A systematic review of alternative protocols for evaluating non-spatial dimensions of urban parks

In the context of rapid urbanization, parks are important assets for enhancing the quality of life in urban settings. They provide opportunities for outdoor physical activity, recreation, and therapeutic benefits. A growing number of park assessment studies are shifting their focus from spatial assessments such as availability, proximity, and accessibility, to nonspatial assessments such as park quality, park use, and park benefits. Consequently, arguments for developing methods of measuring these non-spatial dimensions of urban parks have emerged in the literature. The purpose of this study is to analyze and synthesize the different approaches used for assessing non-spatial dimensions of urban parks, including quality, use, and benefit, and draw implications for future urban landscape planning, design, and research. We explore the research purpose from the perspectives of how the existing protocols measure the non-spatial park dimensions, what limitations they have, and recommendations for future scholars to choose an existing protocol. The systematic study finds successive patterns and agreement with direct observation methods in the development of park quality protocols. We find protocols for park quality and use focus primarily on physical activity and do not measure non-spatial dimsneions ofurban parks and other uses such as social contact and relaxation. When compared to park quality and use, park benefit protocols are less developed and most are based on self-reported data, an opportunity for future research. For future scholars, study provides a list of recommended protocols for assessing park quality and use.