Social transformations and urban vitality in Farahzad River Valley and Nahj al-Balaghah Park, Tehran

Poorhasan Mehrzanjani, Mohammad Mahdi; Azarnivand, Hossein; Malekian, Arash

doi:10.22034/uep.2026.576289.1847

Social transformations and urban vitality in Farahzad River Valley and Nahj al-Balaghah Park, Tehran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mohammad Mahdi Poorhasan Mehrzanjani ¹

Hossein Azarnivand ²

Arash Malekian ²

¹ M.Sc. Graduate, Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran. Karaj, Iran

² Professor, Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran. Karaj, Iran

10.22034/uep.2026.576289.1847

Abstract

Urban river valleys in Tehran, particularly the Farahzad River, have faced environmental, social, and cultural challenges in recent decades. However, their rehabilitation has created significant potential for revitalizing social life and enhancing urban vitality. This study examines the effects of socio-cultural rehabilitation on the social dimensions of urban vitality in these spaces. The research is applied in purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature, using a mixed quantitative-qualitative approach within a case study framework. Data were collected through library research, urban documents, field observations, and a researcher-developed questionnaire. The statistical population consisted of 30 experts, including faculty members and urban managers. The questionnaire consisted of 24 items concerning physical, social, and cultural-recreational dimensions. Its validity was confirmed through expert judgment, and its reliability was verified with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.70. The data were analyzed using indicator ranking and SWOT analysis. The findings suggested that rehabilitation had a positive effect on urban vitality by increasing social presence, improving environmental perception, strengthening social interactions, and fostering an initial sense of place attachment. The strongest impact was observed in environmental liveliness. However, social insecurity, destructive behaviors, lack of amenities, and weak coherence in cultural programs have limited the sustainability of this vitality. Therefore, sustainable urban vitality in these spaces requires the integration of physical interventions with social management, enhanced security, improved welfare services, and participatory cultural planning.

Keywords

Farahzad River Valley

Nahj al-Balagha Park

restoration

socio-cultural

urban vitality

Subjects

Urban Studies

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