Research on the impact of the urban park built environment on physical activity – Nature

Report on the Impact of Urban Park Built Environments on Physical Activity and the Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Aligning Urban Parks with Global Sustainability

Urban parks are critical assets for advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). By providing accessible green public spaces, parks encourage physical activity, which is essential for combating the rising prevalence of chronic diseases. This report analyzes a study conducted in five urban parks in Chengdu, China, to identify which elements of the built environment significantly influence the duration and frequency of residents’ physical activity. The findings offer a framework for optimizing park design to create healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable urban environments in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Key Findings: Environmental Factors Influencing Park-Based Physical Activity

A logistic regression analysis of questionnaire data from 514 park users in Chengdu revealed that specific features of the built environment have a statistically significant impact on physical activity patterns. These findings directly inform strategies for achieving several SDGs.

Factors Affecting the Duration of Physical Activity

The length of time residents spend engaged in physical activity is influenced by factors related to park quality, safety, and comfort. These elements are crucial for promoting SDG 3 by ensuring individuals can exercise for extended periods. Key factors include:

• Sanitation Maintenance: A clean environment encourages longer stays. This aligns with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by reflecting high standards of public hygiene.
• Plant Landscape: Aesthetically pleasing and diverse vegetation was associated with increased duration of activity, contributing to mental well-being (SDG 3) and urban biodiversity (SDG 15: Life on Land).
• Playground Availability: The presence of playgrounds significantly extends park visits for families, promoting active lifestyles from a young age (SDG 3).
• Site Facilities: The quality and availability of general facilities for activities like dancing or Tai Chi determine how long groups can comfortably use the park.
• Lighting Facilities: Adequate lighting enhances perceived safety, allowing for park use in the evening and extending potential activity hours, a key component of SDG 11.7 (provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces).
• Public Toilet Facilities: Access to clean and sufficient toilets is a fundamental requirement for longer park visits and directly supports SDG 6.2 (achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all).

Factors Affecting the Frequency of Physical Activity

How often residents visit parks for physical activity is determined by the accessibility, design, and maintenance of core park infrastructure. Improving these aspects can foster regular exercise habits, reinforcing SDG 3.

• Pathway Maintenance: Well-maintained, smooth, and safe pathways encourage repeat visits for walking and jogging.
• Playground: High-quality playgrounds act as a primary motivator for frequent family visits.
• Pathway Width and Length: Appropriately sized and sufficiently long pathways accommodate various activities and user volumes, preventing congestion and making regular visits more appealing. This supports the creation of inclusive spaces under SDG 11.
• Site Facilities: The availability of dedicated spaces for group activities encourages regular, scheduled use of the park.
• Water Quality Management: The condition of water bodies (lakes, rivers) impacts the overall park aesthetic and perceived environmental quality, influencing the decision to return. This is directly linked to SDG 6.3 (improving water quality by reducing pollution).

Strategic Recommendations for Sustainable Urban Park Development

Based on the study’s findings, the following design strategies are proposed to optimize Chengdu’s urban parks, ensuring they effectively contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Improve the Quantity and Quality of Park Sites and Facilities

   To advance SDG 3 and SDG 11, parks must cater to diverse needs. This includes increasing the number of dedicated sports areas (e.g., basketball courts) and installing physically challenging play equipment for children and adolescents. Enhancing the quality and accessibility of essential amenities like drinking fountains, toilets, and lighting will support longer and safer park use, particularly for women, children, and older persons, thereby promoting SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

2. Design Suitable and Sustainable Pathways

   Pathways are fundamental to promoting physical activity. To align with SDG 11, parks should feature pathways of appropriate width (4–5m for comprehensive parks) and length, using non-slip, comfortable materials. Creating differentiated paths for various activities (e.g., walking vs. cycling) and designing diverse walking loops can enhance the user experience and encourage more frequent visits.

3. Prioritize Environmental Maintenance and Health

   Regular and intensive maintenance is critical. This includes ensuring grounds are clean, road surfaces are smooth, and water bodies are free of pollution. Upholding high standards of sanitation and water quality directly supports SDG 6 and enhances the park’s attractiveness, which in turn promotes physical and mental well-being (SDG 3).

4. Create Attractive and Biodiverse Landscapes

   An engaging plant landscape is proven to increase the duration of physical activity. Park management should focus on increasing vegetation cover, planting diverse and seasonal native species, and incorporating shade-providing trees. This strategy not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also contributes to urban biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, directly supporting SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Conclusion

The built environment of urban parks is a powerful determinant of public physical activity. This research demonstrates that strategic investments in park facilities, maintenance, pathway design, and landscapes in Chengdu can significantly increase the duration and frequency of exercise. By consciously aligning park planning with the Sustainable Development Goals, cities can transform these green spaces into vital hubs for promoting public health (SDG 3), fostering inclusive communities (SDG 11), and protecting urban ecosystems (SDG 6 and SDG 15). Further research should focus on the specific needs of different demographic groups to ensure parks are truly equitable and accessible for all.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses issues related to public health, urban planning, and environmental quality, which connect to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The following SDGs are addressed:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article’s primary focus is on promoting physical activity to combat health issues like obesity and chronic diseases. It states, “Chronic diseases have become a primary threat to public health… The main cause was cited to be insufficient physical activity.” By examining how urban parks can encourage exercise, the study directly addresses the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The research is centered on urban parks, which are a critical component of sustainable urban infrastructure. The article explores how the “built environment of the urban parks affects the duration and frequency of residents’ physical activities.” This aligns with the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, particularly by improving public spaces.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article identifies “water quality management” as a significant factor impacting the frequency of physical activities in parks. It notes that participants expressed the “lowest satisfaction with water quality management.” This connects to the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation, as the quality of water bodies within parks is part of the broader urban water ecosystem.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The study highlights the importance of the “plant landscape” and “vegetation cover” in encouraging park use and physical activity. It proposes strategies like increasing plant diversity and green coverage. This relates to the goal of protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, as urban parks are vital green spaces that support urban biodiversity and ecosystem services.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 3.4: Reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

   The article directly supports this target by investigating how to increase physical activity to prevent chronic diseases. It mentions that in China, “deaths due to chronic diseases accounted for 88.5% of total deaths in 2019” and that physical activity is a key preventative measure. It also notes that activity in parks “significantly reduces stress,” contributing to mental well-being.

2. Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.

   This target is central to the article. The research analyzes how factors like “lighting facilities” (safety), “public toilet facilities” (accessibility), “playground” design (inclusivity for children), and “pathway” characteristics make urban parks more appealing and usable for residents. The study’s goal is to provide “design optimization strategies for Chengdu city parks” to enhance these public spaces.

3. Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.

   The article’s finding that “water quality management” significantly impacts the frequency of physical activity points to this target. Poor water quality in park lakes and rivers deters visitors. The recommendation to ensure “Park water should be clean and odorless” is a direct call to action for restoring and maintaining these small-scale urban water-related ecosystems.

4. Target 15.9: Integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning.

   The study’s proposal to create an “attractive plant landscape… by planting trees, shrubs, and grasses to maintain plant diversity” is a practical application of this target at the local planning level. By recommending improvements to the park landscape and vegetation, the article advocates for integrating ecosystem values into the design and management of urban parks.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions and implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• For Target 3.4:

  • Duration and Frequency of Physical Activity: The study explicitly uses “duration” and “frequency” of residents’ physical activities as its primary dependent variables. These serve as direct indicators of engagement in health-promoting behaviors.
  • Prevalence of Insufficient Physical Activity: This is an implied indicator. The article opens by citing insufficient physical activity as the main cause of chronic diseases, suggesting that a reduction in this prevalence would be a key measure of progress.

• For Target 11.7:

  • Resident Satisfaction with the Park’s Built Environment: The study develops a direct indicator by measuring satisfaction on a Likert scale for 16 factors, including “sanitation maintenance,” “lighting facilities,” “public toilet facilities,” and “playground.” This measures the perceived quality and accessibility of public spaces.
  • Quality and Quantity of Park Facilities: The article assesses specific features like “pathway width,” “pathway length,” and the presence of “site facilities.” The improvement in the quantity and quality of these features serves as a tangible indicator of progress.

• For Target 6.6:

  • Resident Satisfaction with Water Quality Management: The article measures this directly, noting it received the lowest satisfaction score. This perception-based indicator reflects the state of the park’s water bodies.
  • Cleanliness of Park Water: The recommendation that “Park water should be clean and odorless” implies a qualitative indicator based on visual and olfactory assessment of water bodies in the parks.

• For Target 15.9:

  • Resident Satisfaction with Plant Landscape: This is measured in the study and found to be a significant factor affecting the duration of physical activity. It serves as an indicator of how well aesthetic and biodiversity values are being integrated into park design.
  • Vegetation Cover and Plant Diversity: The article proposes increasing “vegetation cover” and “plant diversity” as a design strategy. These can be quantitatively measured as indicators of ecosystem integration in urban planning.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nature.com