Effects of socio-demographic differences in local population expectation of Green Spaces in Kara City of Togo

Urban green spaces are essential to the quality of life and development of city dwellers worldwide. This study examined how socio-demographic factors influence local preferences for urban green spaces in Kara (Togo), with the aim of guiding urban planning and policy development. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted. The independent variables were age, gender, marital status and level of education. The dependent variables corresponded to the characteristics of green spaces expected by city dwellers, including cleanliness, lighting, fountains, shaded rest areas, walking paths, safety, children’s play areas and accessibility. These tests provided information on the existence of any statistically significant differences between the variables with a p-value < 0.05. The results showed that, age, level of education, and marital status strongly influenced the expectations of local populations. Older (with over 61 years), married and more educated people, attributed a higher value to safety, lighting, the presence of drinking fountains and children’s playgrounds in the green spaces. Gender did not have a significant impact on the expectations of green spaces for most respondents. Findings provide insights for designing inclusive and functional green spaces that align with diverse community needs.