Guidelines for Physical Development of Urban Agricultural Areas to Promote Quality of Life for Residents in the Baan Mankong Community: A Case Study of the KSB. Pattana Baan Mankong Community, Lat Phrao Canal Banks, Sai Mai District, Bangkok

Abstract

Urban expansion has reduced green spaces, negatively impacting residents' quality of life, particularly in Bangkok's low-income communities where urban agriculture surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research examines the physical development process of agricultural areas and analyzes pre- and post-development changes in residents' quality of life in the KSB. Pattana Baan Mankong Community, Sai Mai District, Bangkok. Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected via secondary sources, physical surveys, in-depth interviews, and rating-scale questionnaires from two groups: residents who participated in the community's agricultural development and those who did not.

Results revealed that the development process was fundamentally driven by community participation, resulting in excellent accessibility and spatial allocation. The overall physical assessment scored highly (4.68); however, recreational usage received the lowest score (3.94). Post-development quality of life improved significantly across all dimensions (average increase of 1.96). The environmental aspect exhibited the highest positive change (2.82), followed by physical, mental, and intellectual health (2.07), social (1.72), and economic (1.21) dimensions. Comparatively, participants reported greater improvements in most aspects than non-participants, except in the social dimension, where non-participants perceived a significantly higher positive impact. These findings prompt recommendations for optimizing space utilization and upgrading infrastructure, centering on the needs of the elderly and communal activities.