Connecting play: youth and digital media for urban public parks in Hong Kong

Urban park utilization among youth is declining in high-density cities such as Hong Kong, driven by increasingly sedentary lifestyles and insufficiently engaging public spaces, with significant consequences for health, wellbeing, and social connectedness. This study systematically reviews and synthesizes current evidence on the factors influencing youth engagement with urban public parks, with a particular focus on the integration of interactive media technologies as a strategy to revitalize park use. The objective is to identify evidence-based design and policy interventions that can enhance youth participation and promote healthy, active lifestyles. Employing a systematic literature review methodology, relevant peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2024 were identified through SCOPUS and Google Scholar using the keywords "urban public park," "youth," and "interactive media technology." Forty-nine studies meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed and thematically categorized into youth motivations and barriers, spatial equity and park design, and the application of digital technologies in park settings. Results indicate that accessible, high-quality amenities and structured programming are fundamental to attracting youth, while the integration of interactive media technologies— including mobile applications, augmented reality games, and sensor-enabled installations—shows significant potential to increase physical activity, experiential enjoyment, and social interaction among young people. However, this review also applies a critical lens to potential drawbacks such as digital inequity, data privacy, excessive screen time, and commercialization—issues that are often underexplored. Furthermore, the proposed conceptual framework is expanded to include environmental sustainability, such as smart energy use and green infrastructure, ensuring that digitally enhanced parks contribute to broader urban resilience as well as youth wellbeing. The framework offers actionable guidance for urban planners and policymakers, and highlights the need for future pilot studies and comparative research to empirically validate the model and optimize health, social, and ecological outcomes for urban youth.

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