Gold Award for Urban Park Environmental Landscape Design
Modern urban parks were born during the initial period of urbanization. According to landscape design firms, a comprehensive look at the history of modern global development shows that urban parks are constantly evolving alongside the progression of urbanization.
Landscape Design of Urban Park Environments
Modern urban parks emerged during the first wave of urbanization. Throughout modern history, these spaces have evolved in tandem with urban growth. Since the establishment of the first urban park—New York’s Central Park—urban parks have developed into a vast family of archetypes, playing an increasingly vital role within the city.
Initially, park functions were relatively singular, primarily providing public environments for citizens to leisure, stroll, and enjoy the scenery. As construction evolved, the functionality of parks expanded to include:
- Sightseeing & Touring
- Leisure & Sports
- Rest & Relaxation
- Children’s Play
- Cultural & Entertainment Activities
- Science & Nature Education
Urban parks not only provide open public spaces for citizens but also play a crucial role in improving the regional ecological environment.
Defining the Urban Park
Definitions of urban parks vary across different eras and focus on different priorities—some emphasize aesthetic significance, others prioritize recreational value, while some focus on comprehensive multi-functionality. Regardless of the definition, from the perspective of human urban life:
An urban park is a natural or man-made open public space. It is a complex aggregate composed of diverse topography, vegetation, water bodies, roads, plazas, buildings, structures, public facilities, and landscape sketches (ornamental features).
The concept encompasses:
- Themed and comprehensive parks.
- Gardens and natural forest parks.
- Suburban leisure farms and water parks.
- Any public park established within a built-up urban area.
The Evolution of Theme Parks
Landscape design experts note that academic circles hold varying perspectives on the essence and appearance of Theme Parks:
- Mr. Zhou Xiangpin suggests that a theme park is a “creation of a simulated environment aimed at amusement, or the presentation of a simulated landscape.”
- Mr. Bao Jigang defines it as “a man-made tourism resource that focuses on a specific concept, creating a series of projects with special environments and atmospheres centered around one or more themes to attract tourists.”
- “Theme Park Online” (USA) defines it as “a park that is usually large in scale, possesses one or more themed areas, and features facilities and attractions that manifest those themes.” A prime example is Disneyland in the United States.
