Mapping the emotional landscapes of parks in post-industrial communities enduring environmental injustices: Potential implications for biophilic city planning
Mahbubur Meenar, Jiří Pánek, Jennifer Kitson, Ashley York
Abstract
The conceptual basis for urban greening often lies in the biophilic urbanism paradigm, which emphasizes the importance of people's innate emotional connections to nature for their well-being. This study aims to analyze and map emotional landscapes within urban parks in post-industrial communities facing environmental injustices, using Camden, New Jersey, USA, as the empirical context. Camden is dealing with past environmental injustices and insufficient greenspace, while also striving to avoid future green gentrification. Based on park user surveys and GIS data and a mixed-methods approach, the study explores users' emotional experiences, the factors influencing these emotions, the mapping of sentiment patterns, and perceptions of park attributes. Four key insights emerge: First, the legacy of environmental injustice affects emotional experiences in Camden parks, potentially limiting biophilic benefits. Second, emotional responses to parks are highly case-specific, challenging the idea that parks are uniformly positive or negative. Third, most larger parks near water bodies receive more investment and positive feedback. Finally, users' locations have a greater influence on emotional responses than race, ethnicity, or income. We highlight the importance of understanding emotional landscapes in urban parks and incorporating public sentiments into park planning and decision-making. • Mapped emotional landscapes of Camden, NJ, parks, showing environmental injustices shape emotional experiences. • Challenged the notion that parks are universally positive by revealing case-specific emotional responses. • Found larger, waterfront parks receive more investment and positive feedback than smaller, less prominent ones. • Revealed users' physical locations influence emotional responses more than race, ethnicity, or income. • Emphasized integrating public sentiment in park planning to boost benefits and prevent green gentrification.