COLLEGE OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT (CBE)

BACHELOR OF PARK AND AMENITY MANAGEMENT (HONOURS)

SUBJECT:
(PMG511) PUBLIC PARK MANAGEMENT

ARTICLE REVIEW:
URBAN PARKS SYSTEM ON PUBLIC HEALTH: UNDERLYING DRIVING
MECHANISM AND PLANNING THINKING

PREPARED BY:
AMIR HIRZAN BIN MOHD KHUZAINI
2022698166
CFAP2303C

PREPARED FOR:
FIRDAUS BIN CHEK SULAIMAN
 The article that will reviewed is “Urban Park System On Public Health: Underlying
Driving Mechanism and Planning Thinking,” authored by Cheng Zhang, Qin Su, and Yanqun
Zhu, and published on June 12, 2023, presents a comprehensive exploration into the
multifaceted impact of urban park systems on public health. Beyond the conventional
considerations of physical well-being, the study uniquely centres its focus on the often-
neglected dimension of “social health,” shedding light on the intricate relationship between
urban parks and various aspects of public well-being. Simply put, the research aims to provide
insights into the mechanisms underlying the complex relationship between urban park systems
and public health. Through highlighting the sometimes disregarded aspect of "social health,"
the authors explore the relationships between urban parks and the broader public health system.
Their focus on social health highlights how urban parks can serve as places for recreation as
well as a means of establishing social networks, improving general living conditions, and
encouraging physical activity. The authors support a comprehensive approach to guaranteeing
the long-term growth of urban public health. In order to do this, they place out the ideal plan
for urban park development and present an index system for evaluation designed to determine
the parks overall ability to improve public health. This strategic approach acknowledges the
various roles that urban parks play in the general well-being of the community, going beyond
traditional considerations. The guidelines provided for the design of urban parks function as a
pragmatic implementation of the research outcomes. Through emphasising the benefits of
urban parks for enhancing mental and physical health, the article invites policymakers and
urban planners to take social dynamics into account when designing public spaces. The
suggestions made by the authors highlight how urban parks have the capacity to improve
people's personal health as well as foster a feeling of belonging and community among locals.
The article detects that urban parks have the potential to be more than just recreational areas
and presents a nuanced viewpoint on their role in public health. The research provides to a
thorough understanding of how urban parks can improve communities' general health and well-
being by exploring social health issues and offering workable development and assessment
strategies.

The study develops an evaluation index system as part of a thorough methodology to

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computing a comprehensive score using the weighted summation method. The empirical study
simplifies complex impact indicators by establishing indicator weights through the use of
principal component analysis and factor comparison questionnaires. Urban parks have been
found to be important for promoting public health because they encourage physical activity,
create ecological value, improve viewing experiences, and strengthen social cohesion. The
study emphasises how urban parks can lower mortality, prevent chronic illnesses, foster
creativity, and enhance living conditions in general. In the end, the results highlight how
important urban park planning is for advancing public health and provide insightful
information for the creation and assessment of urban park systems.

The driving mechanism of urban parks on public health involves multiple factors that
contribute to physical health, psychological health, and social health. The driving mechanism
of urban parks for public “physical health” includes several key points. Firstly, urban parks
help enhance immunity and reduce the obesity rate by providing opportunities for physical
activity. Base on the article, it shown that living closer to urban parks increases the willingness
of individuals to engage in physical activity, leading to improved immune function and
decreased obesity rates. Secondly, walking in urban parks with dense trees and vegetation can
reduce mortality by increasing the production of pain-resistant active proteins and curbing the
incidence of related diseases. Pregnant women living near urban parks also have a lower
probability of premature delivery and underweight infants. Thirdly, urban parks help prevent
chronic diseases by purifying the air and improving its quality. The plants in parks release
oxygen, absorb pollutants, inhibit bacteria, and improve the overall air quality. Lastly, physical
activity in the park system stimulates positive emotions, which can lead to highly creative
behaviour. When individuals are in a positive emotional state, they are more likely to focus on
creative thinking and problem-solving. Overall, urban parks play a crucial role in promoting
physical health by enhancing immunity, reducing obesity, preventing chronic diseases, and
stimulating creative thinking.

Next, the driving mechanism of the urban park system on public psychological health
involves several key factors. Firstly, parks in urban areas support active attention recovery.
Parks' verdant surroundings provide a “restorative environment” that eases stress and refocuses
attention. Secondly, by offering areas for rest, meditation, and the enjoyment of natural features
like plants and water features, urban parks aid in the relief of anxiety and depression. Urban
parks aesthetic attributes foster a well-being-promoting and psychologically relieving
atmosphere. Thirdly, urban parks lessen mental and physical exhaustion. Parks are

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systematically planned and designed with consideration for the interplay of spirit, psychology,
and the surrounding environment. Parks provide people with opportunities to unwind and
revitalise by removing both psychological and physical exhaustion. Lastly, positive emotions
are elevated in urban parks. Parks beautiful scenery and lush vegetation have been linked to
increased visual enjoyment, which in turn helps to reduce negative emotions and elevate
positive ones. Reducing fatigue, boosting positive emotions, easing anxiety and depression,
and promoting active attention recovery are the main ways that the urban park system benefits
public psychological health. Lastly the point in public “social health is that the urban park
system plays a significant role in improving the living environment and mitigating the adverse
effects of urban heat islands and air pollution. The ecological value created by urban parks
positively contributes to air purification and greenhouse effect mitigation, enhancing the
overall living environment. Additionally, urban parks contribute to building social networks
and gathering social capital by providing spaces for social interaction and community
engagement. They act as hubs for social ties, positive emotions, and social harmony,
strengthening social bonds and promoting social efficiency. The construction of urban parks
also promotes social harmony and stability by reducing crime rates and fostering a sense of
safety. Overall, the article highlights the importance of urban parks in enhancing public social
health through various mechanisms.

The article also underscores the multifaceted impact of urban parks on public health,
considering psychological, physical, and social health objectives. It acknowledges existing
flaws in the evaluation system and highlights the urgent requirement for outdoor epidemic
prevention spaces, particularly in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The study
suggests implementing a health impact assessment system for urban parks to address these
issues. It does this by utilising cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence to collect
data efficiently and perceive the environment. The three phases of the health impact assessment
system are “macro planning,” “intervention planning,” and “micro planning.” The goal of this
framework is to thoroughly assess and maximise urban parks' contributions to public health.
Underscoring the notion of “health promotion,” policymakers can utilise evaluation reports to
fine-tune landscape designs, thereby improving the ecological and social advantages of urban
parks and making the most use of their limited resources. The study recommends that China's
urban park green space health impact assessment system be established as soon as possible,
with an emphasis on raising decision-makers' awareness of public health issues. It emphasises
how urban parks can be used as locations for health services, especially in the prevention and

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management of epidemics. As the article mention The Caishiji Riverside Culture Park is
highlighted as an exemplary location for flexible spaces dedicated to emergency services.
Moreover, the article promotes the layout of a smart park, using intelligent management tools
that combine financial, social, and environmental gains. It is recommended that important park
planning and management data be recorded and managed through the integration of the Internet
of Things. The goal of this smart park system is to continuously support park updates and
construction with data, promoting the long-term, sustainable growth of urban parks. In
summary, the study emphasizes the imperative for a comprehensive health impact assessment
system, the incorporation of health service spaces within urban parks, and the implementation
of smart park layouts to bolster public health, particularly during emergencies like the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed framework aligns with health promotion principles and
seeks to contribute to the sustainable and healthy evolution of urban park systems.

In conclusion, the study focuses on the often-overlooked aspect of “social health” while
considering physical, psychological, and social health objectives. The study emphasises how
important urban parks are for creating social networks, improving quality of life, and promoting
physical activity and all of which have a substantial positive impact on people's general well-
being. The study presents a comprehensive methodology that includes creating an index system
for evaluation, measuring variance contribution rates using principal component analysis, and
using the analytic hierarchy process to conduct a thorough assessment of urban parks' ability
to improve public health. The research demonstrates that urban parks play a crucial role in
promoting physical health by enhancing immunity, reducing obesity, preventing chronic
diseases, and stimulating creative thinking. The article also explores the factors that influence
public psychological health, highlighting how urban parks can improve mood and reduce
stress. It highlights how parks offer areas for relaxation, meditation, and taking in the beauty
of nature, all of which help to reduce anxiety and depression and promote happy feelings.
Furthermore, the study also emphasises how crucial urban parks are for promoting social and
public health through their ecological significance, ability to purify the air, and ability to foster
social networks. It recognises that the current evaluation system has shortcomings and suggests
that a health impact assessment system be put in place, particularly in light of the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic. The suggested framework promotes smart park designs that use the
Internet of Things to enable ongoing park construction and updates, as well as intelligent
management tools.

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Reference
Zhang C, Su Q and Zhu Y (2023) Urban park system on public health: underlying driving
mechanism and planning thinking. Front. Public Health 11:1193604. doi:
10.3389/fpubh.2023.1193604.