Pocket park in urban regeneration of China: Policy and perspective

Perched on the edge and corner of the city center, pocket parks transform urban vacant land into vibrant urban oases. It can greatly shorten the distance from citizens to the park, thereby promoting citizens' participation in outdoor activities and improving urban vitality. The construction of pocket parks in China started late. However, it has developed rapidly in recent years, which supports urban regeneration. A government document, published by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China in 2002, promotes the construction of pocket parks. In the process of promoting the construction of pocket parks in Chinese cities, problems such as unclear construction standards, difficult operation and maintenance, blind copying, and emphasis on the landscape over the function have emerged. The aforementioned issues are elaborated and corresponding suggestions are pointed out in this short communication.