2b: Recreational activities participated in by users in Kuwait City parks, 1979 -- 2c: User response to being crowded in Kuwait City parks last visit, 1979 -- APPENDIX 3: Degree of user satisfaction with Kuwait City park design, 1979 -- APPENDIX 4: Degree of user satisfaction with Kuwait City park facilities, 1979 -- APPENDIX 5: Degree of user satisfaction with Kuwait recreational programs, 1979 -- APPENDIX 6: Degree of user satisfaction with Kuwait City park management, 1979 -- APPENDIX 7a: Facilities that are not available in user's most preferred Kuwait City park, 1979 -- 7b: Reason for user dissatisfaction with facilities of the most preferred Kuwait City park, 1979 -- 7c: Activities that are not permitted in most preferred Kuwait City park, 1979 -- APPENDIX 8a: Distribution of Kuwait City park users by sex, 1979 -- 8b: Distribution of Kuwait City park users by age, 1979 -- 8c: Distribution of Kuwait park users by marital status, 1979 -- 8d: Distribution of Kuwait City park users by nationality, 1979 -- 8e: Distribution of Kuwait City park users by educational level, 1979 This reissue (1985) investigates the management practices of the Kuwait City Park System and their impact on user satisfaction. Management was fragmented between three agencies, with different goals, responsibilities and objectives. The study shows how much impact the uncoordinated decisions had on user satisfaction in the parks. 8f: Distribution of Kuwait City park users by occupation, 1979