Remodeling urban fitness trails to engaging and healthy public spaces for all

Li, Haoyang

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/95387 Copy

Description

Title

Remodeling urban fitness trails to engaging and healthy public spaces for all

Author(s)

Li, Haoyang

Issue Date

2016-12-05

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Sullivan, William C.

Committee Member(s)

• Zhu, Weimo
• Emmerling-DiNovo, Carol

Department of Study

Landscape Architecture

Discipline

Landscape Architecture

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.L.A.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Urban fitness trail
• Health benefit

Abstract

Unprecedented urban development has happened to China in the past several decades, generating countless skyscrapers and a much more compacted living environment for a majority of its people. During the same period, lifestyles changed accordingly. Physical inactivity, once an exotic term to most Chinese people, became one of the leading risk factors for mortality. To encourage more physical activities as a means to improve public health, the Chinese government proposed the National Fitness Program and put it into practice. One significant approach applied by the program is to build “fitness trails” in available public spaces for nearby residents. However, these trails, consisting a limited amount of exercise equipment, are often obsolete and abandoned places risking the health and safety of nearby residents. This leaves us a big challenge in planning and design. To what extent can we use research, knowledge, and systematic design thinking from landscape architecture to flip existing fitness trails over into engaging health enhancements for the wellbeing of all? This thesis examined current conditions of 30 different urban fitness trails in the city of Guangzhou and conducted an in-depth analysis of two typical urban fitness trail cases in Liuyun community. By research and analysis, a set of design guidelines was created and prepared for future practices. In response to design strategies provided, a comprehensive fitness trail design in Liuyun community was made for illustration. Through investigation, it is apparent that many of the urban fitness trails were unwisely built in locations and poorly considered in design components. By a more inclusive understanding of health, various health-promoting factors including mental health, social wellbeing, and healthy food were brought into design rather than physical activity only. In the illustrative design chapter, constructive design ideas and solutions were made and explained, with hope to set up the stage for related practitioners.

Graduation Semester

2016-12

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/95387

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 Haoyang Li

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