Do configurational attributes matter in context of urban parks? Park pathway configurational attributes and senior walking

Neighborhood urban parks are easily available settings for seniors to engage in walking. Park pathway characteristics can promote or limit senior walking. The present study examines how four objective measurements of pathway configurational characteristics relate to senior walking in two neighborhood parks in Beijing, China. In total, 75 pathway segments were included in the study. Senior walking behavior was measured through on-site observations, and sum of observed seniors on each pathway segment was the dependent variable. Space syntax approach was used to measure four park pathway configurational characteristics, i.e., average depth to gates, average depth to landmarks, control value, and global integration. In addition, three micro-level pathway characteristics were also included: pathway connection with activity zones, presence of shade, and lateral visibility. Regression analysis indicates that pathway global integration value (degree of syntactic accessibility) and control value (degree of control on accessing neighboring pathways) are positively associated with number of observed seniors on each pathway segment. Moreover, pathways without connection with activity zones are used more by seniors. In design practice, we can distribute preferred micro-level design characteristics, such as shade and benches along pathways with high global integration value and control value, in order to encourage senior walking. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.