Visitor perceptions and emotional trends in Chinese sports parks based on textual network and sentiment analysis

As urbanization accelerates and the demand for public spaces in China rises, sports parks play an increasingly critical role in promoting public health, social interaction, and environmental sustainability. Visitors’ perceptions of sports parks offer valuable insights into their sustainable development, helping to create spaces that support both physical activity and community well-being. To better understand visitors’ multi-dimensional perceptions, a total of 30,558 words were collected from online review platforms using Python, with data processed through ROSTCM6, UCINET, and MATLAB. The feedback categorized sports parks into six key areas: landscape, infrastructure, activities, management services, location, and social interaction. Notably, social interaction elicited the most positive emotions, while management services received the least favorable feedback. This research integrates sentiment analysis and secondary classification techniques to explore the emotional dimensions of visitor experiences, which are crucial for enhancing sports park sustainability. By identifying key factors influencing visitor satisfaction, this study provides actionable recommendations for urban planners and policymakers. These findings contribute to the social, environmental, and economic sustainability of sports parks, ensuring they are better utilized, maintained, and integrated into the urban fabric, thus supporting healthier and more resilient cities.