The role of citizens' participation in improving the quality of the urban environment; case study, Mashhad metropolis

جغرافیاوتوسعه ناحیه ای

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 19 August 2025

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/jgrd.2025.91412.1515

Authors

Seyyed Mehdi Moussakazemi^{* 1}; Mostafa Taleshi²; Hossein Rahimi³; Masoud Tofigi⁴; Ali Hamed Mogadam⁵

¹Geography Department Social Sciences Faculty Payam e Noor University

²Department of Geography Social Sciences Faculty Payam e noor University

³Department of Geography, Social Sciences Facult,y Payam e Noor University

⁴Department of Geography, Social Sciences Faculty, Payam e noor University,

⁵5. Ph. D. Student in Geography and Urban Planning, Payam e Noor University

Abstract

This research has been conducted with the aim of studying the participation indicators of institutions and citizens and its role in improving the quality of Mashhad city environment. In this regard, by surveying experts, the key components of participatory planning were prioritized. Then, with in-depth interviews, the model of citizens' participation in urban planning was formulated. Its statistical population includes the citizens of Mashhad. The scope of the study in this article is districts 1, 5 and 11 of Mashhad city, survey method and questionnaire tool were used to collect data from the residents of selected areas. The findings of the research show that the distribution of participation indicators of institutions and citizens in selected areas with different environmental quality is not the same. Region 5, despite a variety of amenities, educational and recreational facilities, generally shows a higher level of participation at both institutional and citizen levels, while Region 11, as a developing region, shows a moderate level of participation at both levels. Region 1, as one of the central and old regions, shows a medium level in the institutions' participation index and a high level in the citizens' participation index. Regional differences in the participation levels of institutions and citizens, in this way, are effective in promoting socio-economic indicators, population density, education level, and access.The results of this research show the importance of paying attention to regional differences in planning and policy making to increase people's participation and improve the quality of the urban environment. Considering the differences in the levels of participation of institutions and citizens with the environmental quality of different regions, it is necessary to adopt policy approaches appropriate to the conditions of each region.

Keywords

Participation; Citizens; Urban environment quality; Mashhad city