Did COVID-19 Reshape Visitor Preferences in Urban Parks? Investigating Influences on Sentiments in Shanghai, China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This paper is interesting and investigates the ways in which the pandemic affected preferences for urban park types and specific landscape features.The results shows a post-pandemic rise in preferences for neighborhood parks and features typically associated with neighborhood parks, such as walking accessibility and surrounding residential densities. Moreover, six park features were found, including the presence of grasslands, water bodies, walking paths, and proximity to shopping facilities, significantly impacted the ways in which people perceived their park experience.

My detailed comments and recommendations related to the paper are presented below.
1. The data collection was only divided into pre-epidemic and post-epidemic, did it take into account that a lot of the data came from the time of the outbreak, and was this part of the data differentiated and analyzed?
2. The paper stated that a Pearson correlation analysis of Twitter sentiment and ratings on these platforms was conducted (line 102), but no relevant findings or conclusions was found.
3.From the point of view of positive sentiment  pre- and post- the epidemic, the increase is mainly focused on the ease of mobility and movement related, which is likely to have a lot to do with the epidemic during the period of people trapped with their homes and can not travel freely, which is likely to be a kind of outburst reaction and compensatory behavior after the repression，this stress response may have a limited role in guiding urban park design and planning in general.
4. According to this paper stated, the parks were classified into four categories based on the Urban Green Space Classification Standard (CJJT 85-2017): neighborhood parks, comprehensive parks, historical garden, and nature parks.However, according to a search of this classification standard, parks are categorized into more than just these four categories, but also specialized parks and small gardens/parks. This suggests that there are irregularities or targeted deletions in the reference to the standard.

In brief, I suggest that this manuscript accept after minor revision.

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

Thank you for your insightful comments and here are our responses. The revisions are in blue font in the article.

Point 1: The data collection was only divided into pre-epidemic and post-epidemic, did it take into account that a lot of the data came from the time of the outbreak, and was this part of the data differentiated and analyzed?

Response 1: In our study, we indeed acknowledged the importance of considering data from the outbreak period. However, the data we collected from this period was relatively small due to travel restrictions and lockdown measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. This limited data size from the outbreak period posed a challenge for conducting a robust and accurate analysis.

Given this constraint, our study primarily focused on comparing visitor sentiments in urban parks in Shanghai before and after the pandemic. This approach was chosen because the data size for these periods was sufficiently large, ensuring the reliability and validity of our findings.

Point 2: The paper stated that a Pearson correlation analysis of Twitter sentiment and ratings on these platforms was conducted (line 102), but no relevant findings or conclusions was found.

Response 2: Thanks for your comment and we added the relevant findings and conclusions in lines 135 - 143. The text color is blue. We also paste it here for your review.

“We conducted a Pearson correlation analysis between the sentiments from Weibo and the ratings from Dazhongdianping and Ctrip platforms. A high Pearson correlation coefficient (r) would indicate that our visitor sentiment results from Weibo were indeed trustworthy and aligned with broader public opinion (Table 2). The two NLP platforms had significant correlation results, and both had high model accuracy of 95% and 92% respectively. In addition, Dazhongdianping rating data and Ctrip rating data of urban parks, to confirm the results based on Weibo data. Positive sentiment ratios originating from different data sources were significantly correlated. The Pearson correlation analysis results confirm that the positive sentiment ratio has high reliability and consistency.”

Point 3: From the point of view of positive sentiment  pre- and post- the epidemic, the increase is mainly focused on the ease of mobility and movement related, which is likely to have a lot to do with the epidemic during the period of people trapped with their homes and can not travel freely, which is likely to be a kind of outburst reaction and compensatory behavior after the repression，this stress response may have a limited role in guiding urban park design and planning in general.

Response 3: We appreciate your perspective on this being a potential reaction to restrictions experienced during the pandemic. While we agree that part of this sentiment increase could be attributed to a compensatory response post-lockdown, our study also considers the long-term implications for urban park design and planning.

This shift in public sentiment, although intensified by the pandemic, points to a deeper, evolving need for accessible and dynamic urban spaces. The pandemic has served as a catalyst, bringing to the forefront the importance of designing urban parks that cater to a diverse range of activities and preferences. Thus, our findings are not only reflective of a temporary stress response but also indicative of a lasting change in public expectations from urban parks. Designing for flexibility and increased mobility in urban parks could therefore be a key consideration for urban planners, extending well beyond the current pandemic context.

Point 4: According to this paper stated, the parks were classified into four categories based on the Urban Green Space Classification Standard (CJJT 85-2017): neighborhood parks, comprehensive parks, historical garden, and nature parks. However, according to a search of this classification standard, parks are categorized into more than just these four categories, but also specialized parks and small gardens/parks. This suggests that there are irregularities or targeted deletions in the reference to the standard.

Response 4: Thank you for pointing out the discrepancy between the Urban Green Space Classification Standard (CJJT 85-2017) and our categorization of parks in the study. Your observation is indeed accurate, and we appreciate the opportunity to clarify this aspect. We chose to focus on the four mentioned categories due to the availability and robustness of data.

The Urban Green Space Classification Standard (CJJT 85-2017) indeed recognizes additional categories, including specialized parks and small gardens/parks. However, for these categories, we encountered a significant limitation in terms of data availability and consistency. This limitation was due to several factors, including their size and location, which often attract fewer visitors or have less frequent data collection.

Given the scarcity of sufficient data for specialized parks and small gardens/parks, we decided to focus our analysis on the four categories where data was more comprehensive in urban park usage in Shanghai. In future research, we aim to incorporate a more diverse range of park categories as data availability improves.

We added the explanation of the selection of the four categories in line 90 . The text color is blue. We also paste it here for your review.

“Considering the availability and robustness of data within urban parks, the parks were classified into four categories based on the Urban Green Space Classification Standard (CJJT 85-2017): neighborhood parks, comprehensive parks, historical garden, and nature parks (Table 1).”

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

This study uses social media data to understand how COVID-19 has affected park users' preferences. The topic is very interesting and relevant to Sustainability. Additionally, the manuscript is well-written and properly structured. I suggest that the author(s) highlight how their research differentiates itself from previous studies using social media to reveal users' preferences in the context of urban parks. Additionally, I suggest adding a hypothesis in the introduction section.

In page five, lines156-158, these sentences belong to the Introduction rather than the methods section.

the two tables in Figure4 can be merged with two columns showing ratios pre- and post-COVID 19 to safe space.

The manuscript will positively benefit from professional English copyediting

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

Thank you for your insightful comments and here are our responses. The revisions are in blue font in the article.

Point 1: I suggest that the author(s) highlight how their research differentiates itself from previous studies using social media to reveal users' preferences in the context of urban parks.  

Response 1: Thanks for your suggestion and we added the highlights in lines 3 - 7. The text color is blue. We also paste it here for your review.

“Our research distinctively investigates whether the COVID-19 pandemic altered preferences regarding urban parks and identifies the key landscape attributes and environmental factors that influenced positive visitor sentiment, thereby addressing a critical gap in understanding the evolving dynamics of urban green spaces in the post-pandemic era.”

Point 2: I suggest adding a hypothesis in the introduction section.

Response 2: Thanks for your comment and we added a hypothesis in lines 63 - 66. The text color is blue. We also paste it here for your review.

“We hypothesize that there have been significant changes in public preferences regarding urban parks. Specifically, we propose that the pandemic has altered the attributes and environmental factors of urban parks that contribute most significantly to positive visitor sentiment.”

Point 3: In page five, lines156-158, these sentences belong to the Introduction rather than the Methods section.

Response 3: We agree with you, so we moved these sentences to the Introduction section in page two, lines 60 - 72. The text color is blue.

Point 4: The two tables in Figure4 can be merged with two columns showing ratios pre- and post-COVID-19 to safe space.

Response 4: This suggestion is very helpful. We adjusted the tables in Figure 4 in line 202.

Point 5: The manuscript will positively benefit from professional English copyediting.

Response 5: Thanks for your suggestion, we engaged with professional English copyediting services to refine the manuscript's language further.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The article entitled 'Did COVID-19 Reshape Visitor Pregerences in Urban Parks? Investigating Influences on Sentiments in Shanghai, China' is very interesting and important in the discussion on managing cities in a sustainable way and in the spirit of the Green Cities concept. In addition, the article is well written, based on a well-planned and conducted study. The article is based on well-chosen literature sources and is presented in a clear manner. 

Minor comments, optional:

- no clearly formulated purpose of the entire article in the Abstract.

- in the Introduction, it could be strongly emphasised why it is important for city planners to understand the relationships discussed (rows: 26-33)

- if the conclusions of the study are to be used for long-term city planning in the future, it is worth considering to what extent and for how long the experiences of COVID-19 will have an impact in the memory of societies, especially new generations.

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

Thank you for your insightful comments and here are our responses. The revisions are in blue font in the article.

Point 1: No clearly formulated purpose of the entire article in the Abstract  

Response 1: Thanks for your suggestion and we added the purpose in Abstract, lines 3 - 7. The text color is blue. We also paste it here for your review.

“Our research distinctively investigates whether the COVID-19 pandemic altered preferences regarding urban parks and identifies the key landscape attributes and environmental factors that influenced positive visitor sentiment, thereby addressing a critical gap in understanding the evolving dynamics of urban green spaces in the post-pandemic era.”

Point 2: In the Introduction, it could be strongly emphasised why it is important for city planners to understand the relationships discussed (rows: 26-33)

Response 2: Thank you for this point. We added the reasons why it is important for city planners to understand the relationship in lines 33 - 40. The text color is blue. We also paste it here for your review.

“The pandemic has served as a crucial catalyst for re-evaluating the role of urban parks, highlighting their value not only as recreational spaces but also as essential components of urban resilience. City planners, equipped with insights into how park features influence visitor sentiment, can better design green spaces that address the evolving needs of urban populations, particularly in response to crises. Furthermore, incorporating these insights into urban planning can facilitate the development of green spaces that actively contribute to public health, social cohesion, and the sustainable development of cities.”

Point 3: If the conclusions of the study are to be used for long-term city planning in the future, it is worth considering to what extent and for how long the experiences of COVID-19 will have an impact in the memory of societies, especially new generations.

Response 3: We agree with you. We added the related content in Conclusion, lines 417 – 427. The text color is blue. We also paste it here for your review.

“The unprecedented experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic have indelibly imprinted on the collective memory of our society, influencing behaviors and preferences in the use of urban green spaces. Our research indicates that the pandemic has not only altered current preferences but is likely to have a lasting impact on future generations, who have witnessed a significant shift in the role of urban parks. As new generations grow up with the collective memory of the pandemic's challenges, the emphasis on accessible, multifunctional, and health-promoting green spaces is expected to persist. Long-term city planning must, therefore, anticipate these enduring shifts, integrating the lessons learned from the pandemic to create urban parks that are adaptable, resilient, and capable of meeting the needs of a society that values green spaces for their role in enhancing quality of life, promoting well-being, and fostering community resilience.”

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf