The vitality of pocket parks in high-density urban areas. An evaluation system from the users' perspective in Southwest China

When concentration increases and urban land prices rise, the realization of urban parks can be difficult in new developments as well as in established areas. The scarcity of urban parks causes the decrease of residents’ accessibility to green sites, contributing to the increase of recreational and health issues. In response, pocket parks have emerged as a viable and effective solution in high-density urban conditions due to low construction costs, easy accessibility, potential widespread distribution. Although research on pocket parks is growing, very few studies propose an assessment system of pocket parks tailored to the characteristics of Chinese users. This paper explores pocket parks in high-density neighborhoods in the main cities of Southwest China and develops a system for evaluating parks' vitality from the users' perspective. The main data source are on-site observation of the activity patterns of park users, interviews on users’ experiences and perceptions of park spaces, questionnaires distributed within a representative sample of pocket parks. The research findings highlight that facilities are the elements which influence the usage of pocket parks the most, surpassing natural elements, articulation of the spaces, and location. Pocket parks, in fact, primarily provide residents with venues for daily exercise and leisure opportunities. Low-income groups are especially active participants in park’s activities. The findings allow to propose some design elements for improving the parks’ effectiveness, such as a balance between ecological benefits and functional utility.