A Study on Community Green Space Design Strategies Based on the Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Outdoor Activities of the Elderly

In the context of rapid population aging and the severe lack of age-friendly design in outdoor physical activity spaces for the elderly in China, this study, based on behavioral observation methodology, investigates outdoor physical activities of elderly individuals in Shijingshan inner district community park during winter. The aim is to explore the spatiotemporal characteristics of outdoor physical activities among the elderly and provide a basis for redesigning community park spaces to be more age-friendly. The findings show that elderly men are more active in the afternoon, while women, influenced by their daily routines, engage in less activity in the morning. In winter, activities are more static in the morning and dynamic in the afternoon. In terms of spatial distribution, men tend to be scattered across the park, while women concentrate in sunlit areas. The spatial clustering is influenced by the venue, vegetation, and facilities. Among the types of activities, social interaction activities have the highest proportion, followed by fitness activities. Based on these findings, the paper proposes several suggestions for improvement, such as optimizing the design of activity areas, rationally configuring fitness equipment, and increasing the diversity of resting spaces to better meet the needs of elderly individuals, enhance the age-friendly functionality of community parks, and promote healthy aging.