From urban park concepts to performance: A critical narrative review of Socio-Ecological design and quality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30822/arteks.v11i3.5741
Keywords:
Park quality, Performance indicators, Place-keeping, Socio-ecological design, Urban ParkAbstract
Urban Park concepts are frequently articulated in terms of spatial composition, amenities, landscape character, or distinctive visual identity; however, their substantive value ultimately depends on the socio-ecological outcomes that can be demonstrated and evaluated. This critical narrative review examines how architectural and landscape design intentions can be systematically converted into evidence concerning biodiversity, hydrological regulation, thermal comfort, equitable accessibility, lived experience, cultural significance, and long-term stewardship. A structured literature search and an explicit evidence hierarchy were used to integrate recent scholarship addressing green infrastructure, ecosystem services, nature-based solutions, environmental justice, park quality, walking behavior, and governance. The synthesis establishes four interrelated performance tests: ecological functionality, equitable availability, experiential affordance, and place-keeping capacity. Recent empirical evidence indicates that the mere provision of parks does not necessarily ensure high-quality environments, that characteristics at the route level can substantially influence patterns of use, and that decision-support instruments can make priorities more explicit only when their criteria and weighting procedures are transparent. The proposed concept-to-performance framework consequently connects individual design claims with their underlying mechanisms, measurable indicators, responsible actors, and post-occupancy monitoring procedures. Its principal contribution is the integration of ecological, distributive, experiential, and governance-based evidence into a single auditable sequence for design evaluation. The framework is intended to support concept assessment, planning approval, public participation, and adaptive management rather than function as a universal scoring system.
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