A Study on determining the plant preferences of users in children playgrounds: An example of Trabzon city

A Study on the Determining the Plant Preferences of Users in Children Playgrounds: An Example of Trabzon City Play grounds for children are the most important areas which are both needed for game and contributed to develop and learn something in urban habitats appeared as concrete mass. Considering conducted studies in this issue, the environments including natural elements assist in children developing positively. In order to plan play grounds, designing planting areas are as important as those of characterizing hardscape. "As children are the main users for play grounds, it should be needed for evaluating point of children's views to understand how about plants desire and to solve a problem." This opinion was a hypothesis of this research. Thus, this study aims to investigate the visual-functional influences of plants used in play grounds, and to determine the preferences of children about the plant attributes, i.e. colour, texture or form. In addition, the opinions of the parents on the existing plants used in the grounds were revealed. In application, two parks in Trabzon, Doğa Anneler Derneği and Dede Korkut Parks, were dealt with. Firstly, a total of 100 children for both parks were observed. Then, the preferences of them were evaluated in relation to demographic features, park usings and plants showed. A total of 50 parents (25 for Doğa Anneler Derneği Park and 25 for Dede Korkut Park) were surveyed according to demographic features, park usings and existing plants. Key Words: Child, Playground, Plant Preferences, Trabzon VII