The Research On Environmental Capacity Of Urban Scenic Park

Evaluation methods of the scenic park environmental capacity (EC) was improved on the basis of the existing research results. Firstly, evaluation index system was established. Evaluation criterion is too general and not sufficient to calculate the scenic park EC scientifically and accurately, was further divided. Detailedly, four kinds of sub-capacity were chosen to set up the evaluation system, they are spatial carrying capacity(SCC), facility carrying capacity(FCC), ecological carrying capacity(ECC) and social- economic carrying capacity(SECC). In this evaluation system, SCC includes building space capacity, outdoor activity space capacity, road traffic capacity and water tour spaces capacity. FCC includes parking, public toilets, boats, seats, tearooms and restaurants. ECC includes atmosphere capacity, water capacity, solid waste capacity and biological environment capacity. SECC includes capacities of resident cognitive level, accommodation, management, transport, restaurants and municipal facility. In addition, a threshold value of each capacity is identified according to their respective features to obtain an optimized evaluation of the scenic park environmental capacity. Fourth, an evaluation model is established to search the "limiting factors" for sustainable exploiting the park potential. Using this model, the environmental capacity rate (ECR) of an urban park can also be calculated conveniently. Fifth, the EC of the Slender West Lake Park, a famous and typical scenic park located in Yangzhou, is investigated elaborately as a case study. The SCC, FCC, ECC, SECC, together with integrated and sub-items ECR were calculated using the model mentioned above. The results indicated that the integrated ECR of the Slender West Lake Park is far below saturation and presents a typical seasonal fluctuation. The "limiting factors" preventing sustainable development of this park are road traffic capacity, restaurant capacity, atmosphere and water capacity and municipal accommodation capacity. Finally, several suggestions were provided to improve the planning and management of the Slender West Lake Park in the future.