Search Results (198)

Public spaces are important components of urban life, supporting social interaction, recreation, and environmental outcomes. Their success, however, depends not only on their physical provision but also on governance structures that guide their daily operation and maintenance routines. This study examines how operational governance and management practices influence user perception of public spaces by comparing two urban parks in Kathmandu: Ratna Park, a major city-level space, and Nandi Keshwor Bagaicha Park, a neighborhood-scale park. Using a mixed-method approach, the research employed a user survey (n = 191), interviews, and field observations. Survey data were used to develop composite indices for maintenance, safety, amenities, and user comfort. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, independent-samples t-tests, and multiple regression models were used to examine the influence of governance on user perception. The findings reveal notable differences between the two parks. Nandi Keshwor Bagaicha Park scored higher on perceived safety (mean = 4.30) and comfort (mean = 4.01), while Ratna Park showed stronger performance in amenities (mean = 3.91). Although correlations between governance indicators and comfort were weak, regression analyses showed that maintenance, safety, and amenities accounted for only a small portion of the comfort variance (r² = 0.03). These findings indicate that operational variables alone do not fully explain user perception and suggest that broader management practices and patterns of use may also influence perceptions of comfort. This study provides exploratory empirical insight into public space governance and highlights the importance of strengthening operational systems and management practices in contemporary cities. Full article

Protected areas increasingly require functional zoning approaches that integrate biodiversity conservation, ecosystem service provision, and human use. This study developed a data-driven functional zoning framework for Jirisan National Park, South Korea, by combining ecosystem service assessment with Self-Organizing Map (SOM)-based spatial typology. Five ecosystem services—water yield, sediment retention, carbon storage, net ecosystem productivity, and habitat quality—were assessed using InVEST, RUSLE, and locally derived carbon-related coefficients. These indicators were integrated with topographic and anthropogenic disturbance variables, including distances to roads and trails. The SOM analysis classified the park into seven functional spatial types with distinct environmental and ecosystem service characteristics. High-altitude areas near major trails were characterized by strong visitor pressure and mismatches among regulating services, whereas interior forest areas showed high multifunctionality and evenness, indicating stable ecosystem service provision. Low-altitude facility-dense and disturbance-adjacent zones showed relatively low habitat quality or service imbalance, highlighting the need for restoration-oriented management. These results suggest that ecosystem service bundles, multifunctionality, and evenness can provide a useful basis for functional zoning and evidence-based management of mountainous national parks. Full article

Rapid urbanization, climate change, and biodiversity loss are intensifying environmental pressures on arid coastal cities through extreme heat, water scarcity, salinity intrusion, and increasing flood risks. Despite substantial investment in urban green spaces across the Gulf region, many public parks provide limited ecological functionality and climate adaptation benefits. This study evaluated the ecological performance of three coastal parks in Muscat, Oman Sarooj Beach Park (23,080 m²), Ghubrah Beach Park (34,818 m²), and Al Athaiba Beach Park (17,370 m²), to identify opportunities for more resilient landscape design. The assessment revealed that although green space occupied 76.8–82% of park areas, tree canopy cover remained low (8–12%), limiting thermal comfort, habitat provision, and ecological performance. Based on these findings, a Functional and Climate-Responsive Planting Strategy (FCRPS) was developed by integrating the 10–20–30 biodiversity guideline with performance-based planting criteria tailored to arid and saline environments. The framework was applied to the proposed Majis Beach Ecological Park in Sohar, Oman, to demonstrate the implementation of ecological urbanism and nature-based solutions in a hyper-arid coastal environment. The resulting design incorporates biodiversity-enhancing planting, blue–green infrastructure, wetland restoration, and climate-responsive spatial planning. The study demonstrates how multifunctional landscapes can enhance biodiversity, improve thermal comfort, strengthen stormwater management, and support community well-being while providing a transferable framework for resilient public park design in arid coastal cities. Full article

Urban industrial heritage is increasingly embedded in urban regeneration, public space provision, and community governance, yet existing studies have insufficiently examined how heterogeneous publics perceive its value through everyday digital discourse. Taking the Guangzhou Iron and Steel Plant industrial heritage site (hereafter, the Guanggang industrial heritage site) as a case study, this study used user-generated content from Rednote posts and local WeChat public-account comments to identify platform-mediated expressions of public value perception. A corpus of 745 valid samples comprising 51,459 Chinese characters was constructed after data collection, screening, and text preprocessing. Word-frequency analysis, semantic network analysis, and sentiment analysis were conducted using ROST CM 6.0. The results show that the two retrieved platform-contextual corpora foregrounded different concerns. Rednote discourse foregrounded ruin landscapes, industrial aesthetics, photography-based check-ins, and exploratory experiences, whereas WeChat comments emphasized park construction, public facilities, governance responsiveness, safety, and the residential environment. At the corpus level, lexicon-based sentiment classification indicated that Rednote texts were dominated by positive and neutral categories, while WeChat comments contained a higher proportion of texts classified as negative. This study conceptualizes dual foregrounding as a bounded selection process through which platform affordances, user self-selection, and users’ relationships with the site influence which concerns become visible in each corpus; it does not treat the observed differences as a causal platform effect. It argues that industrial heritage regeneration must translate historical, technological, and aesthetic values into public values that are interpretable, accessible, usable, and trusted by local communities. Full article

Due to climate change and rapid urbanization, cities worldwide face the dual challenge of improving flood resilience and providing accessible green space within limited land resources. Sponge City parks offer a landscape-based approach for integrating stormwater management with park services. However, how park morphology structures this combined performance remains insufficiently understood. This study examines 26 Sponge City parks in Shanghai and evaluates how node-, line-, and patch-type morphologies are linked to stormwater storage and service provision. Using geospatial analysis, DEM-derived catchment delineation, land-cover interpretation, and statistical analysis, this study compares estimated stormwater storage, storage efficiency, local park availability, and land-cover composition across different park morphologies. The results show that estimated performance of stormwater management and park service provision vary across morphological types, but these differences do not follow a simple node–line–patch hierarchy. Rather, the observed patterns are jointly shaped by park morphology, catchment setting, land-cover allocation, and surrounding urban context. These findings suggest that Sponge City parks should not only be evaluated by total stormwater storage. Their contribution depends on morphology, scale, catchment setting, land-cover allocation, and urban context. The study provides a morphology–performance perspective to support more differentiated planning of multifunctional green infrastructure. Full article

As urbanization accelerates, urban residents face increasing life stress and mental health challenges, while urban green spaces that provide restorative experiences play an important role in promoting physical and mental well-being. However, most green-space accessibility studies have paid limited attention to whether residents can obtain specific health-supporting services, such as therapeutic landscape benefits. To address this gap, this study proposed a Healing Opportunity Assessment Model that incorporates park therapeutic quality into a potential accessibility model and calculates the Healing Opportunity Index (HOI) to measure residents’ opportunities to obtain therapeutic landscape services within a 15-min active transport threshold. Using Harbin as a case study, the results indicate that fitness facility quantity (0.180), waterscape attractiveness (0.150), and service-facility convenience (0.144) are the most important factors affecting park therapeutic quality. Under the 15-min active transport threshold, the distribution of healing opportunities remains highly uneven, suggesting that access to health-supporting therapeutic functions is still insufficiently balanced and that substantial improvement is needed in the current urban park system. This study connects park accessibility with residents’ opportunities to obtain therapeutic landscape benefits, providing quantitative support for identifying underserved communities and improving the equitable provision of health-supporting green-space services. Full article

As urban heat stress intensifies under rapid urbanization and climate change, urban parks are increasingly recognized as critical cooling infrastructure. However, conventional urban park planning has often emphasized the quantitative provision or spatially balanced distribution of parks, with limited attention to whether vulnerable populations can access parks with stronger cooling performance under spatial and mobility constraints. This issue is particularly important in aging societies, where older adults face greater heat vulnerability and more restricted walking mobility. This study proposes a decision-support framework that integrates park cooling performance, accessibility, and spatial equity assessment for age-sensitive urban green space planning. Using Seongnam City, South Korea, as a case study, park-level cooling performance was estimated using the InVEST Urban Cooling Model and incorporated into a Gaussian Two-Step Floating Catchment Area model. Focusing on older adults, with the working-age population as a comparative reference, the study assessed cooling-weighted park accessibility across multiple spatial scales. The results show that older adults experience lower and more unequal accessibility than the working-age population. In the Northern Living Zone, older-adult accessibility was only 35.2% of the Central Living Zone value, and 59.5% of older adults were exposed to low-accessibility hotspots. The framework provides practical evidence for prioritizing park provision, cooling-function enhancement, and heat-resilient pedestrian improvements. Full article

Cities worldwide face persistent inequalities in access to urban green spaces, a condition associated with reduced physical activity and poorer mental wellbeing. In high-density metropolises, land scarcity further intensifies these disparities. Although recent studies have highlighted the potential of small-scale green spaces, limited attention has been paid to their system-level and spatially differentiated roles within urban green infrastructure. Consequently, the equality implications of micro-scale interventions such as pocket parks across urban–rural gradients remain insufficiently understood. This study addresses this gap by examining the accessibility impacts of 475 pocket parks in conjunction with 433 large parks in Shanghai, using a multidimensional, citywide analytical framework. The Gaussian two-step floating catchment area (G2SFCA) method was applied within the 15-min community life circle framework to assess service coverage, population served, and per capita accessible green space, as well as their urban–rural differentiation patterns. Results indicate that the inclusion of pocket parks modestly increases overall service coverage (+3.41%) but substantially improves population access (+7.83%), converting 143.79 km² of previously unserved areas into areas with basic green space provision. Spatial effects vary along the urban–rural gradient: pocket parks generate high marginal population-service benefits and improve spatial equality in urban cores, strengthen green space service networks in peri-urban areas, and produce incremental accessibility gains in outer suburbs. Taken together, these findings provide a novel system-level understanding of how pocket parks function within urban green infrastructure networks, offering policy-relevant evidence to guide equality-oriented planning in high-density cities. Full article

Rapid urbanization highlights the increasing importance of urban green infrastructure in shaping urban spatial organization, quality of life, and environmental sustainability. This study examines spatial inequalities in the provision of urban parks in Sofia (Bulgaria) and Istanbul (Republic of Türkiye) from a comparative urban geography perspective. The two cities are selected as contrasting urban contexts in Southeastern Europe, characterized by different patterns of urban development, population density, and spatial structures. A GIS-based analytical framework is applied at the district administrative level, integrating indicators such as the share of urban parks, park area per capita, Local Moran’s I, and the Gini coefficient. The results reveal distinct spatial patterns: Sofia demonstrates relatively higher levels of park provision but pronounced inequalities, characterized by the concentration of large park areas in a limited number of central districts. In contrast, Istanbul exhibits a more even spatial distribution but significantly lower levels of park area per capita, indicating an overall shortage of urban park space. The findings demonstrate that Sofia and Istanbul experience different forms of spatial disparities in park provision due to distinct trajectories of urban development. Full article

This study proposes a method for evaluating accessibility to neighborhood parks within pedestrian sheds in environments where pedestrian network data are limited and aims to analyze the effects of residential development period and housing type on park accessibility. The study area is Daegu, South Korea. In residentially dense areas, residential activity blocks were delineated using roads with four or more lanes in consideration of pedestrian safety. This approach was intended to establish residential activity areas that account for pedestrian discontinuities. Residential activity areas are classified into five categories of park accessibility, based on whether a neighborhood park lies within walking distance, the number of parks available, and their proportional relationship to the total block area. In addition, periods of residential development are defined according to the year of building approval, and their associations with park accessibility are analyzed in relation to housing type. The analysis identified 464 residential activity blocks within the study area, of which 253 contained parks within pedestrian sheds. The actual distribution of parks within the blocks differed from the results of the conventional buffer-based accessibility analysis conducted for parks within pedestrian sheds. For example, although some blocks included parks within the statutory maximum walking distance of 1 km under the conventional buffer criterion, residents were in practice required to cross roads with four or more lanes to access the parks, indicating that the parks were not effectively located within the residential activity area. In terms of the relationship with the period of residential development, areas densely occupied by residential buildings established before 1980 exhibited relatively low park accessibility, whereas those established since 1990 demonstrated relatively favorable park accessibility. These findings suggest that spatial disparities in park accessibility are structurally shaped by the timing of urban development and patterns of residential formation, rather than by population density alone. This study presents an approach to evaluating accessibility that is applicable even in the absence of pedestrian network data and provides policy implications by identifying priority areas for neighborhood park provision to improve park equity in older residential areas. Full article

Existing research on the landscape patterns of urban parks and green spaces demonstrates a disproportionate focus across tiers within China’s urban hierarchy. Numerous studies have concentrated on economically developed first-tier cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. In contrast, medium-to-large non-first-tier cities, especially provincial capitals and emerging cities within the first- and second tiers, have been relatively understudied, although they have received increasing attention in recent years. This bias extends regionally, with studies predominantly examining cities in the more developed central and eastern regions, while less-developed areas and lower-tier cities receive significantly less attention. This study tracks changes in park quantity, spatial concentration, patch structure and driver associations at three planning-related time points. Shenyang provides a distinct cold-region and old industrial city case, shaped by long winters, industrial renewal and outward urban growth. Furthermore, to inform park and green-space planning in Northeast China’s cold-climate cities, exemplified here by Shenyang, a major metropolis with a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate (Köppen Dwa), long cold winters, and relatively short warm summers, we document a shift in park distribution from the urban core to peripheral areas. Based on park vector layers reconstructed from planning documents, remote sensing interpretation and field verification, this study combined spatial analysis, landscape metric calculation and driver-association modeling. ArcGIS Pro was used to identify changes in distribution centers, directional extension and local clustering; FRAGSTATS 4.2 was used to calculate park landscape metrics; and SIMCA-P 14.1 was used to examine the statistical associations between selected landscape indicators and potential driving variables. The results show that the number and total area of parks in central Shenyang increased substantially from 2000 to 2024. Spatially, park distribution became less concentrated in the traditional inner city, while new clusters gradually appeared in peripheral districts and newly developed urban areas. The old urban core remained important, but its dominance weakened as park provision expanded outward. The landscape metric results further indicate that park expansion was accompanied by more irregular patch forms, stronger fragmentation and declining structural continuity. The driver association analysis suggests that climate conditions, population change, industrial restructuring, real estate investment, road construction and urban greening policies were related to different aspects of park landscape change. These associations should be interpreted as statistical relationships rather than direct causal effects. Overall, this study clarifies the spatial restructuring of park green spaces in a cold-region old industrial city and provides planning evidence for improving park connectivity, coordinating green space expansion with urban construction and supporting sustainable park system development in Northeast China. Full article

Whether urban park supply effectively responds to residents’ actual use remains a critical issue for public service provision, residents’ health and well-being, and spatial equity in high-density cities. Conventional assessments based on static population data may fail to capture dynamic patterns of human activity, potentially obscuring mismatches between service provision and real demand. This study integrates mobile phone signaling data into a supply–demand assessment framework to evaluate urban park systems from a dynamic population perspective. The framework is applied to Shenzhen as a representative high-density megacity. Park supply is measured by service capacity, coverage, and accessibility, while demand is derived from observed visitation behavior. A Supply–Demand Ratio (SDR) index, combined with Getis-Ord Gi* analysis, is employed to identify spatial patterns of mismatch. The results reveal substantial supply–demand imbalances that are not captured by traditional static indicators, with approximately 30.9% of communities identified as significant cold spots. High-density central areas exhibit a persistent deficit in park services despite relatively high coverage levels, whereas peripheral areas with abundant ecological resources show relative surpluses. These patterns are closely associated with urban functional structure, population mobility, and jobs–housing separation. By uncovering the divergence between nominal accessibility and actual use, this study highlights the limitations of place-based planning approaches and underscores the need for a people-centered perspective. The findings point to the importance of shifting from “opportunity equity” to “outcome equity” in evaluating and improving urban public service provision to foster sustainable urban development. Full article

This study developed a comprehensive framework integrating ecosystem services (ESs), ecological adaptability, and ornamental value to guide tree species selection in historic cities constrained by soil salinization and subsurface heritage conservation. Taking Kaifeng, Henan Province, as a case study, we employed field surveys, i-Tree Eco, the Analytic Hierarchy Process, and K-means clustering to evaluate trees across protective, park, attached, and square green spaces. Results showed that carbon-related services dominated Kaifeng’s urban ES profile, with carbon storage (CS) and sequestration (CSE) value densities of 9.09 ¥·m⁻² and 0.84 ¥·m⁻²·y⁻¹, respectively. Air pollutant removal (AR) (0.21 ¥·m⁻²·y⁻¹) and P (0.009 ¥·m⁻²·y⁻¹) values remained comparatively low. Camphora officinarum Nees ex Wall delivered the highest annual ES value per tree (33.24 ¥·y⁻¹). Plaza greenery outperformed other space types in overall service provision, and deciduous broadleaf species generated greater ES value than evergreen conifers. Cluster analysis identified four functional groups: stress-tolerant pioneers, balanced adapters, high-efficiency carbon sinks, and ornamental specialists—each suited to specific green space contexts. This integrated framework offers a transferable approach for evidence-based tree selection in saline historic cities, supporting nature-based solutions in urban green space (UGS) planning. Full article

Brownfield-transformed urban parks, particularly those derived from industrial heritage, play a critical role in both cultural preservation and public-space provision. However, existing studies often rely on linear models and general urban contexts, limiting their ability to capture nonlinear, interaction-driven perception and translate analytical results into design-oriented insights. To address this gap, this study develops an interpretable data-driven framework integrating NLP (natural language processing) with explainable machine learning. Using social media reviews from Shougang Park in Beijing, built environmental elements are identified and structured into four dimensions—Accessibility, Safety, Comfort, and Enjoyment. An XGBoost model combined with SHAP analysis is employed to examine variable importance, nonlinear relationships, and interaction effects. The results reveal that visitor satisfaction is governed by heterogeneous and nonlinear relationships rather than independent additive effects. Several variables exhibit threshold-like, diminishing, and inverted-U-shaped patterns, indicating sensitivity to intensity ranges. More importantly, spatial perception emerges from the nonlinear coupling of multiple elements, forming four representative interaction types: compensatory, inverted-U-shaped, context-dependent, and threshold-like relationships. Key interactions are concentrated around industrial landscape, leisure activities, and supporting facilities. Building on these findings, the study translates interactions into design-oriented strategies, emphasizing synergistic configuration, functional balance, moderated development intensity, and context- sensitive programming. By linking interpretable machine learning with spatial design, this research advances an interaction-oriented paradigm and provides a transferable framework for satisfaction-informed evaluation and optimization of brownfields. Full article

Drawing on 964 field observations from typical community parks in Changsha, this study utilizes the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) alongside Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) to quantitatively dissect the intrinsic associations between older adults’ outdoor activity patterns and micro-spatial characteristics. The findings reveal a pronounced demographic differentiation in spatial utilization. Specifically, female-dominated collective activities, such as square dancing, exhibit a profound reliance on central plazas with unobstructed sightlines to cultivate a sense of social security. Conversely, male users demonstrate a distinct preference for static social interactions, including playing chess or cards, within semi-enclosed and shaded spaces beneath a tree canopy. Beyond gender distinctions, age-related spatial anchoring is also evident. Intergenerational caregiving activities among the younger old cohort (aged 55 to 74) are exclusively concentrated around children’s playgrounds, whereas older old individuals and those with impaired mobility rely heavily on densely distributed micro-scale resting amenities. Driven by these empirical insights, this research contends that age-friendly park design must transcend generic accessibility standards, advocating instead for a “categorized spatial provision” strategy. By meticulously balancing open exhibition plazas, semi-private shaded units, and composite caregiving zones within a single park ecosystem, this approach can effectively accommodate the multifaceted health and social requirements of various older adult subgroups. Full article