Table 1_Older adults’ demands for sports parks: a Kano model study based on sports parks in Shandong Province of China.xlsx

AimWith the rapid progression of population aging in China, community sports parks are becoming vital venues for older adults’ physical activity and social interaction. However, deficiencies in age-friendly design remain evident. This study investigates older adults’ service demands in community sports parks using the Kano model, aiming to identify attributes that shape satisfaction and inform the development of older adults friendly facilities.
MethodsA survey was conducted in three representative parks in Jinan, Rizhao, and Weihai (Shandong Province) between May and July 2025. A total of 900 questionnaires were distributed, with 838 valid responses collected (93.1%). The instrument covered six dimensions and 25 service items in functional/dysfunctional pairs. Reliability and validity tests were performed with SPSS 26.0, and Kano analysis was applied to classify demand attributes.
ResultsIndifferent attributes accounted for the largest proportion (36%), while attractive, must-be, and one-dimensional attributes represented 28, 20, and 16%, respectively. Public service facilities, sports facilities, multi-sharing, professional fitness guidance and sports skills training were identified as must-be requirements. Lighting system, environmental quality, maintenance management, greening facilities, social adaptability, health education, health monitoring activities were attractive attributes, while site protection, spatial comfort, recreational fitness facilities, recreational sports activities were one-dimensional expectations. Dimensional analysis highlighted that convenience and openness were critical to avoiding dissatisfaction, whereas environmental comfort was the strongest driver of satisfaction.
ConclusionOlder adults’ needs for community sports parks are multi-layered, encompassing safety, accessibility, comfort, sociability, and activity diversity. Essential functions must be guaranteed, while improvements in comfort, enrichment of activities, and intergenerational integration are crucial to enhancing satisfaction and participation. These findings provide empirical evidence to guide the age-friendly transformation of community sports parks and support the broader implementation of active aging strategies.