Identifying spatial mismatches between the supply and demand of recreation services for sustainable urban river management: a case study of Jinjiang River in Chengdu, China

Urban river recreation services (URRS) are very important for improving the quality of urban life. Understanding the balance between the supply and demand of URRS can facilitate sustainable urban river management. First, we analyzed the spatial patterns of the URRS supply and demand in Jinjiang River. We then identified spatial mismatches from three dimensions (river recreation spaces, residential communities, and the service region) by using the Gaussian two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method. Finally, we revealed the main influencing factors and their interactions. The results showed that: (1) the URRS supply gradually increased from upstream to downstream; (2) the URRS demand in the midstream was the strongest, followed by the downstream and upstream; (3) the supply-demand mismatches were severe, with 50.29% of the URRS region in short supply; and (4) the main influencing factors included distance to the city center, supply of river recreation spaces, and riverfront distance. Road density, residential community density, and distance to the city center could enhance the impact of other factors. Our research can improve the quantity and distribution of urban riverfront green spaces, as well as provide a reference for urban residential layout or planning.