Analysis of Perception, Intensity of Utilization, and Facility Needs in Riverbank Open Spaces: A Multi-Site Survey Study

Abstract

Riverbank open spaces in urban residential areas provide important environmental and social functions, particularly in densely populated settlements with limited access to formal public spaces. Despite growing interest in waterfront revitalisation, empirical evidence on user satisfaction in informal riverbank settlements remains limited. This study evaluates public perceptions, utilisation intensity, facility needs, and determinants of satisfaction in riverbank open spaces along the Musi River, Palembang, Indonesia. A cross-sectional multi-site survey of 499 respondents was analysed using reliability tests, descriptive statistics, the Kruskal Wallis test, Spearman correlation, and robust regression. Results indicate high utilisation intensity but only moderate satisfaction with existing conditions. Road quality, representing accessibility, emerged as the strongest predictor of satisfaction, outweighing social cohesion variables. Respondents prioritised waste bins, seating, lighting, and shade trees. The findings provide a low-cost framework for inclusive riverbank regeneration by improving accessibility and essential amenities in emerging cities (Grabowski et al., 2023a), , (Mouratidis, 2024) (Sharifi, 2023); (Shi et al., 2025).