Resident demand-oriented selection and spatial layout strategy for public sports facilities

In response to elevated living standards and evolving recreational values, public sports facilities have become a focal point. This study, targeting the central districts of Yiyang City across 17 neighborhoods, integrates questionnaire surveys, in-depth interviews, and geographic information system analysis to address the diversified needs in sports infrastructure. It reveals a discrepancy characterised by uniform facility types and flawed layouts, notably in Heshan and Ziyang, that fail to satisfy the diversified demands of residents. Consequently, the research introduces a bottom-up strategy, emphasising the need for facility selections and spatial layouts informed by community needs. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of demographic factors such as age, income, and education in guiding facility placement strategies to accommodate a broad spectrum of users. By doing so, the study contributes a novel, resident-focused framework to the discourse on public sports facilities, promoting sustainable and inclusive urban sports environment development.