(1) Environmental education in an urban setting is crucial in terms of building a harmonious relationship between man and nature. As a kind of special ecological habitat, urban wetland parks provide convenience to enhance education on the natural environment. (2) In this study, we chose Harbin Qunli National Wetland Park in China as the subject, and analyzed the visual attention area with eye tracking to explore the differences in obtaining information about the natural environment in tourists with varying degrees of environmental concern and purposes of visit. A model connecting the perception preference and factors that affect visual attention of tourists was constructed. (3) Studies have shown that eco-society-hedonic tourists, who focus on parent–child activities, tend to pay more attention to wetland plants and prefer exploratory paths, while eco-hedonic tourists, whose main purposes are to relax and exercise, are more concerned about explanatory signs and enjoy flat scenic paths more. In addition, social tourists, who pay their visit for social activities, would care more about bird watching structures. (4) This research aims to assist in improving the legibility of environmental education space through the planning, design, and management of urban wetland parks, and explore the potential of landscape elements in enhancing public awareness.
19 June 2025 in Journal of Environmental Management
Social interaction plays a vital role in fostering interpersonal relationships and building social cohesion. As primary venues for residents’ daily recreation and interactions, unlocking its potential for promoting social activities is essential for enhancing place attachment and advancing social well-being. This research selects typical community parks in Harbin as sample sites. Combining behavioral annotation and environmental observation, it visualizes group activities through digital behavior maps and evaluates social interaction levels through three indicators: social activeness, interpersonal distance, and social density. Kernel density estimation, correlation analysis, and variance analysis are employed to identify the environmental features that promote social interaction within community parks. The results indicate that the level of social interaction is significantly influenced by spaces and facilities: the addition of recreational facilities increases social activeness; adding paved surfaces and lighting tend to extend interpersonal distance, while a higher number of enclosure interfaces shortens it; and the increasing of convenience facilities contributes to higher social density. Moreover, discrete leisure spaces and linear boundary spaces are identified as primary hotspots of group activity. Based on these findings, this research proposes spatial optimization strategies that promote social interaction in community parks, to revitalize community parks through micro-scale spatial improvements, thereby encouraging broader social participation and enhancing residents’ physical and mental well-being.