Spatiotemporal fluctuations in urban park spatial vitality determined by on-site observation and behavior mapping: A case study of three parks in Zhengzhou City, China

Community parks provide urban residents with open spaces for daily recreation and physical fitness activities. This study aims to investigate visitor activity patterns in urban parks and the relationship between urban park features and spatial vitality through the field observation of three community parks in the old town area of Zhengzhou City. Spatial vitality refers to the inclusiveness, aggregation density, and use intensity of urban park space, which is quantified by the weighted average of four indicators (diversity of age group, visitor density, space using intensity and richness of activity types). A questionnaire survey was used to determine the key factors associated with park spatial vitality and visitors’ needs in the park space. The results showed that the spatial vitality of each park varies across time and space; in addition, spatial vitality was influenced by the location of and the facilities in the park. The overall number of visitors of the parks was significantly higher on weekends than on weekdays, with the peak times of vitality being 10:00 am and 4:00 pm during the day. The results also revealed that children, middle-aged adults, and the elderly were the primary users of the community parks, and spatial preferences differed by age group. Moreover, certain locations (sandpits, squares, watersides, and kiosks for painting activities) and sites with more service facilities inside the parks had a higher spatial vitality. Furthermore, the spatial vitality of the park was not directly proportional to its size and visitor number. To increase urban park vitality, factors that need to be considered include location and size of park, demographic structure of the surrounding population, the facilities in the park, and open lawn space. In a high-density urban area, smaller parks must be planned to improve the service efficiency of urban parks. The results of this study can provide a reference point for urban park planning and design.