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Research Article Volume 10 Issue 1
A Juvenile excursion: designing children’s parks amidst nature deprivation
Shuyuan Zhang
Received: December 16, 2025 | Published: January 14, 2026
Citation: Zhang S. A Juvenile excursion: designing children’s parks amidst nature deprivation. Horticult Int J. 2026;10(1):1-7. DOI: 10.15406/hij.2026.10.00350
Abstract
Children represent the future of our nation and the hope of the Chinese nation. In recent years, rapid urbanization has led to increasingly limited spaces for children’s activities, which are essential components of urban public life. However, children’s recreational facilities in China remain underdeveloped, predominantly reliant on traditional play equipment, characterized by scarcity, limited functionality, and inadequate engagement with nature. This growing between children and the natural environment not only diminishes their understanding and appreciation of biodiversity but also adversely affects their psychological well-being. This study adopts a qualitative case study approach centered on Xi’an Children’s Park, a historic urban park in Shaanxi Province established in 1928. This case was selected due to its emblematic representation of tensions between heritage conservation, urban development, and the urgent need to reconnect children with nature—a challenge common to many aging urban parks in rapidly developing regions. Through an in-depth analysis of this site, the study explores how landscape renovation can mitigate “nature deficit” among urban children by integrating ecological, educational, and intergenerational spaces into park design. The findings demonstrate that localized, nature-based interventions can serve as a transferable model for urban parks in similarly dense built environments, highlighting the role of designed nature in fostering child development, family bonding, and ecological awareness.
Keywords: children’s park, nature, landscape design, activity area, case study, nature deficit
©2026 Zhang. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.