What Makes a Pocket Park Thrive? Efficiency of Pocket Park Usage in Main Urban Area of Nanjing, China

Xi Lu, Hao Yuan, Mingjun Huang, Rui Ke and Hui Wang ()
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Xi Lu: School of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Hao Yuan: School of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Mingjun Huang: Nature Reserve Management Office, Huangshan 245000, China
Rui Ke: School of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Hui Wang: School of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-20

Abstract: Pocket parks, recognized globally as compact yet multifunctional green spaces, promise a range of urban benefits. To realize these effectively, planners must understand the factors that drive park usage. However, development priorities vary across regions, necessitating analysis tailored to specific contexts. Existing research on park usage predominantly focuses on factors either external (factors outside the park’s boundaries, such as location and surrounding urban fabric) or internal (factors within the park’s boundaries, pertaining to design, amenities, and management), leaving room for refinement in indicator selection and model construction. To address this, we developed a comprehensive analytical framework incorporating 22 macro-, meso-, and micro-level factors spanning internal and external influences. This study investigated 40 pocket parks in Nanjing’s main urban area, employing visitor frequency and activity type diversity as quantitative indicators of usage efficiency. Park usage efficiency was compared for weekdays and weekends. Using correlation and regression models, we examined primary factors including accessibility, surrounding environment, layout, landscape features, amenities, and maintenance. The results showed that weekday and weekend patterns vary significantly in terms of visitor frequency and activity type diversity. The key determinants of pocket park usage efficiency were identified: proportion of recreational space (r = 0.609 on weekdays, r = 0.573 on weekends), plant species richness (r = 0.699 on weekdays, r = 0.761 on weekends), seat facility density (r = 0.645 on weekdays, r = 0.654 on weekends), and maintenance quality (r = 0.630 on weekdays, r = 0.667 on weekends). Service area coverage, green space ratio, and garbage bin density showed weaker but significant correlations. Based on these findings, targeted strategies were proposed to better accommodate diverse regional land-use demands.

Keywords: pocket park; usage efficiency; influencing factors; optimization strategy; regression analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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