The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns exacerbated social isolation in urban communities. Social interaction is crucial for health, wellbeing, and social sustainability. Community parks serve as vital links between the environment and individual wellbeing, yet research on their impact on social interaction during the pandemic is limited, particularly qualitative research. This study addresses this gap by exploring how community parks influence residents' social interactions in master-planned communities (MPCs) in Sydney, Australia. The increased use of parks during lockdowns highlighted their importance for mental and physical health and social cohesion, prompting a re-evaluation of their role in community wellbeing. Existing literature acknowledges the role of public open spaces in promoting social sustainability, but there is a lack of understanding of the specific features of neighborhood green spaces that foster social interaction, particularly during health crises. Furthermore, there's limited qualitative research on the daily lives and social activities of residents in Australian MPCs, a significant residential development model aiming to foster community through integrated infrastructure. This study uses a qualitative case study approach to investigate the research question: 'How do community parks influence residents' social interactions in master-planned communities in Sydney?' It aims to fill the gaps in understanding human-environment relationships, the impact of community parks during health crises, the daily lives of MPC residents, and to provide crucial qualitative evidence lacking in the existing literature due to pandemic-related data collection difficulties. This is the first study to investigate this relationship in Sydney using qualitative evidence collected during the COVID-19 period, offering unique contributions to understanding the complex human-environment relationship and social interaction within MPCs.

The study draws upon social ties theory (Granovetter, 1973), emphasizing the importance of both strong and weak ties, and social network theory (Berkman et al., 2000), which highlights the impact of social networks on health and wellbeing. The literature review explores existing research on factors influencing neighborhood social interaction, categorizing them into personal, social, and built environment factors. The built environment factors examined include the provision and quality of public open space, land use density, pedestrian access, and neighborhood connectivity. Previous studies have shown a positive association between the provision of public open spaces (e.g., parks and playgrounds) and social interaction. New urbanism offers a theoretical framework linking public spaces and social interaction. The literature review also synthesizes existing knowledge on the characteristics of community parks associated with social wellbeing, including the quality of park spaces (recreation spaces, playgrounds, sport facilities, nature amenities), pedestrian integration (park accessibility, distribution, and network), and pedestrian connectivity with surroundings. The impact of COVID-19 on park use and social interaction is also reviewed, noting increased park visits globally but varying levels of visitation, the increased importance of community parks for physical and mental health, and the changing nature of social behavior in public spaces during the pandemic. Finally, the review examines the literature on master-planned communities (MPCs) in Australia, highlighting their role in sustainable residential development and the existing gap in understanding how neighborhood green features affect residents' social interaction and health outcomes.

This study employed a qualitative case study method. Two MPCs in Sydney, Breakfast Point (BP) and Liberty Grove (LG), were selected as case studies. BP is an open MPC, while LG is a symbolically enclosed MPC, allowing for a comparison of the impact of neighborhood connectivity and built forms on residents’ social activities. Participants (n=16, 8 from each MPC) were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling techniques, aiming for representation across socio-demographic factors (age, gender, marital status, work status, education, dwelling type, family composition, and length of residency). Participant recruitment utilized closed neighborhood Facebook groups and a related survey conducted in 2021. Interviews were conducted online via Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, following Salmons's (2016) 'E-Interview Research Framework'. Data saturation was achieved after 16 interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo 12 software and thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006). The interview protocol included four sections: community park use, social interaction, neighborhood connectivity, and participant background information. Thematic analysis involved six steps: data cleaning, transcription, initial code generation, code clustering, theme identification, and interpretation. A code frame was developed to identify themes related to the quality of park spaces, parks' pedestrian integration, and parks' connectivity.

Thematic analysis revealed three key themes influencing residents' social interactions in community parks: 1) Quality of park spaces: Five subthemes emerged: rest spaces, BBQ/picnic spaces, children's playgrounds, sports facilities, and nature amenities. Rest spaces were most frequently mentioned, facilitating both weak and strong ties interactions and group activities. Lack of shade and insufficient seating were frequently noted as limitations. BBQ/picnic spaces were primarily used for strong ties interactions and community gatherings, with concerns raised about limited availability and potential noise disturbance. Children's playgrounds encouraged interaction, particularly among young families. Sports facilities were used for both strong and weak ties interactions, community activities, and individual exercise, with some concerns regarding limited availability and age-appropriate facilities. Nature amenities, such as walking trails and green spaces, provided opportunities for both weak and strong ties interactions. 2) Parks' pedestrian integration: Two subthemes were identified: interconnected park network and well-dispersed small parks. The central park acted as a focal point for community activities, while smaller, more accessible parks dispersed throughout the communities were highly valued, particularly by apartment residents. 3) Parks' pedestrian connectivity with surroundings: Open MPCs with strong connections to surrounding areas facilitated more social interaction than symbolically enclosed MPCs with limited connectivity. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted park use, with residents using BBQ and picnic areas to maintain strong ties interactions and community gatherings, while utilizing nature amenities for increased social engagement and stress reduction. Vulnerable groups (elderly, children, pregnant women, recovering COVID-19 patients) found parks particularly beneficial for social wellbeing.

The findings support social ties and social network theories, demonstrating how various park features facilitate different types of social interaction within MPCs. The study underscores the importance of quality park design that caters to diverse social needs and activities. The significant role of rest spaces aligns with previous research highlighting their contribution to social interaction, particularly among older residents. The importance of pedestrian integration and connectivity supports existing literature that shows a positive correlation between walkability and social interaction. The study's findings also shed light on how community parks functioned during the pandemic, providing essential social spaces that helped to mitigate the negative impacts of social isolation and lockdowns. The contrasting experiences of residents in open versus symbolically gated MPCs highlight the influence of neighborhood design on social interaction. The study challenges the idea of MPCs as isolated entities, advocating for enhanced pedestrian connectivity to promote social integration.

This research highlights the importance of community parks in fostering social interaction within MPCs, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies key park features that contribute to social wellbeing and offers valuable insights for urban planning and development. Key contributions include testing the applicability of social ties and network theories within the context of Australian MPCs and challenging the perception of MPCs as isolated entities. Future research could explore the interrelationships between strong, weak, and absent ties and investigate the generalizability of findings to other residential contexts. The findings provide valuable practical recommendations for enhancing the social sustainability of urban communities by expanding and upgrading park amenities, creating well-dispersed park networks, and promoting pedestrian connectivity with surrounding areas.

The study's limitations include a focus on a limited number of case studies in Sydney, restricting the generalizability of findings to other residential contexts. Furthermore, while the study explored strong, weak, and absent ties, it did not explicitly examine the interrelationships among these different types of social ties. Future research could address these limitations by expanding the scope of the study geographically and methodologically.