Spaces of coexistence in urban times

the importance of Maceió Municipal Park in the context of environmental inequality and post-pandemic reconfiguration

Abstract

Objective: analyze factors affecting visitation to Maceió Municipal Park (2021–2025) and their relation to environmental inequalities.

Methodology: descriptive analysis, documentary review, and statistical tests (ANOVA, Tukey HSD, t-test) using SEMURB data and municipal decrees.

Originality/relevance: addresses urban parks in medium-sized Brazilian cities through the lens of environmental justice and urban resilience, considering COVID-19 and soil subsidence.

Results: operational regime significantly influenced visitation; full opening led to higher flows; peak in 2023; decline in 2024–2025; forced neighborhood evacuations reduced social vitality.

Theoretical/methodological contributions: strengthens the understanding of parks as essential social infrastructures; proposes indicators of accessibility, institutional predictability, and collective belonging.

Social/environmental contributions: highlights the need for transparent management, continuous maintenance, and social inclusion to promote health, democratic leisure, and urban resilience.