Our Park, Our Community: Exploring Psychological Ownership in Public Open Spaces

This study addresses two research gaps related to public open spaces and psychological ownership by exploring the underexplored realm of collective psychological ownership alongside the frequently researched concept of individual psychological ownership, and assessing whether their effects extend beyond these spaces to influence the broader community. In this exploration, this study highlights place attachment (place dependence and place identity) as key factors influencing both forms of ownership. Using structural equation modeling, data from 366 bike path users in a northeastern state were analyzed. Interestingly, while place identity positively correlated with both individual and collective psychological ownership, place dependence showed a negative association with collective psychological ownership. Additionally, place identity significantly mediated the relationship between place dependence and individual psychological ownership. The managerial implications of these findings for enhancing community engagement and stewardship were also discussed.