Urban Pocket Parks and Wellbeing: A Critical Review and Research Agendas

Research Article
Open access

Urban Pocket Parks and Wellbeing: A Critical Review and Research Agendas

Kaifeng Liu 1*
  • 1 Beijing Forestry University    
  • *corresponding author 2302388504@qq.com
Published on 10 November 2023 | https://doi.org/10.54254/2754-1169/27/20231250
AEMPS Vol.27
ISSN (Print): 2754-1177
ISSN (Online): 2754-1169
ISBN (Print): 978-1-83558-075-2
ISBN (Online): 978-1-83558-076-9

Abstract

Pocket parks are a relatively new park model that has emerged in recent decades. Compared with traditional parks, it has a smaller scale, a more flexible location, and can play a specific role in the city. This paper reviews and summarizes the existing research related to pocket parks. On traditional issues, this paper summarizes the planning of pocket parks, human health, and user preferences. At the same time, this paper points out that the problems of vulnerable groups and environmental justice in pocket parks need to be further studied. While reviewing the current research situation, it proposes a future research agenda. 1. The definition of “pocket park” needs to be unified. 2. More attention should be paid to more minority groups. 3. Environmental justice needs interdisciplinary research.

Keywords:

pocket parks, literature review, research agendas, vulnerable groups, environment justice

Liu,K. (2023). Urban Pocket Parks and Wellbeing: A Critical Review and Research Agendas. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,27,177-185.
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References

[1]. Patterson, Theodore William.: LEGAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES FOR IMPLEMENTING LAND USE PLANS. Purdue University, (1976).

[2]. Bongaarts J.: United Nations, department of economic and social affairs, population division, sex differentials in childhood mortality. Population and Development Review 40(2),380-380 (2014).

[3]. Zhang H, Han M.: Pocket parks in English and Chinese literature: A review. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 61, 127080 (2021).

[4]. Carreira N V.: A criança ea cidade. Influência dos espaços verdes e áreas de jogo no desenvolvimento da criança. Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal), (2016).

[5]. Kerishnan P B, Maruthaveeran S.: Factors contributing to the usage of pocket parks―A review of the evidence. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 58, 126985 (2021).

[6]. Kaplan R.: Evaluation of an urban vest-pocket park[J]. Research Paper NC-195 (1981).

[7]. Duan H., Zhang P., Zhang J..: The Research Frontiers of Overseas on Pocket Parks and Its Enlightenment to China: A Review of indexed Literature on Web of Science 2007-2017. Huazhong Architecture 37(5), 11-14(2019) (in chinese).

[8]. Peng Y.: The preliminary exploration of vest-pocket park’s design. Jiangnan University, (2009) (in chinese).

[9]. Terenzi, B., & Pisellob, A. L.: Kids-centered Pocket Park design. Well-being for children in the urban post-covid context. Cumulus Conference Proceedings Roma, 2332-2346 (2021).

[10]. Yang Y, Lu Y, Jiang B.: Population-weighted exposure to green spaces tied to lower COVID-19 mortality rates: A nationwide dose-response study in the USA. Science of The Total Environment 851, 158333 (2022).

[11]. Teitz M B.: Toward a theory of urban public facility location.Papers of the Regional Science Association. Springer-Verlag 21(1), 35-51 (1968).

[12]. Chen Q., Wu D.: Digital analysis of urban pocket park layout, centered on Yuexiu District, Guangzhou. Art Journal (05), 111-118 (2021) (in chinese).

[13]. Wen H.: Based on the selection and design of plants in the construction of "sponge city" in Guangzhou: taking pocket park as an example. Contemporary Horticulture 45(02), 57-59 (2022). (in chinese)

[14]. Wang Z.F., Yuan Y.W.: Research on the design of pocket park at the entrance of Wuhan rail transit subway station based on urban micro-renewal. Agriculture and Technology 42(08), 106-109 (2022). (in chinese)

[15]. Liu C. M.: Find nostalgia in the corners of the city – build pocket parks with Han Chinese characteristics. Contemporary Horticulture 44(20), 123-125 (2021). (in chinese)

[16]. Lee Y C, Kim K H.: Attitudes of citizens towards urban parks and green spaces for urban sustainability: The case of Gyeongsan City, Republic of Korea. Sustainability 7(7), 8240-8254 (2015). (in chinese)

[17]. Li D.D., Zhen Y.D., Shao F., et.al.: Research on Urban Vest-Pocket Parks by Using POE. Journal of Chinese Urban Forestry 16(3), 41-46 (2018). (in chinese)

[18]. Kerishnan P B, Maruthaveeran S, Maulan S.: Investigating the usability pattern and constraints of pocket parks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Urban forestry & urban greening 50, 126647 (2020).

[19]. Brownson R C, Hoehner C M, Day K, et al.: Measuring the built environment for physical activity: state of the science. American journal of preventive medicine 36(4), S99-S123 (2009).

[20]. Cohen D A, Marsh T, Williamson S, et al.: The potential for pocket parks to increase physical activity. American journal of health promotion 28, S19-S26 (2014).

[21]. Kerishnan P B, Maruthaveeran S.: Factors contributing to the usage of pocket parks―A review of the evidence. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 58, 126985 (2021).

[22]. Chen Z., Dong N.N., Liu S., et al.: Study on the Impacts of Urban Park Use on Public Health in Shanghai. Landscape Architecture, 99-105 (2017). (in chinese)

[23]. Liu S, Wang X.: Reexamine the value of urban pocket parks under the impact of the COVID-19. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 64, 127294 (2021).

[24]. Salih S A, Ismail S, Mseer A.: Pocket parks for promoting social interaction among residents of Baghdad City[J]. Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, (2020).

[25]. Cohen D A, Ashwood J S, Scott M M, et al.: Public parks and physical activity among adolescent girls. Pediatrics 118(5), e1381-e1389 (2006).

[26]. Singh G K, Siahpush M, Kogan M D.: Neighborhood socioeconomic conditions, built environments, and childhood obesity. Health affairs 29(3), 503-512 (2010).

[27]. Bell J F, Wilson J S, Liu G C.: Neighborhood greenness and 2-year changes in body mass index of children and youth. American journal of preventive medicine 35(6), 547-553 (2008).

[28]. Boone-Heinonen J, Casanova K, Richardson A S, et al.: Where can they play? Outdoor spaces and physical activity among adolescents in US urbanized areas. Preventive medicine 51(3-4), 295-298 (2010).

[29]. Wolch J, Jerrett M, Reynolds K, et al.: Childhood obesity and proximity to urban parks and recreational resources: a longitudinal cohort study. Health & place 17(1), 207-214 (2011).

[30]. McEachan R R C, Yang T C, Roberts H, et al.: Availability, use of, and satisfaction with green space, and children's mental wellbeing at age 4 years in a multicultural, deprived, urban area: results from the Born in Bradford cohort study. The Lancet Planetary Health 2(6), e244-e254 (2018).

[31]. Feng X, Astell-Burt T.: The relationship between neighbourhood green space and child mental wellbeing depends upon whom you ask: multilevel evidence from 3083 children aged 12–13 years. International journal of environmental research and public health 14(3), 235 (2017).

[32]. Madzia J, Ryan P, Yolton K, et al.: Residential greenspace association with childhood behavioral outcomes. The Journal of pediatrics 207, 233-240 (2019).

[33]. Razani N, Niknam K, Wells N M, et al.: Clinic and park partnerships for childhood resilience: A prospective study of park prescriptions. Health & Place 57, 179-185 (2019).

[34]. Loukaitou-Sideris, A., & Sideris, A.: What brings children to the park? Analysis and measurement of the variables affecting children's use of parks. Journal of the American Planning Association 76(1), 89-107 (2009).

[35]. Dzhambov A M, Dimitrova D D. Elderly visitors of an urban park, health anxiety and individual awareness of nature experiences. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 13(4), 806-813 (2014).

[36]. Evenson K R, Jones S A, Holliday K M, et al.: Park characteristics, use, and physical activity: A review of studies using SOPARC (System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities). Preventive medicine 86, 153-166 (2016).

[37]. Li Y, Niu S, Mou Y.: Gender difference in the chinese middle-aged and elderly of pocket park use: A case study of zongbei park. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2167 (2022).

[38]. Allison M T.: Leisure, diversity and social justice. Journal of Leisure Research 32(1), 2-6 (2000).

[39]. Ammons D N.: Overcoming the inadequacies of performance measurement in local government: The case of libraries and leisure services. Public Administration Review, 37-47 (1995).

[40]. Barnett H.: The Chinatown cornfields: Including environmental benefits in environmental justice struggles. Critical Planning 8, 50-60 (2001).

[41]. Sister C, Wolch J, Wilson J.: Got green? Addressing environmental justice in park provision. GeoJournal 75(3), 229-248, 2010.

[42]. Loukaitou-Sideris A, Stieglitz O. Children in Los Angeles parks: a study of equity, quality and children's satisfaction with neighbourhood parks. Town planning review 73(4), 467-489 (2002).

[43]. Rigolon A.: Parks and young people: An environmental justice study of park proximity, acreage, and quality in Denver, Colorado. Landscape and Urban Planning 165, 73-83 (2017).

[44]. Boone C G, Buckley G L, Grove J M, et al.: Parks and people: An environmental justice inquiry in Baltimore, Maryland. Annals of the association of American geographers 99(4), 767-787 (2009).

[45]. Rigolon A.: Nonprofits and park equity in Los Angeles: A promising way forward for environmental justice. Urban Geography 40(7), 984-1009 (2019).

[46]. Wolch J R, Byrne J, Newell J P.: Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: The challenge of making cities ‘just green enough’. Landscape and urban planning 125, 234-244 (2014).

[47]. Rigolon A, Németh J.: Green gentrification or ‘just green enough’: Do park location, size and function affect whether a place gentrifies or not? Urban Studies 57(2), 402-420 (2020).

[48]. Almohamad H, Knaack A L, Habib B M.: Assessing spatial equity and accessibility of public green spaces in Aleppo City, Syria. Forests 9(11), 706 (2018).

[49]. Chow B C, McKenzie T L, Sit C H P.: Public parks in Hong Kong: Characteristics of physical activity areas and their users. International journal of environmental research and public health 13(7), 639 (2016).

[50]. Guo S, Song C, Pei T, et al.: Accessibility to urban parks for elderly residents: Perspectives from mobile phone data. Landscape and urban planning 191,103642 (2019).

[51]. Tian M, Yuan L, Guo R, et al.: Sustainable development: Investigating the correlations between park equality and mortality by multilevel model in Shenzhen, China. Sustainable Cities and Society 75, 103385 (2021).

[52]. Zhou C, An Y, Zhao J, et al.: How do mini-parks serve in groups? A visit analysis of mini-park groups in the neighbourhoods of Nanjing. Cities 129: 103804 (2022).

[53]. Low N, Gleeson B, Green R, et al.: The green city: sustainable homes, sustainable suburbs. Routledge (2016).

[54]. Quastel N.: Political ecologies of gentrification. Urban Geography 30(7), 694-725(2009).

Cite this article

Liu,K. (2023). Urban Pocket Parks and Wellbeing: A Critical Review and Research Agendas. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,27,177-185.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Economic Management and Green Development

ISBN：978-1-83558-075-2(Print) / 978-1-83558-076-9(Online)
Editor：Canh Thien Dang
Conference website: https://www.icemgd.org/
Conference date: 6 August 2023
Series: Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences
Volume number: Vol.27
ISSN：2754-1169(Print) / 2754-1177(Online)

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References

[1]. Patterson, Theodore William.: LEGAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES FOR IMPLEMENTING LAND USE PLANS. Purdue University, (1976).

[2]. Bongaarts J.: United Nations, department of economic and social affairs, population division, sex differentials in childhood mortality. Population and Development Review 40(2),380-380 (2014).

[3]. Zhang H, Han M.: Pocket parks in English and Chinese literature: A review. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 61, 127080 (2021).

[4]. Carreira N V.: A criança ea cidade. Influência dos espaços verdes e áreas de jogo no desenvolvimento da criança. Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal), (2016).

[5]. Kerishnan P B, Maruthaveeran S.: Factors contributing to the usage of pocket parks―A review of the evidence. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 58, 126985 (2021).

[6]. Kaplan R.: Evaluation of an urban vest-pocket park[J]. Research Paper NC-195 (1981).

[7]. Duan H., Zhang P., Zhang J..: The Research Frontiers of Overseas on Pocket Parks and Its Enlightenment to China: A Review of indexed Literature on Web of Science 2007-2017. Huazhong Architecture 37(5), 11-14(2019) (in chinese).

[8]. Peng Y.: The preliminary exploration of vest-pocket park’s design. Jiangnan University, (2009) (in chinese).

[9]. Terenzi, B., & Pisellob, A. L.: Kids-centered Pocket Park design. Well-being for children in the urban post-covid context. Cumulus Conference Proceedings Roma, 2332-2346 (2021).

[10]. Yang Y, Lu Y, Jiang B.: Population-weighted exposure to green spaces tied to lower COVID-19 mortality rates: A nationwide dose-response study in the USA. Science of The Total Environment 851, 158333 (2022).

[11]. Teitz M B.: Toward a theory of urban public facility location.Papers of the Regional Science Association. Springer-Verlag 21(1), 35-51 (1968).

[12]. Chen Q., Wu D.: Digital analysis of urban pocket park layout, centered on Yuexiu District, Guangzhou. Art Journal (05), 111-118 (2021) (in chinese).

[13]. Wen H.: Based on the selection and design of plants in the construction of "sponge city" in Guangzhou: taking pocket park as an example. Contemporary Horticulture 45(02), 57-59 (2022). (in chinese)

[14]. Wang Z.F., Yuan Y.W.: Research on the design of pocket park at the entrance of Wuhan rail transit subway station based on urban micro-renewal. Agriculture and Technology 42(08), 106-109 (2022). (in chinese)

[15]. Liu C. M.: Find nostalgia in the corners of the city – build pocket parks with Han Chinese characteristics. Contemporary Horticulture 44(20), 123-125 (2021). (in chinese)

[16]. Lee Y C, Kim K H.: Attitudes of citizens towards urban parks and green spaces for urban sustainability: The case of Gyeongsan City, Republic of Korea. Sustainability 7(7), 8240-8254 (2015). (in chinese)

[17]. Li D.D., Zhen Y.D., Shao F., et.al.: Research on Urban Vest-Pocket Parks by Using POE. Journal of Chinese Urban Forestry 16(3), 41-46 (2018). (in chinese)

[18]. Kerishnan P B, Maruthaveeran S, Maulan S.: Investigating the usability pattern and constraints of pocket parks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Urban forestry & urban greening 50, 126647 (2020).

[19]. Brownson R C, Hoehner C M, Day K, et al.: Measuring the built environment for physical activity: state of the science. American journal of preventive medicine 36(4), S99-S123 (2009).

[20]. Cohen D A, Marsh T, Williamson S, et al.: The potential for pocket parks to increase physical activity. American journal of health promotion 28, S19-S26 (2014).

[21]. Kerishnan P B, Maruthaveeran S.: Factors contributing to the usage of pocket parks―A review of the evidence. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 58, 126985 (2021).

[22]. Chen Z., Dong N.N., Liu S., et al.: Study on the Impacts of Urban Park Use on Public Health in Shanghai. Landscape Architecture, 99-105 (2017). (in chinese)

[23]. Liu S, Wang X.: Reexamine the value of urban pocket parks under the impact of the COVID-19. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 64, 127294 (2021).

[24]. Salih S A, Ismail S, Mseer A.: Pocket parks for promoting social interaction among residents of Baghdad City[J]. Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, (2020).

[25]. Cohen D A, Ashwood J S, Scott M M, et al.: Public parks and physical activity among adolescent girls. Pediatrics 118(5), e1381-e1389 (2006).

[26]. Singh G K, Siahpush M, Kogan M D.: Neighborhood socioeconomic conditions, built environments, and childhood obesity. Health affairs 29(3), 503-512 (2010).

[27]. Bell J F, Wilson J S, Liu G C.: Neighborhood greenness and 2-year changes in body mass index of children and youth. American journal of preventive medicine 35(6), 547-553 (2008).

[28]. Boone-Heinonen J, Casanova K, Richardson A S, et al.: Where can they play? Outdoor spaces and physical activity among adolescents in US urbanized areas. Preventive medicine 51(3-4), 295-298 (2010).

[29]. Wolch J, Jerrett M, Reynolds K, et al.: Childhood obesity and proximity to urban parks and recreational resources: a longitudinal cohort study. Health & place 17(1), 207-214 (2011).

[30]. McEachan R R C, Yang T C, Roberts H, et al.: Availability, use of, and satisfaction with green space, and children's mental wellbeing at age 4 years in a multicultural, deprived, urban area: results from the Born in Bradford cohort study. The Lancet Planetary Health 2(6), e244-e254 (2018).

[31]. Feng X, Astell-Burt T.: The relationship between neighbourhood green space and child mental wellbeing depends upon whom you ask: multilevel evidence from 3083 children aged 12–13 years. International journal of environmental research and public health 14(3), 235 (2017).

[32]. Madzia J, Ryan P, Yolton K, et al.: Residential greenspace association with childhood behavioral outcomes. The Journal of pediatrics 207, 233-240 (2019).

[33]. Razani N, Niknam K, Wells N M, et al.: Clinic and park partnerships for childhood resilience: A prospective study of park prescriptions. Health & Place 57, 179-185 (2019).

[34]. Loukaitou-Sideris, A., & Sideris, A.: What brings children to the park? Analysis and measurement of the variables affecting children's use of parks. Journal of the American Planning Association 76(1), 89-107 (2009).

[35]. Dzhambov A M, Dimitrova D D. Elderly visitors of an urban park, health anxiety and individual awareness of nature experiences. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 13(4), 806-813 (2014).

[36]. Evenson K R, Jones S A, Holliday K M, et al.: Park characteristics, use, and physical activity: A review of studies using SOPARC (System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities). Preventive medicine 86, 153-166 (2016).

[37]. Li Y, Niu S, Mou Y.: Gender difference in the chinese middle-aged and elderly of pocket park use: A case study of zongbei park. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2167 (2022).

[38]. Allison M T.: Leisure, diversity and social justice. Journal of Leisure Research 32(1), 2-6 (2000).

[39]. Ammons D N.: Overcoming the inadequacies of performance measurement in local government: The case of libraries and leisure services. Public Administration Review, 37-47 (1995).

[40]. Barnett H.: The Chinatown cornfields: Including environmental benefits in environmental justice struggles. Critical Planning 8, 50-60 (2001).

[41]. Sister C, Wolch J, Wilson J.: Got green? Addressing environmental justice in park provision. GeoJournal 75(3), 229-248, 2010.

[42]. Loukaitou-Sideris A, Stieglitz O. Children in Los Angeles parks: a study of equity, quality and children's satisfaction with neighbourhood parks. Town planning review 73(4), 467-489 (2002).

[43]. Rigolon A.: Parks and young people: An environmental justice study of park proximity, acreage, and quality in Denver, Colorado. Landscape and Urban Planning 165, 73-83 (2017).

[44]. Boone C G, Buckley G L, Grove J M, et al.: Parks and people: An environmental justice inquiry in Baltimore, Maryland. Annals of the association of American geographers 99(4), 767-787 (2009).

[45]. Rigolon A.: Nonprofits and park equity in Los Angeles: A promising way forward for environmental justice. Urban Geography 40(7), 984-1009 (2019).

[46]. Wolch J R, Byrne J, Newell J P.: Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: The challenge of making cities ‘just green enough’. Landscape and urban planning 125, 234-244 (2014).

[47]. Rigolon A, Németh J.: Green gentrification or ‘just green enough’: Do park location, size and function affect whether a place gentrifies or not? Urban Studies 57(2), 402-420 (2020).

[48]. Almohamad H, Knaack A L, Habib B M.: Assessing spatial equity and accessibility of public green spaces in Aleppo City, Syria. Forests 9(11), 706 (2018).

[49]. Chow B C, McKenzie T L, Sit C H P.: Public parks in Hong Kong: Characteristics of physical activity areas and their users. International journal of environmental research and public health 13(7), 639 (2016).

[50]. Guo S, Song C, Pei T, et al.: Accessibility to urban parks for elderly residents: Perspectives from mobile phone data. Landscape and urban planning 191,103642 (2019).

[51]. Tian M, Yuan L, Guo R, et al.: Sustainable development: Investigating the correlations between park equality and mortality by multilevel model in Shenzhen, China. Sustainable Cities and Society 75, 103385 (2021).

[52]. Zhou C, An Y, Zhao J, et al.: How do mini-parks serve in groups? A visit analysis of mini-park groups in the neighbourhoods of Nanjing. Cities 129: 103804 (2022).

[53]. Low N, Gleeson B, Green R, et al.: The green city: sustainable homes, sustainable suburbs. Routledge (2016).

[54]. Quastel N.: Political ecologies of gentrification. Urban Geography 30(7), 694-725(2009).

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