Disabled mobility opportunities of urban parks through urban design : Case study of Kastamonu

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaulate the disabled accessibility of urban parks which have been built for everyone on the cases of İstiklal Yolu Park, Cevizli Park, Kışla Park and Dt. Ekrem Esen Park that were selected from Kastamonu city center. At the literature review part of the study the definitions for the context of disabled and the variations of disability have been explained and regulations about disabled have been mentioned. Additionally, information was provided about the problems faced by disabled people in urban parks and the undisabled space design and standards in the parks. In the last part of the study, after giving information about the case areas, the design of parks and urban furnitures were investigated by the observation forms prepared for these areas within the scope of desing principles and standards in findings part. The disability variations in the scope of the study were determined as Physically Disabled (Disabled and Walking Disabled), Sensory Disabled (Visually Disabled, Hearing Disabled and Speech Disabled), Mentally Disabled and Temporary Disabled. As the result of the study the accessibility of the parks and the problems faced by the disabled people in urban parks have been determined and solutions fort he problems have been proposed. Key Words: Kastamonu, disabled, park, undisabled space design, accessibility, standards.