ABSTRACT
The vegetation is essential for city and it represents an opportunity to interaction of population with the elements of nature in urban areas. This paper investigates the meanings attached by population to urban parks. Using a qualitative approach, the research was carried out in three urban parks in the city of Santo André, SP. The interview was employed to identification, description and analysis of the meanings that users of urban parks ascribe to vegetation. The findings suggest that symbolic meanings are attached to vegetation in urban parks of Santo André city. The study shows that the vegetation in urban parks has the potential to engender a sense of well-being. The symbolic dimension must be recognized and incorporated into the planning and management of cities.
urban ecology; urban parks; meanings; well-being; public policy
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