Unraveling the relationships between urban park characteristics and visit durations: A longitudinal smartphone behavior survey in Austin

Abstract

Park visit duration is a critical yet often overlooked metric for assessing the effectiveness of park characteristics and their ability to foster user engagement and health benefits. Our study delved into the relationship between park characteristics and visit durations across different park types by utilizing longitudinal smartphone data in Austin, USA. We aggregated user behavior data on visit durations and then employed a fixed effects regression model that considered time-related variables, aiming to minimize unobserved deviation. Results showed that park characteristics significantly affected visit duration, but their impacts varied by park type. For instance, shade area facilities were advantageous in nature preserves but proved to be less favorable in school parks. The findings can guide the park development and design across different park types, optimizing resource distribution and facilities to encourage longer visits and maximize health benefits.