The planning and design of good quality urban parks in China: the perspectives of technical professionals
Yangnan Guo, İan Mell
Abstract
Previous studies have identified barriers to investment in good quality urban parks during the planning and design stage, particularly noting the ineffectiveness of planning instruments, a low political will to invest in urban green spaces and constraints in governance operation. The factors that influence the quality of urban parks in the planning and design stages of investment were investigated through interviews with technical professionals who have acted as consultants to local government across China on urban planning and landscape projects. A set of thematic characteristics were identified as shaping the planning and design of good quality urban parks in China: the reliance on quantitative metrics in the contemporary planning context; the linkage between local political will to invest in urban parks, local leaders’ prestige and local administrators’ enthusiasm in governance operation; and local administrators’ equipment with knowledge and effectiveness in communicating with technical professionals.