On the Value of Parks and Public Health: A Case Study of Xuanwu Park in Beijing

Parks, which contain both artificial and natural attractions, not only beautify a city, but are also closely linked with the population’s physical and mental health. As a part of the government’s public service, parks are playing an irreplaceable role for public health today. This study is based on the citizens participating in the activities in Beijing’s Xuanwu Park, and it aims to reveal the positive correlation between parks and public health. Xuanwu Park is one of the 167 registered public parks in Beijing. It covers an area of 8.37 hectares, including seven functional areas offering different leisure activities open to all citizens free of charge, and it provides recreational spaces for more than 200 thousand residents from the neighboring communities. According to the survey, this park has is a daily average of 10,000 visitors. Statistics also show that about 3000 people come to the park every day, 20,000 people visit 2–3 times a week, and 50,000 people visit once a week. According to the statistics on the frequent visitors, most people, especially those in poor health, regard the park as their “best friend” in life, especially when it comes to relieving pain or their sense of loneliness, and to correcting an unhealthy lifestyle. This survey also uses a professional questionnaire, which is designed to find the impact of park activities on the physiological and psychological aspects of the human body, as well as the relationship between parks and the popularization of science.