IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v13y2024i12p2175-d1543390.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Design and Site-Related Factors Impacting the Cooling Performance of Urban Parks in Different Climate Zones: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Maryam Norouzi

    (Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3011, Australia)

  • Hing-Wah Chau

    (Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3011, Australia)

  • Elmira Jamei

    (Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3011, Australia)

Abstract

As cities expand rapidly, the combined effects of urbanization, global warming, and the intensification of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon have become more challenging for urban environments. In response, Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) has gained attention as a practical and effective tool for mitigating UHI and improving climate change. Among various UGIs, urban parks have been the subject of numerous studies due to their proven ability to reduce air and surface temperatures, improve local microclimates, and enhance overall urban livability. This systematic review synthesizes the existing body of research to identify key factors that influence the cooling performance of urban parks. A total of 131 peer-reviewed studies between 2014 and 2024 were analyzed, focusing on both design-related and site-related factors that play pivotal roles in a park’s cooling effectiveness. Design-related factors include park size, shape, vegetation density and composition, the presence of water bodies, and impervious surfaces while site-related factors encompass background climate conditions, the proximity to natural water bodies, and the urban configuration surrounding the parks. The findings reveal that park size, tree coverage, and the presence of water bodies are the most influential design-related factors in enhancing cooling performance. For site-related factors, wind speed and direction emerged as critical components for maximizing cooling benefits. Research also showed urban configuration can affect the overall cooling performance by influencing airflow patterns and shading. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for cities worldwide as they strive to design parks that address their specific environmental and climatic challenges. The findings of this review offer practical guidance for landscape architects and urban planners, enabling them to design parks that deliver enhanced cooling benefits, especially when cities face rising temperatures and an increasing number of heatwaves.

Suggested Citation

  • Maryam Norouzi & Hing-Wah Chau & Elmira Jamei, 2024. "Design and Site-Related Factors Impacting the Cooling Performance of Urban Parks in Different Climate Zones: A Systematic Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-42, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:12:p:2175-:d:1543390
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2175/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2175/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mingjun Sun & Xinyi Zhao & Yun Wang & Zeqi Ren & Xin Fu, 2023. "Factors Affecting the High-Intensity Cooling Distance of Urban Green Spaces: A Case Study of Xi’an, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-13, April.
    2. World Bank, 2020. "Analysis of Heat Waves and Urban Heat Island Effects in Central European Cities and Implications for Urban Planning," World Bank Publications - Reports 34335, The World Bank Group.
    3. Jiang Li & Hao Wang & Xiaoxi Cai & Shaobo Liu & Wenbo Lai & Yating Chang & Jialing Qi & Gexuan Zhu & Chuyu Zhang & Yudan Liu, 2024. "Quantifying Urban Spatial Morphology Indicators on the Green Areas Cooling Effect: The Case of Changsha, China, a Subtropical City," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Yang, An-Shik & Juan, Yu-Hsuan & Wen, Chih-Yung & Chang, Chao-Jui, 2017. "Numerical simulation of cooling effect of vegetation enhancement in a subtropical urban park," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 178-200.
    5. Michael C. Ekwe & Fatimah Adamu & Joseph Gana & Grace Chika Nwafor & Rabi Usman & Jemimah Nom & Ogonnaya D. Onu & Oluwatola Ibukun Adedeji & Shaba A. Halilu & Olaide M. Aderoju, 2021. "The effect of green spaces on the urban thermal environment during a hot-dry season: a case study of Port Harcourt, Nigeria," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 10056-10079, July.
    6. Andrea Pianella & Lu Aye & Zhengdong Chen & Nicholas S. G. Williams, 2017. "Substrate Depth, Vegetation and Irrigation Affect Green Roof Thermal Performance in a Mediterranean Type Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-19, August.
    7. Elmira Jamei & Gokul Thirunavukkarasu & Majed Abuseif & Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian & Saad Mekhilef & Alex Stojcevski & Hing-Wah Chau, 2023. "Simulation-Based Study on the Effect of Green Roofs on Summer Energy Performance in Melbourne," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-19, November.
    8. E-M. Trell & M.T. van Geet, 2019. "The Governance of Local Urban Climate Adaptation: Towards Participation, Collaboration and Shared Responsibilities," Planning Theory & Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(3), pages 376-394, May.
    9. Dakota McCarty & Jaekyung Lee & Hyun Woo Kim, 2021. "Machine Learning Simulation of Land Cover Impact on Surface Urban Heat Island Surrounding Park Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-24, November.
    10. Kun Li & Xuefei Li & Keji Yao, 2022. "Outdoor Thermal Environments of Main Types of Urban Areas during Summer: A Field Study in Wuhan, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-25, January.
    11. Songxin Zheng & Lichen Liu & Xiaofeng Dong & Yanqing Hu & Pengpeng Niu, 2022. "Dominance of Influencing Factors on Cooling Effect of Urban Parks in Different Climatic Regions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-17, November.
    12. Xiaojing Feng & Jiahao Yu & Chuliang Xin & Tianhao Ye & Tian’ao Wang & Honglin Chen & Xuemei Zhang & Lili Zhang, 2023. "Quantifying and Comparing the Cooling Effects of Three Different Morphologies of Urban Parks in Chengdu," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-21, February.
    13. Yunfang Jiang & Jing Huang & Tiemao Shi & Xiaolin Li, 2021. "Cooling Island Effect of Blue-Green Corridors: Quantitative Comparison of Morphological Impacts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-28, November.
    14. Tian Wang & Hui Tu & Bo Min & Zuzheng Li & Xiaofang Li & Qingxiang You, 2022. "The Mitigation Effect of Park Landscape on Thermal Environment in Shanghai City Based on Remote Sensing Retrieval Method," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-24, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hing-Wah Chau & Majed Abuseif & Shiran Geng & Elmira Jamei, 2025. "Key Barriers and Challenges to Green Infrastructure Implementation: Policy Insights from the Melbourne Case," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-23, April.
    2. Stergios Koutsanitis & Maria Sinou & Zoe Kanetaki & Evgenia Tousi & George Varelidis, 2025. "Thermal Performance Investigation in Historical Urban Neighborhoods Using ENVI-Met Simulation Software," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-33, January.
    3. Sevgi Yilmaz & Yaşar Menteş & Elmira Jamei, 2025. "Investigating the Effect of Blue–Green Infrastructure on Thermal Condition—Case Study: Elazığ, Turkey," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-26, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sudeshna Haldar & Priyanka Dey, 2024. "Towards UHI mitigation adopting park cooling effect: Two- decade literature review for a theoretical framework," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 29(8), pages 1-25, December.
    2. Ainun Hasanah & Jing Wu, 2025. "Bibliometric analysis and global research trends of climate change and cities studies for 30 years (1990–2021)," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 5573-5617, March.
    3. Chih-Hong Huang & Hsin-Hua Tsai & Hung-chen Chen, 2020. "Influence of Weather Factors on Thermal Comfort in Subtropical Urban Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-23, March.
    4. Vera, Sergio & Pinto, Camilo & Tabares-Velasco, Paulo Cesar & Bustamante, Waldo, 2018. "A critical review of heat and mass transfer in vegetative roof models used in building energy and urban enviroment simulation tools," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 752-764.
    5. Ningcheng Gao & Hui Zhang & Pei Wang & Ling Ning & Nyuk Hien Wong & Haibo Yu & Zikang Ke, 2023. "Research on Microclimate-Suitable Spatial Patterns of Waterfront Settlements in Summer: A Case Study of the Nan Lake Area in Wuhan, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-26, November.
    6. Erik Persson & Åsa Knaggård & Kerstin Eriksson, 2021. "Public Perceptions concerning Responsibility for Climate Change Adaptation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-23, November.
    7. Dean Schrieke & Nicholas S. G. Williams & Claire Farrell, 2023. "Response of Spontaneous Plant Communities to Sedum mexicanum Cover and Water Availability in Green Roof Microcosms," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-16, June.
    8. Tang, Mingfang & Zheng, Xing, 2019. "Experimental study of the thermal performance of an extensive green roof on sunny summer days," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 1010-1021.
    9. Jiaojiao Qi & Jiangping Wang & Wenya Zhai & Jingyong Wang & Ziliang Jin, 2022. "Are There Differences in Thermal Comfort Perception of Children in Comparison to Their Caregivers’ Judgments? A Study on the Playgrounds of Parks in China’s Hot Summer and Cold Winter Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-24, September.
    10. Taher Safarrad & Mostafa Ghadami & Andreas Dittmann, 2022. "Effects of COVID-19 Restriction Policies on Urban Heat Islands in Some European Cities: Berlin, London, Paris, Madrid, and Frankfurt," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-25, May.
    11. Sabine van Rooij & Wim Timmermans & Onno Roosenschoon & Saskia Keesstra & Marjolein Sterk & Bas Pedroli, 2020. "Landscape-Based Visions as Powerful Boundary Objects in Spatial Planning: Lessons from Three Dutch Projects," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
    12. Murtaza Mohammadi & John Kaiser Calautit, 2019. "Numerical Investigation of the Wind and Thermal Conditions in Sky Gardens in High-Rise Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-33, April.
    13. Simon Stork & Bernd Pölling & Wolf Lorleberg & Rolf Morgenstern & Jan-Henning Feil, 2023. "Clustering Business Models of Heterogeneous Nature-Based Solutions Implementing Innovative Governance and Financing Concepts," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-22, November.
    14. Alkistis E. Kanteraki & Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos & Miltiadis Zamparas & Vasilis C. Kapsalis & Sofoklis S. Makridis & Giouli Mihalakakou, 2020. "Investigating Thermal Performance of Residential Buildings in Marmari Region, South Evia, Greece," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-22, February.
    15. Beilei Qin & Xi Xu & Takashi Asawa & Lulu Zhang, 2022. "Experimental and Numerical Analysis on Effect of Passive Cooling Methods on an Indoor Thermal Environment Having Floor-Level Windows," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-24, June.
    16. Dominik Gößner & Milena Mohri & Justine Jasmin Krespach, 2021. "Evapotranspiration Measurements and Assessment of Driving Factors: A Comparison of Different Green Roof Systems during Summer in Germany," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-22, December.
    17. Bev Wilson & Shakil Bin Kashem & Lily Slonim, 2024. "Modeling the relationship between urban tree canopy, landscape heterogeneity, and land surface temperature: A machine learning approach," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 51(8), pages 1895-1912, October.
    18. Jianping Zhang & Gengying Jiao & Qing Ye & Xinren Gu, 2022. "The Impact of Urban Expansion on the Urban Thermal Environment: A Case Study in Nanchang, Jiangxi, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-22, December.
    19. Yunfang Jiang & Xiaolin Li & Jing Huang, 2022. "Zoning Optimization Method of a Riverfront Greenspace Service Function Oriented to the Cooling Effect: A Case Study in Shanghai," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-32, December.
    20. Patryk Antoszewski & Dariusz Świerk & Michał Krzyżaniak, 2020. "Statistical Review of Quality Parameters of Blue-Green Infrastructure Elements Important in Mitigating the Effect of the Urban Heat Island in the Temperate Climate (C) Zone," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-36, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:12:p:2175-:d:1543390. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.