Objective Global warming has led to frequent occurrences of high temperature during summer. The elderly are a vulnerable group in thermal environments and face greater health risks. Community park environments are closely related to physical activity and social interaction among the elderly. It is widely recognized that park use in subtropical cities during summer is inhibited by high temperatures. Shaded areas are the primary choice for thermal adaptation, mitigating the negative effects of high temperatures to some extent and supporting the occurrence of static activities. Beyond this, the relationship between other environmental characteristics and the usage behaviors of the elderly under thermal adaptation has not yet been fully established. The nonlinear relationship between these factors has also received insufficient exploration. In addition, existing studies typically examine only one type of behavior in isolation, such as physical activity, or social activities. There is a lack of comparative analysis regarding the differences in environmental demands across various behavioral patterns and their potential resource competition relationships, which limits the accuracy of the research conclusions.
Methods Taking 138 community park sub-areas in Xiamen as the unit of analysis, this study measured ten environmental characteristics as independent variables and, as the dependent variable, the number of usage behaviors collected through the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities. First, the characteristics of summer usage behaviors were analyzed by type and time period. Differences between these groups were then examined for statistical significance using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s HSD post hoc test. Second, Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between environmental characteristics of the sub-areas and the usage behaviors of the elderly. Third, a random forest model was adopted to determine the relative importance of each indicator. Finally, the relationship between significant variables and various usage behaviors was evaluated using boosted regression trees to identify environmental characteristic thresholds that promote usage behaviors.
Results In this study, social activities (70.6%) and physical activities (56.1%) were the primary usage behaviors of the elderly in summer. The moderate-intensity level (68.8%) was the main form of physical activity. The period from 8 to 10 a.m. in summer was the “golden time” for all usage behaviors. Seating density, amenities, sports facilities, sky view factor and sub-area size were identified as key indicators influencing summer usage behaviors. Their impact mechanisms exhibited specific thresholds and distinct nonlinear characteristics. The impact of seating density on behavior primarily followed a nonlinear pattern of “initial promotion followed by stabilization”, whereas amenity density exhibited a three-stage pattern of “initial promotion followed by inhibition, then stabilization”. Increases in these two facilities beyond a certain threshold promoted sedentary behavior while reducing physical activity. The impact of sports facilities on behavior exhibited a “stepwise increase”, demonstrating a relatively efficient promotional effect. The size of the sub-area ranging from 500 to 550 square meters was most conducive to physical activities and social interaction. Sky view factor was the only factor exhibiting a fluctuating downward trend.
Conclusion The activities of the elderly in community parks today are increasingly purposeful, aimed at fulfilling their social and exercise needs rather than merely seeking leisurely experiences. This study found that the elderly achieved thermal adaptation through two behavioral strategies: a temporal shift, in which physical activities, social interaction, and grandchild care were concentrated during cooler periods of the day, and a spatial shift, in which sedentary behaviors preferentially occurred in consistently shaded areas. Thermal adaptation during physical activity became more pronounced with increasing intensity. The results also indicated a potential conflict between the promotional effects of seating and amenity density on physical activity versus sedentary behavior. This necessitates that density should be determined primarily based on a sub-area’s intended function. Conversely, the addition of sports facilities within reasonable thresholds significantly promoted diverse usage patterns without triggering competition between physical and sedentary activities, making them an effective measure for enhancing utilization. Based on these findings, several strategic recommendations can be proposed. First, different activities may lead to spatial and temporal clustering in response to climate adaptation; therefore, parks should provide adequately sized and strategically expanded spaces and facilities to meet peak usage demands. Second, when configuring seating, it is necessary to prioritize the identification of the dominant function of the site. Notably, the number of seats in recreational and fitness areas should be kept within a reasonable range. Given insufficient thermal comfort in summer, optimizing the layout of shaded seating and improving the thermal stability of seat materials are more effective strategies than simply increasing the number of seats. Third, the type of amenities is more important than the quantity. Providing amenities such as drinking fountains and misting systems to enhance thermal comfort is also beneficial. Furthermore, expanding the quantity and optimizing the distribution of sports facilities is crucial, as these facilities attract actively engaged visitors and effectively promote park usage. Additionally, increasing the coverage of shade structures helps the elderly navigate weather changes more comfortably. In conclusion, this study revealed key characteristics and thresholds influencing elderly individuals’ usage behaviors. The findings provide evidence-based insights for promoting high-quality park upgrades and enhancing the well-being of the elderly in the context of climate change.
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