Identification, Evaluation and Optimization of Urban Park System Network Structure

A well-structured urban park system (UPS) is crucial for optimizing urban spatial layout and improving the quality of the human living environment. In response to the tendency of current planning to prioritize quantitative indicators while overlooking the relational structure arising from the collective spatial configuration of parks, this study introduces Social Network Analysis (SNA) to evaluate the spatial structure of Shanghai’s park system by constructing a service-coverage overlap network. The findings reveal the following: (1) Parks with high degree centrality are concentrated in high-density urban core areas due to service overlap, whereas large suburban parks with high betweenness centrality function as critical bridging hubs, reflecting a polycentric structure. (2) There is a discernible discrepancy between these emergent network tiers and the statutory park hierarchy, highlighting a tension between bottom-up spatial patterns and top-down planning frameworks. (3) Stability simulations indicate a dual character of the system, where the network topology is vulnerable to attacks yet functionally resilient to failures due to spatial redundancy, suggesting that a decline in service quality may precede the loss of basic accessibility. This study demonstrates the value of SNA in diagnosing park system structure, identifying key nodes, and assessing system resilience. The insights advocate for planning approaches that transcend rigid hierarchical frameworks, integrate the actual functional roles of parks, and protect structural hubs, thereby enhancing systemic resilience and promoting equitable service provision.