The role of the open public spaces during the pandemic: A case study of ‘Parque Ibirapuera’

Abstract

2022 was the third consecutive year for which the COVID-19 pandemic lasted. Social distancing, the main strategy adopted to prevent the virus spread, has intensified a behaviour change, while people started to do their activities digitally, the act of physically being present in a given place or situation grows in importance. Walking on the streets, meeting people in parks, and seeing and being seen by others, have become essential for maintaining civic behaviour, mental health, and interpersonal's tightening relationships. Understanding how these changes affect cities in their future transformations is crucial. Attempting to explore this domain in-depth, this paper uses a case study about ‘Parque Ibirapuera’ – the most visited park in Latin America, located in São Paulo (Brazil), to explore changes in its visitors' behaviours. Photos, croquis, and news articles regarding the site before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were used for comparative purposes in this analysis. A bibliographical revision of documents surrounding ‘Parque Ibirapuera’s’ context and purpose for the city around it was made in this research to achieve the best possible comprehension of the park's specifications, but also to highlight its importance in São Paulo. This paper was able to understand the public's space role during the pandemic in Brazilian reality, using Ibirapuera Park as an example.