Park Design Research Articles

The Relationship between Park Design and Seniors’ Use of Green Spaces in X’ian, China

Urban parks can facilitate a healthy and active lifestyle among older adults by promoting their physical activities and social interactions. However, unless these parks meet the needs of this group, they may not be effectively utilized or contribute to seniors’ well-being. We applied the concept of environmental affordances in an investigation of the relationship between urban parks’ design characteristics and their use by older adults. Specifically, we developed a functional taxonomy of afforded park usage for senior visitors based on a methodology that combined interviews and behavior mapping in three sites within an urban park in Xi’an, China. We identified four main categories of afforded park usage: individual physical activities, group physical activities, social interactions, and sitting and resting. These activities may be supported or constrained by particular design elements, other people and their behaviors, the park’s physical accessibility, facilities and maintenance, and the park’s atmosphere. In conclusion, we provide recommendations to facilitate urban planners and designers in creating more livable green spaces for senior residents in urban areas.

Internet of things and cloud based smart parking system design criteria

In urban areas, traffic density is seen due to the congested residential areas and the high number of vehicles. The problem of drivers searching for parking spaces in central areas creates traffic. The Internet of Things (IoT) technology offers important solutions with its networking feature to solve problems such as traffic congestion, road safety and inefficient use of parking areas, which are waiting for solutions within the scope of Intelligent Transportation Systems. In this study, the technological infrastructures used by IoT-based smart parking systems are examined and integrated building models are proposed for system designs where parking lots are managed. For smart park design, devices, networks and cloud architecture used in IoT-based systems were examined and requirements were determined. The criteria of an application based on design central management are given. The criteria of an application based on design center management are given. Thanks to the smart parking system to be created in the light of these criteria, the closest parking area will be determined. These designed IoT-based systems will contribute to the reduction of traffic congestion, loss of time in full parking areas, air pollution caused by stop and start vehicles, and fuel savings in the economic field.

Decentralized composition of russian natural gardens

Our intention in writing this work was to identify methods that were used in Russian landscaped garden design on the example of St. Petersburg estates and the Bogoroditsky palace and park ensemble created by A.T. Bolotov, and to reveal differences between Russian and English landscaped parks. The study suggests that the Russian park was very different from the English one. Whereas the English park would be created as a visual sequence (a system of park pictures) in which different panoramas were constructed from different perspectives, Russian park designers sought to create the space of the park as a pathway between individual scenes. English parks were living pictures, and Russian natural gardens were 3D spaces. As a conclusion, Russian parks had a decentralized composition and were structured as a system of scenes (glades with architectural or natural objects) and «dark alleys» (transit spaces) connecting them, and the immersive environment of the Russian garden implied the depth of the space.

Towards Smart Parking Management: Econometric Analysis and Modeling of Public-Parking-Choice Behavior in Three Cities of Binh Duong, Vietnam

In developing cities, newly emerging cities have started facing the problem of insufficient public parking facilities and ineffective regulations. To support the planning, design and management of the public parking system towards a smart and sustainable city vision, it is necessary to study deeply parking behaviors. This paper presents an empirical study on parking-choice behaviors of motorcycle users and car users in the emerging cities of developing countries through a case study of three cities in Binh Duong, Vietnam. To explore the behavioral mechanisms and influential factors, the multinomial logit parking choice models are developed using revealed preference and stated preference data. The users’ overall satisfaction and perceived importance of parking lot design and service aspects are analyzed using order logistic regression. The revealed choices show no trade-off between parking fee and walking distance, as the users are not fully aware of parking locations and service features. However, the stated choice experiments prove a potential existence of the trade-off mechanism and differentiate significant factors in the decision of choices for the two user groups. The results bring insightful implications for the development of a smart public parking system.

Well-being and multisensory urban parks at different ages: The role of interoception and audiovisual perception

The aim of the present work was to verify whether the perception of visual and acoustic characteristics of urban parks is influenced by the age of the participants. Fifty young (average age 25 years) and fifty elderly (average age 66 years) people were shown with combinations of different types of urban parks (i.e., green, colorful parks and squares) and different types of sound (i.e., bird song, water, chattering and traffic). For each audio-video scenario, participants indicated how calm, happy and stimulated it made them feel and how pleasant, exciting and attractive each scenario was. In addition, participants performed a cross-modal attention task and filled out an interoceptive awareness questionnaire. The results showed that both young and elderly participants preferred green parks with natural sounds. In addition, elderly participants positively evaluated colorful parks over squares. Interestingly, young participants gave more importance to the evaluation of visual-only elements than auditory-only elements, whereas elderly participants gave more importance to the acoustic characteristics of scenarios than the visual ones. Finally, in the elderly group, both attentional abilities and interoceptive awareness contributed to the positive evaluation of urban parks. Theoretically, the results suggest that both signals from the body and from the external world contribute to a holistic representation of the environment. Cross-modal attention may play a crucial role in this process. On an applied level, the data suggest that the design of colorful parks and soundscapes that evoke nature should be encouraged, especially for older populations.

Ecosystem services and economic values provided by urban park trees in the air polluted city of Mashhad

Estimates of air pollutant removal by urban park trees in heavily polluted city of Mashhad, Iran, the associated economic value and the impact on air quality improvement are the main contributors of this study. The economic value of Mellat Park is substantial with a benefit-cost ratio at 0.6; however, the design of Mellat Park has not been adopted in accordance with air quality condition. While carbon emissions is not substantial, a significant part of Mellat Park's value (53.5 %) arises from carbon sequestration. Regarding PM2.5, the most harmful air pollutant, there was a decline in air quality. The economic analysis of the park's three most frequent and three most valuable species highlights the inconsistency between the tree species and the environmental demands. If Acer rubrum (the most valuable species) or Paulownia (the second most valuable species) had been planted rather than Platanus orientalis (the most common species), the park's tree value would have seen 2.7 times increase and a 41.8 % boost. Local scale design considering the link between air pollution and vegetation configuration -including landscape for vegetation and superior plant species - can maximize value of the park's trees on removal rates and air quality improvement.

An improved accessibility index to effectively assess urban park allocation: Based on working and residential situations

Fast-paced life places significant pressure on urban residents. Park green space can improve human well-being, reduce work stress, and contribute to physical and mental health. However, parks may not be sufficiently used. The static assessment of park accessibility ignores different situations in residents' daily lives, which may lead to an incomplete evaluation. This study measures urban park accessibility (UPA) in working and residential situations in central Shanghai. It develops an effective utilization accessibility (EUA) index to assess the integrated supply and availability of parks by considering the dynamic spatiotemporal behavior of residents. The results show that several subdistricts have high EUA, and the spatial allocation of parks is inequitable. The rich park resources in the city's central area cannot be fully used by residents. There is an obvious distinction between the UPA values of the working and residential situations. Thus, we suggest that in future urban park planning, the working situation should be incorporated, and the functions and distribution of parks should be considered specifically for target groups. According to our findings, the EUA index is valid. It can sufficiently reflect the spatial equity of urban park allocation and inform park planning and design.

Park Inclusive Design Index as a Systematic Evaluation Framework to Improve Inclusive Urban Park Uses: The Case of Hangzhou Urban Parks

This study aims to optimize the evaluation system of inclusive design in urban parks, emphasizing the systemic nature of sensory, cognitive, and motor capacity support and exploring its role in park design practice. Based on the capability demand model, this study constructed indicators through literature collation and focus group discussion and assigned weights through hierarchical analysis to finally construct the Park Inclusive Design Index (PIDI). Then, the PIDI was utilized to assess the inclusive design performance of 48 urban parks in Hangzhou, China. The results of this study show that the overall inclusive design level of parks is relatively low (the average PIDI < 70), especially in the provision of cognitive support (cognitive-related indicator < 4). Meanwhile, comprehensive and specialized parks performed better in inclusive design compared to community parks and leisure parks. The level of inclusive design is moderatory correlated with the park renovation time and the park area, and strongly correlated with geographic location (scenic spot parks perform better; the parks in the old city perform worse). Ten indicators in the assessment scored below 2, which reveals the current status, shortcomings, and general problems with inclusive facilities in Hangzhou’s urban parks. This study integrated the needs and ability differences of people into the indicators, providing an assessment framework with broad applicability. Inclusive performance is a long-term process, and the implementation of the evaluation framework will provide a reference guide for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of urban parks across China and even around the world.

Seasonal variations in urban park characteristics and visitation patterns in Atlanta: A big data study using smartphone user mobility

Urban parks are essential for physical activity and health enhancement of local residents. Although previous research has explored the utilization of the urban parks, seasonal oscillations in visitation to small and medium-size urban parks have received scant attention. Utilizing long-time smartphone mobile data, this study investigated park visitation patterns in 84 Atlanta parks. In this article, seasonal variations in park visitation and the correlation between park visiting patterns and park attributes were evaluated. Using fixed-effect regression, we modeled the effects of socioeconomic, climatic, and park attributes on park visiting patterns. The results indicated that park visitor volume and park service areas were significantly influenced by seasonal variations. Facilities, pavements, and scale facilitated visitor volume, while water bodies and landscapes enhanced the park's accessibility from a distance. The landscape design of the park was a significant factor during the summer season, rather than autumn and winter, which were mostly influenced by the availability of playgrounds and recreational facilities. Seasonal patterns of resident visitation varied among parks and interacted with park qualities. This study is expected to inform future design and research of urban parks by addressing specific characteristics of parks and to provide resources in response to dynamic patterns of park access that surpass generic norms.

Planning and Design of Modern Agricultural Industrial Park Based on Rural Revitalization Strategy -A Case Study of Fenghuang, Mingshan, Ya'an, Sichuan Province

To develop the countryside, the industry must be revitalized. Modern agricultural industrial park, as an important content of implementing the rural revitalization strategy and deepening the agricultural supply-side reform during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, requires high attention to the multi-functionality of rural agriculture, organically combining the multi-functionality of agriculture with the improvement of rural infrastructure, the soundness of rural functions, and the industrialization of rural agriculture, avoiding the weak functionality of traditional agriculture, strengthening the strong functionality of smart agriculture and functional agriculture, realizing the organic integration of urban and rural elements, and making rural development comparable to urban development. Taking the planning and design of the modern agricultural industrial park in Fenghuang, Mingshan, Ya'an, Sichuan Province as an example, this paper starts from the current situation of the development of modern agricultural industrial parks in China, explores the existing resources of Fenghuang Village, analyzes its industrial development trend, and then plans and designs the planning and operation strategy, planning positioning, spatial layout and other aspects, in order to provide reference for the local government and the innovative development of modern agricultural industrial parks.

Engineering geological conditions for the construction of a photovoltaic power plant on coal tailings

Photovoltaic power plants have recently become increasingly common to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Non-fertile lands occupied by industrial waste are very suitable for their construction. The present study concerns the design and construction of a photovoltaic park on the territory of a reclaimed coal tailings dump “Suhoto Dere” near the TPP “Bobov Dol”. The study includes collection, processing and analysis of archival materials, site mapping, drilling of exploration boreholes, dynamic penetration tests, geophysical electrical resistivity survey, laboratory testing of soil samples to determine physical and mechanical properties; chemical analysis of soil samples to assess soil aggressiveness to concrete and steel. Based on the obtained data, an assessment of the suitability of the site is made and recommendations are given to prevent the occurrence of adverse phenomena and processes.

Did COVID-19 Reshape Visitor Preferences in Urban Parks? Investigating Influences on Sentiments in Shanghai, China

Urban parks can be critical components of city landscapes. In the wake of COVID-19, understanding the role of urban parks in helping to elicit positive sentiment and improve the overall well-being of visitors has gained new traction in the literature. This research distinctively investigates whether the COVID-19 pandemic altered preferences regarding urban parks and identifies the key landscape attributes and environmental factors that influenced positive visitor sentiment, thereby addressing a critical gap in understanding the evolving dynamics of urban green spaces in the post-pandemic era. We use a mixed methods approach that includes natural language processing techniques to analyze crowd sourced data across more than 100 urban parks in Shanghai, China. Not surprisingly, our results highlight a post-pandemic rise in preferences for neighborhood parks and features typically associated with neighborhood parks, such as walking accessibility and surrounding residential densities. In addition, we found six park features, the presence of grasslands, water bodies, walking paths, and proximity to shopping facilities, significantly impacted the ways in which people perceived their park experience. These insights can guide urban park planning, design, and management in our evolving post-pandemic landscape to help ensure that urban parks continue to serve as essential urban spaces.

User-generated content affects urban park use: Analysis of direct and moderating effects

Urban parks contribute to sustainable urban development by bringing various social and environmental benefits; understanding the factors influencing park use is important for informing evidence-based park design and intervention. Although there are increasing number of studies using user-generated content (UGC) as a proxy of park use, few studies have examined how UGC influences park use. Therefore, we selected 221 urban parks in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China, with multisource geographic data and collected 153,479 UGC from influential social media platforms. We discovered that UGC sentiment and park use were positively correlated, which was moderated by UGC exposure. In addition, park shape, vegetation and water coverage, land cover mix, parking lot density, and surrounding socioeconomic status, had indirect effects on park use via UGC sentiment. Solid evidence supports that UGC may affect park use because the spurious relationship arising from unmeasured confounders may not be moderated by UGC exposure. We recommend that UGC should be more carefully used as a proxy; its effect should be considered in future studies. In addition, we propose a tentative theoretical framework associating park use, UGC, and other key factors. This research provides a reference for future research and optimizing park use in the modern digital society.

Resilient Design of Urban Parks in the Context of Public Safety Incidents

The resilient design of urban parks in the context of public safety incidents is an important topic concerning both urban and public safety. This research, from a resilience perspective, explores the design of urban parks under the backdrop of public safety incidents. It analyzes the problems faced by urban parks in terms of social, natural, and engineering aspects, and proposes four phasesprevention, early warning, emergency response, and post-disaster recoveryemphasizing the elements of each phase. Moreover, a resilient design strategy is put forth: socialadaptive and versatile, embracing community sharing; ecologicalbalancing soft and hard elements, overcoming challenges with resilience; engineeringbuilding a foundation for disaster prevention, intelligent early warning. This strategy aims to enhance the resilience of parks, making them a crucial support for urban stability and public safety, while also providing valuable references for future urban planning and design.

Using Big Data to Assess Park System Performance during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Parks provide essential services to urban dwellers, but the global COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted park usage. Despite this, little is known about the adaptation of visiting behaviors by the public and how visitation patterns vary across different types of parks. In this study, we utilized SafeGraph cellular human movement data to compare park visits in Tucson, Arizona (USA) before and during the pandemic (2019 vs. 2020). We reviewed park management measures in response to the pandemic alongside park visit data. Furthermore, we conducted a GIS analysis to compare the changes in park visits across different park types throughout various days and months. Results indicate that (1) fluctuations in park visits are strongly correlated with COVID-19-related measures; (2) different types of parks experience vastly different processes of visit decline and recovery; (3) river and linear parks maintain their appeal, likely due to the perception of reduced virus transmission risk associated with their primary activities, such as walking and bicycling; and (4) the contrast between weekend and weekday visit patterns reflects the extent of the pandemic impact. These findings offer valuable guidance for park management and park usage, attendance prediction, and design adaptations for future pandemics. We conclude that SafeGraph big data are effective for evaluating park system performance on a broader scale.

Third space pedagogy and community-based park design in Austin, Texas

The complex, diverse, and embodied nature of Latin(o/a/x) placemaking calls for place-based pedagogy that foregrounds intimate learning outside the confines of the classroom. A ‘third space’ approach to landscape pedagogy seeks to facilitate co-production with residents in a variety of outdoor learning spaces, thus fostering landscape literacy by encouraging students to grapple with the multiple meanings of Latin(o/a/x) landscapes while challenging top-down, expert-driven placemaking discourses. We assess the learning outcomes from a one-year, two-semester studio sequence that produced a community-based design proposal for a neglected city park in Austin, Texas. The outdoor learning spaces provided diverse opportunities for critical and creative engagement, relationship building, and co-production of research processes, cultivating critical awareness of the complex social contingencies of places, actors, and placemaking practices. Such a third space approach to landscape studio pedagogy can contribute to more just, participatory place-based landscape design in Latin(o/a/x) landscapes.

Viewpoint: Learning lessons on fire-safe design of car parks

In the wake of a serious fire in a car park at Luton Airport, Mark Pundsack discusses some of the key fire safety considerations in car park design.

Urban park planning and design strategies based on sponge city concept

In recent years, people have increasingly attached importance to the application of sponge city theory in urban planning, but often overlooked the urban water regulation role played by urban parks. This paper analyzes the connotation and relationship between sponge cities and urban parks, lists the planning principles of urban parks, and proposes design strategies for sponge urban parks. In the planning and design process of sponge urban parks, rainwater management can be optimized by facilities, vegetation planting methods can be improved, and these can be combined with the current situation of urban parks to build a strong organizational and efficient green rainwater management system. This system not only ensures the viewing effect of the garden, but also effectively recycles and utilizes natural rainwater to form a complete sponge network, effectively promoting the construction of sustainable sponge urban parks.

Persepsi Dan Preferensi Pengunjung terhadap Aplikasi Desain Youth Park Denpasar

Visitors' Perceptions and Preferences on the Denpasar Youth Park Design Application. Youth ParkDenpasar is one of the parks located in Denpasar which was created to flow the ideas and creativity of youngpeople in Denpasar. The construction of Youth Park Denpasar which has facilities that support several activitiesamong young people, it is necessary to have a design application or application of a good function accordingto the tastes and trends of today's youth, where an attractive appearance can affect the level of visitors to YouthPark Denpasar. In order to improve the appearance of Youth Park Denpasar, there is a need for research onthe perceptions and preferences of park visitors. This study aims to identify the perceptions and preferencesof visitors to the youth park and make recommendations as a solution. The study used a survey method withdata collection techniques in the form of observation, interviews, literature study, and questionnaires, thatcollected 30 copies for 30 respondents. The visitor's perception of the Denpasar Youth Park design applicationshowed that most of them said it was good. Visitors' preferences for the Denpasar Youth Park designapplication show that the form of parking, lighting and still need to be improved. Visitors' perceptions andpreferences of the Denpasar Youth Park design application are used as information in the future developmentof Youth Park Denpasar or as a reference for making other parks, so that Youth Park Denpasar can be usedoptimally and comfortably according to visitors.

Study on thermal comfort of elderly in community parks: An exploration from the perspectives of different activities and ages

Community parks are significant green spaces for outdoor activities among the elderly in urban areas, further serving as crucial environments for their social interaction and mental restoration. This study comprehensively investigated outdoor thermal perception among the elderly in community parks during the winter in Huangshan, utilizing meteorological measurements, questionnaires, interviews and activity observations. It delved into the relationship between the elderly's outdoor thermal perception, age, and activities. Findings are as follows: 1) Ta and Tg were the primary factors influencing thermal perception in the elderly, with RH also being an important factor. Additionally, thermal sensation among individuals aged 80 and above was influenced by wind speed. 2) The NPET was 5.84 °C, with NPETR of 0.22–11.46 °C. The 80% TAR was 3.32–28.91 °C. Outdoor thermal benchmarks varied significantly among elderly individuals in different age groups. 3) The intensity and content of activities significantly influenced the elderly's outdoor thermal perception from physiological and psychological perspectives. Moreover, spatial satisfaction, thermal experience, and thermal adaptation behavior also influence outdoor thermal perception among the elderly. 4) Planning and design strategies for urban public spaces were proposed to enhance elderly residents' outdoor thermal comfort. The findings can guide community park designers in meeting the specific needs of elderly individuals and promoting healthy aging.