Coexistence Perspectives: Exploring the impact of landscape features on aesthetic and recreational values in urban parks

Abstract

Urban parks play a crucial role in providing social services and promoting the health and well-being of residents. They serve not only as primary aesthetic spaces for urban residents but also as crucial venues for recreational activities. Exploring strategies for constructing urban parks that integrate landscape aesthetics and recreational value is essential. This approach will contribute to enhancing the quality of urban parks to meet the genuine needs of urban residents. However, there is currently limited attention given to related research. Based on this, the study focuses on Jinshan Park in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China, to investigate the relationship between landscape features and the coexistence of landscape aesthetics and recreation values of urban parks. The research employed field observations and questionnaire surveys to assess the landscape aesthetic and recreational values of urban parks and explore their coexistence. Additionally, semantic segmentation and other methods were introduced to quantify landscape features. Linear regression analysis was then applied to further examine the impact of landscape features on the landscape aesthetic and recreational values in urban parks, as well as their coexistence. The results revealed: (1) The landscape aesthetics of Jinshan Park is moderate, and the pattern of recreational activities in the park follows a sequence of passing‐by behaviors > static behaviors > dynamic behaviors, with the primary user demographic being middle-aged and elderly individuals. The coexistence of landscape aesthetics and recreational values in Jinshan Park needs to be improved. In comparison, the degree of coexistence between aesthetics and passing‐by behavior is relatively high. (2) The landscape aesthetics of urban parks are influenced by natural elements, with green view index playing a more crucial role. Recreational behaviors are jointly influenced by spatial, natural, construction, and facility elements. Concerning different types of behaviors, spatial elements have a significant impact on public static and dynamic behaviors, followed by natural elements and facility elements. Passing‐by behaviors are most influenced by construction elements, followed by spatial elements and facility elements. (3) The coexistence of landscape aesthetics and static behavior is facilitated by the presence of more water, an appropriately green view index, and a diverse plant community structure. Improving sky openness and green view index can effectively promote the coexistence of aesthetics with dynamic behavior. The coexistence of aesthetics and passing‐by behaviors is influenced by sky openness, garden architecture, and service facilities. This study provides a scientific theoretical foundation and a model reference to guide the construction of urban parks that integrate both aesthetic and recreational values.