Improving Visitor Experiences at Adelaide’s State Managed Metropolitan Parks

This research study was jointly conducted by the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) and Flinders University between March and April, 2018. In response to a recent South Australian Government investment of $8.9m towards park upgrades, this study primarily sought to observe current park users’ awareness of these upgrades and to identify how the upgrades had potentially changed both their experiences and frequency of visit. Indeed, a key aim of the investment was to improve community access and engagement in order to foster a range of benefits, including health and wellbeing opportunities thought increasing levels of engagement:

“Parks are places of adventure and challenge, exercise, peace and quiet, recreation, congregation and relaxation. In them we find a sense of enjoyment, strong community spirit and wonder in nature... Many people already enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of walking, sightseeing, cycling and socialising in these parks but we want more people to use these wonderful assets.” (National Parks South Australia, 2015)

Building on a previous report conducted by Flinders University in 2017: A Preliminary Study of Visitor Motivations and Experiential Needs at National Parks, Nature Reserves, and Conservation Areas in Adelaide and the Surrounding Region, this study will endeavour to identify the preferred activities and experiential needs of current visitors. Moreover, the report seeks to further understand to what extent parks are currently meeting visitor needs and will offer a platform for feedback in areas where additional improvements can be made.