Beyond Proximity: Unpacking the Drivers of Diverse Urban Park Visitation

Access to natural environments is crucial for public health in urban areas, yet the specific park qualities that attract visitors remain underexplored. While factors like proximity are known to influence park use, the role of biodiversity is less clear. This chapter investigates the relationship between residential location and park visitation in South Australia. Using survey data from 2021 to 2023, we analysed the diversity of park choices between urban and peri-urban residents with the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index and explored the potential drivers of these patterns, including ecological and sociodemographic factors. Our results reveal that urban residents explore a significantly wider variety of parks compared to their peri-urban counterparts. However, the drivers of this behaviour are complex. Within the urban area, visitation was not directly correlated with standard biodiversity metrics. Instead, preferences were linked to specific landscape features, such as the presence of native vegetation over shrubland, alongside park accessibility and management. These findings suggest that creating attractive urban green spaces requires a nuanced approach. Investing in a portfolio of high-quality, accessible, and well-managed parks that feature preferred native ecosystems is a vital strategy for promoting public health and fostering a greater connection between city dwellers and nature.