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What Is the Perceived Environmental Restorative Potential of Informal Green Spaces? An Empirical Study Based on Visitor-Employed Photography

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  • Jiayi Jiang

    (School of Architecture, Soochow University, No. 199 Ren-ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, China
    Soochow University—Suzhou Yuanke (SU-SY) Collaborative Innovation Center of Architecture and Urban Environment, School of Architecture, Soochow University, No. 199 Ren-ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, China
    China-Portugal Joint Laboratory of Cultural Heritage Conservations Science Supported by the Belt and Road Initative, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China)

  • Hong Xu

    (Soochow University—Suzhou Yuanke (SU-SY) Collaborative Innovation Center of Architecture and Urban Environment, School of Architecture, Soochow University, No. 199 Ren-ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, China
    Suzhou Yuanke Ecological Construction Group, No. 268 Dongping Street, Suzhou 215123, China)

  • Ruochen Ma

    (Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, Chiba 271-8510, Japan)

  • Shi Chen

    (School of Architecture, Soochow University, No. 199 Ren-ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, China)

  • Huixin Wang

    (Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, Chiba 271-8510, Japan)

  • Ziang Zheng

    (The Liverpool School of Architecture, University of Liverpool, 25 Abercromby Square, Liverpool L69 7ZN, UK)

Abstract

Informal green spaces (IGSs) play an essential role in enhancing urban well-being by offering restorative environments, yet the impact of visitor behaviors on perceived restorativeness (PR) remains underexplored. This study investigates how different spatio-temporal behaviors influence PR in IGS, providing urban planners with actionable insights to optimize these spaces for better user experiences. Using a visitor-employed photography (VEP) survey and post-visit PR assessments, K-means clustering was applied to identify distinct visitor behavior patterns. Correlation analysis further explored the relationships between these patterns and PR; the results reveal three unique clusters of visitor behaviors—fast, extensive exploration; moderate, focused exploration; and slow, thorough exploration—each showing distinct impacts on PR. Visitors who engage in rapid, broad exploration perceive larger, navigable spaces as more restorative, while those focusing on specific or in-depth exploration emphasize psychological aspects like escape and fascination. These behavioral patterns demonstrate varying strengths in their association with restorative experiences; This study underscores the importance of integrating spatio-temporal behavior data with PR assessments, highlighting how the physical and psychological features of IGS influence visitor experiences. These findings offer critical insights for designing and managing IGS to accommodate diverse user needs and promote urban well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiayi Jiang & Hong Xu & Ruochen Ma & Shi Chen & Huixin Wang & Ziang Zheng, 2024. "What Is the Perceived Environmental Restorative Potential of Informal Green Spaces? An Empirical Study Based on Visitor-Employed Photography," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:11:p:1768-:d:1508047
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stanford, Hugh R. & Hurley, Joe & Garrard, Georgia E. & Kirk, Holly, 2024. "Finding the forgotten spaces: Using a social-ecological framework to map informal green space in Melbourne, Australia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    2. Mladen Jurišić & Ivan Plaščak & Željko Rendulić & Dorijan Radočaj, 2023. "GIS-Based Visitor Count Prediction and Environmental Susceptibility Zoning in Protected Areas: A Case Study in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Brenda B. Lin & Chia-chen Chang & Erik Andersson & Thomas Astell-Burt & John Gardner & Xiaoqi Feng, 2023. "Visiting Urban Green Space and Orientation to Nature Is Associated with Better Wellbeing during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-12, February.
    4. Katarina Polajnar Horvat & Daniela Ribeiro, 2023. "Urban Public Spaces as Restorative Environments: The Case of Ljubljana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-11, January.
    5. Hanbin Shen & Xuecong He & Jing He & Danming Li & Mingjie Liang & Xubin Xie, 2024. "Back to the Village: Assessing the Effects of Naturalness, Landscape Types, and Landscape Elements on the Restorative Potential of Rural Landscapes," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-30, June.
    6. Rupprecht, Christoph, 2017. "Informal urban green space: Residents’ perception, use, and management preferences across four major Japanese shrinking cities," SocArXiv ug86b, Center for Open Science.
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