Determining the contribution of urban reinforcement areas to the quality of urban life: The case of Kahramanmaras city

Urban amenity areas are an important determinant of a city's quality of urban life. However, rapid urbanization and related urban problems lead to a decrease in the quality of life. The study identified the presence of cultural spaces (libraries, museums, cinemas, cultural centers and fairs within the scope of performance and exhibition venues), open spaces (squares) and green spaces (city parks, neighborhood parks, neighborhood parks, playgrounds, picnic and entertainment areas, sports and playgrounds, outdoor swimming pools) in the urban area of Kahramanmaraş. The per capita resource value of these assets is linked and indexed to the distance to the user. The index values were converted into maps describing the spatial extent of the urban amenity areas through GIS software. As a result of the findings, the number of assets decreased or no assets were observed from the city center, where the number of assets was higher, to the periphery of the city. In neighborhoods where the values of Cultural Space, Open and Green Space Amenities Set (KAYOS) and Indexed Cultural Space, Open and Green Space Amenities Set (ENKAYOS) are low (Avşar, Aksu), the values of Effective Cultural Space, Open and Green Space Amenities Set (ETKAYOS) are high. It was found that despite high amenity values in the city center, amenity activities decreased. This shows that the per capita value (PPV) criterion is not sufficient in determining the efficiency of urban facility areas, and that in addition to this criterion, efficiency change values and distance between users and neighborhoods are important. The numerical method used in this study is important in terms of determining the efficiency of urban reinforcement areas and being applicable in other cities.