A study on the satisfaction of recreation in urban park environment based on perception theory : Centering on Shenyang Expo Ecological City Park

Urban parks serve as essential public spaces that provide citizens with a variety of recreational services, including leisure, relaxation, and health enhancement. These parks offer considerable enjoyment and satisfaction to visitors. However, with the acceleration of urbanization, numerous issues have emerged, such as deficiencies in recreational services, infrastructure, and overall service quality in urban parks. This study conducts an exploratory investigation into recreational satisfaction in urban parks, focusing on Shenyang Botanical Garden in China as the case site. Through a combination of case analysis, field research, and survey methods, the study aims to explore the factors influencing recreational satisfaction in urban parks. Initially, a theoretical review was undertaken to categorize the conceptual variables and establish a theoretical foundation for the proposed model. Subsequently, field investigations at Shenyang Botanical Garden were conducted to identify current issues related to recreational satisfaction in urban parks. Based on perceived value theory and incorporating recreational demand, a conceptual model of recreational satisfaction was constructed and hypotheses were tested through a structured questionnaire survey. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 26.0. The results revealed that recreational expectations had a negative impact on perceived quality and perceived value, while both perceived quality and perceived value had a positive effect on recreational satisfaction. This indicates a negative correlation between recreational expectations and satisfaction. Moreover, a significant correlation was also found between recreational expectations and recreational satisfaction. The findings suggest that by improving service provision, strengthening park management, and enhancing service quality, urban parks can better align visitor expectations with actual experiences, thereby increasing visitor loyalty. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationships among recreational expectations, perceived quality, perceived value, and recreational satisfaction. It offers valuable insights for strategically planning urban park recreational services, managing visitor expectations more effectively, and ultimately enhancing the recreational experience and satisfaction of park users.