JAILCD2026-021: A Study on Visual Preferences and Stress Recovery Effects of Different Urban Park Types in Summer

Abstract

With the acceleration of urbanization, people are increasingly exposed to high-load artificial environments for extended periods. As essential places for stress alleviation, urban parks have garnered growing attention in psychological health and urban design research, particularly regarding visual preference and restorative effects. This study focuses on Kitakyushu Hibikinada Green Park—the largest urban park in Kitakyushu, Japan—during the summer season. Photographs representing three common landscape types (woodland, grassland, and waterscape) were captured in the park. Using eye-tracking technology, heart rate variability (HRV), and questionnaire-based methods, the study investigates visual preferences and stress-recovery outcomes by having participants view these images. The results indicate that grassland (PRS: 1.88; HRV: 3.09) and woodland (PRS: 1.76; HRV: 3.01) scenes achieved significantly higher restorative outcomes than waterscapes (PRS: 1.19; HRV: 2.66) and indoor controls. Eye-tracking data showed 60.56% of attention focused on distant skylines in grasslands and 87.10% on path corridors in woodlands. This research offers valuable insights for optimising the design and management of urban parks.