A PERCEPÇÃO DOS PRATICANTES DE ATIVIDADE FÍSICA SOBRE A QUALIDADE AMBIENTAL SONORA DOS PARQUES PÚBLICOS DE CURITIBA-PARANÁ

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the perception of the physically active people on the environmental sound quality of public parks of Curitiba - Parana. We selected four parks: three of these are located in close proximity and/or pathways surrounded by intense vehicle traffic. The fourth one is situated in a more peaceful area, considered as the control area. Three hundred and twenty eight interviews were conducted with users of these areas (82 in each park), acoustic noise measurements and noise mapping were also conducted. Data confirmed the strong influence of traffic noise from vehicles in the sound environment of the parks, where most of the points and areas with noise levels that exceed the limit imposed by the municipal law of Curitiba (55 dB(A)) are on the perimeter parks, near major routes of movement. As expected, only the control park displayed sound pressure levels in accordance with local legislation and good environmental noise quality as perceived by its users. Other conditions and parameters of the environment, beyond the sound pressure levels and the surrounding urban form, were also taken into account, and which interfere on the soundscape of the parks and in its perception by patrons. These parameters were: the degree of nuisance caused by noise of traffic, the types of sounds that make up the soundscape, the visual landscape, users' expectations to the sounds, and the local structures of leisure and physical activity.