Riverside Greenway in Urban Environment: Residents' Perception and Use of Greenways along the Huangpu River in Shanghai, China.

Zheng Zhao,Xin Qian,Peipei Wu,Yanbin Wang,Huimin Gan,Jiahui Leng

doi:10.3390/ijerph18031120

Abstract

Urban greenways improve green coverage rates in urban environments and transform these environments in a people-oriented manner. This study adopted semantic differential (SD) methods and an importance–performance analysis (IPA) model to evaluate resident perceptions and preferences of riverside greenways. A survey of 588 residents was conducted on typical natural greenways, built greenways, and mixed greenways along the Huangpu River in Shanghai. The results showed that resident perceptions of style, space, and distance differed markedly, whereas their perceptions of environmental and psychological characteristics were relatively similar. There were strong correlations between residents’ characteristics and their perceptions, especially for their perceptions of greenway style, sense of order, and distance from the river. By comparison, most residents preferred mixed greenways. Additionally, respondents from areas with natural and mixed greenways believed that they benefited, whereas those from areas with built greenways displayed a potential sense of deprivation. The results of IPA analysis provide further support for the above conclusions. As a whole, the relatively simple methods demonstrated here could be useful to quantitatively analyze the subjective perceptions of urban residents.

Highlights

Urban greenways have expanded urban leisure and service facilities worldwide.Urban residents, especially, can benefit from improved health, more opportunities for interactions with nature, and enhanced community cohesion
Three unique contributions to the existing research are provided: the first contribution is that this study pays close attention to the perception factors related to urban greenways, and comprehensively considers the importance and performance of residents’ perception; the second contribution is that this study reports the significant differences among different types of greenways; different types of greenways must be constructed according to the local conditions; the third contribution is that this study focuses on the subjective perception of residents, and further discusses the differences of their perception combined with their individual characteristics
More than 75% of respondents were under 40 years old, and respondents from the natural greenways were relatively older

Summary

Introduction

Urban greenways have expanded urban leisure and service facilities worldwide.Urban residents, especially, can benefit from improved health, more opportunities for interactions with nature, and enhanced community cohesion. A greenway is a linear, natural, open space and is usually built along a natural or artificial channel, such as a riverside, valley, or road. It should contain exercise and recreational routes for pedestrians and cyclists, and connect features such as parks, green spaces, residential areas, fields, and various activity centers [4,5]. In major cities and megacities worldwide, various types of greenways, with reasonable planning and distinctive characteristics, play a pivotal role in the lives of residents, providing opportunities for interactions with nature despite fast-paced urban lives.

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