Introduction
Rapid urbanization has had a severe impact on the living environment of humans. As of 2023, 92.1% of South Korea’s population resides in urban areas, and the destruction of ecosystems and the deterioration of the living environment caused by urbanization have become major factors undermining the quality of life for urban residents. Against this backdrop, green spaces within cities are receiving attention not merely as landscape resources but as restorative environments that promote psychological well-being and physical health (Japelj et al., 2016). Urban forests, in particular, are important spaces that provide ecological functions such as air purification, temperature regulation, and the enhancement of biodiversity, while also offering opportunities for rest, exercise, healing, and social interaction as everyday leisure spaces for citizens. In particular, the value of urban forests became even more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when indoor activities were restricted and demand for outdoor activities increased (Geng et al., 2020; Chang et al., 2021). Derks et al. (2020) reported that the number of urban forest visitors more than doubled in Germany after the pandemic, with notable increases particularly among young adults and family visitors. South Korea has also come to show a clear tendency for people to prefer low-density outdoor activities with their families in nature-friendly spaces near their homes (Korea Tourism Organization, 2020). Accordingly, urban forests must be newly reorganized and managed to accommodate these changing patterns and demands in leisure activities. Based on the Forest Welfare Promotion Act, the Korea Forest Service is systematically implementing forest welfare services across the life course by establishing a forest welfare promotion plan every five years. While the first forest welfare promotion plan (2018–2022) focused on demand-based expansion through the development of infrastructure and facilities, the second plan (2023–2027) aims primarily at developing tailored forest welfare services that reflect diverse user needs and offering specialized programs (Kim et al., 2024).
Recent studies on urban forests are expanding in various directions. These include studies categorizing leisure activities or segmented the market to identify the characteristics of different user groups (Jang et al., 2020; Byun et al., 2023); studies analyzing the effects of urban forest use on positive psychological outcomes and emotional restoration (Kim and Park, 2019; Lee, 2022); studies evaluating forest recreation behavior and facility satisfaction and verifying the effectiveness of programs (Kim et al., 2024; Park, 2024); studies empirically examining the relationship between urban forests and quality of life (Kang et al., 2022; Kim et al., 2024); and studies analyzing the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and forest recreation (Derks et al., 2020; Chang et al., 2021). While these studies have significance in that they have investigated the social and psychological value of urban forests from multiple perspectives, they tend to focus primarily on individual topics such as usage motives, value, or facility evaluation. In particular, age-specific differences in the characteristics of urban forest use have emerged as an important research topic. In domestic studies, Kim et al. (2010) revealed that older adults use forest recreation sites for physical activity and exercise, placing importance on physical accessibility and the restorativeness of the forest environment. Jang et al. (2020) found that individuals with older age tend to prefer rest- and health-promoting activities over educational or recreational sports activities, and Byun et al. (2023) similarly showed that young adults are mostly distributed in the indifferent type, while older adults are mainly in the passive-use type. In international research, Trummer and Hegetschweiler (2023) reported that age has a significant effect on the perceived attractiveness of forests, with younger adults evaluating forests more positively than older adults. In contrast, Deng et al. (2017) analyzed that younger adults exhibit less positive attitude toward forests compared to older adults.
Previous studies suggest that perceptions of urban forests, preferred activities, and policy support vary by age, suggesting the need for age-specific urban forest management strategies. However, discussions thus far have generally tended to merely conduct fragmentary comparisons of satisfaction levels or influencing factors. In fact, multiple factors interact to affect user satisfaction, and these satisfaction experiences ultimately lead to improved quality of life or local environments, and further affect attitudes toward policy support. Therefore, there is a need for an approach that structurally analyzes the determinants of satisfaction and empirically examines how the results connect to policy support. In response to this need, this study classified urban forest users into young adults (30s and under), middle-aged adults (40s–50s), and older adults (60s and above). This classification reflects findings from prior research indicating that motivations for visiting urban forests and preferred activities differ across the life course (Kim et al., 2010; Byun et al., 2023), and it also aligns with Korea Forest Service policies, which define beneficiary groups by youth, middle age, and older age.
Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the combined effects of factors determining visitor satisfaction with forest recreation sites by classifying visitors to urban forests in Incheon by age, and to empirically examine how these factors affect perceptions of local environment improvement and attitudes toward policy support. Through this, the study aims to enhance the public value of urban forests and provide foundational data for age-specific forest welfare policy implementation. To achieve these research objectives, a decision tree analysis was applied. Decision tree analysis is a type of data mining technique that repeatedly partitions data to predict and classify a dependent variable (Nam, 2020; Yu, 2025). In particular, meaningful combinations can be visualized in a tree structure by simultaneously considering multiple explanatory variables, facilitating intuitive interpretation; and differences in satisfaction according to conditional combinations of individual factors can be clearly explored, making it well-suited for applied fields that require explanatory power (Lewis, 2000; Maimon and Rokach, 2014; Nam, 2020). Moreover, it is less sensitive to outliers or missing values as it does not require assumptions of linearity, normality, or homoscedasticity (Freitas, 2002; Lim & Jeong, 2015), and user groups with diverse characteristics can be stably analyzed. Therefore, decision tree analysis is particularly suitable for identifying the determinants of satisfaction by age group in the form of conditional combinations, which is the core focus of this study, and subsequent regression analysis was conducted to further examine the relationship with policy support.
Research Methods
Study area
Incheon Metropolitan City is a representative port city located on the west coast of South Korea, which has grown into a global logistics and transportation hub centered on Incheon International Airport and Incheon Port. Recently, rapid urbanization has been underway through the development of Free Economic Zones such as Songdo, Cheongna, and Yeongjong; and accordingly, securing urban green spaces and strengthening the forest recreation functions to improve citizens’ quality of life have been emphasized as important policy tasks.
The forests of Incheon are formed around an S-shaped green axis stretching across the city from north to south, and as of 2020, the urban forest area was approximately 393.7 km2, accounting for 36.9% of the city’s total area (Incheon Metropolitan City, 2023). However, this represents a decrease of about 10.5 km2 compared to 2015, with forest reduction due to the development of private forest lands pointed out as a major cause. In response, Incheon has been actively implementing green policies such as expanding urban forest recreation facilities, connecting green axes, and creating forest trails to provide citizens with spaces for everyday rest and healing through the “Second Plan for the Creation and Management of Urban Forests (2019–2028)” and the “2040 Incheon Metropolitan City Park and Green Space Master Plan.”
Against this backdrop, the demand for and policy interest in forest recreation have been gradually expanding, and Incheon has established various forest recreation facilities such as forest visitor centers for toddlers and natural recreation forests to meet citizens’ needs for leisure and rest. According to the Korea Forest Service (2022) survey on forest recreation and welfare activities, 74.1% of Incheon citizens reported having experience with forest recreation or welfare activities, indicating a high level of demand for such activities among Incheon citizens.
Based on Incheon Metropolitan City’s “Population Projections by Gun/Gu in 2022–2042,” the proportion of older adults aged 65 or over was 14.1% in 2022, marking the city’s entry into an aged society, and it is projected to enter a super-aged society by 2027. Meanwhile, the influx of younger generations has been active in certain new town areas such as Yeonsu-gu and Seo-gu, leading to increasing heterogeneity in generational composition across regions. This suggests that the demand for and usage patterns of forest recreation may differ across age groups.
Thus, Incheon faces the dual challenge of urban development and green space conservation, while simultaneously undergoing change in the population structure. Accordingly, this study aims to contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of forest recreation policies in urban areas by empirically examining age-specific satisfaction and perceptions of forest recreation in Incheon Metropolitan City.
Composition of survey items
The survey items in this study were reconstructed for the purpose of this study based on previous forest recreation studies conducted over the past five years and survey indicators developed by national institutions, using existing scales with verified reliability and validity (Table 1). In particular, some items were modified to reflect the characteristics of urban forest use in Incheon. After an internal review by the research team, the final questionnaire was organized into four categories: sociodemographic characteristics, usage behavior, satisfaction with forest attributes, perceptions of local environment improvement, and attitudes toward policy support.
Survey items on forest recreation usage behavior
Forest recreation usage behavior is a key variable for identifying the types of visitor experiences and, in particular, is used as foundational data for setting the direction for age-specific forest recreation services. The Korea Forest Service (2022) investigated companion type, facility and program experience rates, and timing of activity among forest recreation users, and used the results to suggest directions for improving forest recreation. Choi et al. (2024) compared and analyzed visitors’ usage behaviors across different forest types and reported statistically significant differences in frequency of visits, companions, and duration of use. Accordingly, this study focused on experience frequency, primary season of experience, and companion type in forest recreation, with all items measured on a nominal scale.
Survey items on satisfaction with forest attributes
Visitor satisfaction with urban forests is determined by both natural factors, such as forest biodiversity and tree structure, and artificial factors, such as recreational facilities and amenities (Koo et a l., 2013; Zhang et al., 2015). In particular, Melon et al. (2024) found that visitors tend to perceive green spaces as natural spaces regardless of their actual level of biodiversity, suggesting that “perceived naturalness” is a key factor affecting visitor satisfaction. Moreover, Meijles et al. (2014) revealed that many urban forest users tend to engage in activities within maintained spaces such as walking trails and rest areas, emphasizing that facility conditions and management levels are important factors to consider when evaluating satisfaction with forest recreation.
Choi et al. (2024) classified the components for evaluating forest recreation satisfaction in urban forests into three categories such as “tree and vegetation conditions,” “facility utilization,” and “management conditions,” and analyzed the differences in satisfaction by setting detailed indicators corresponding to each category. Based on this research, the present study also classified forest attributes into the same three categories and measured satisfaction for each specific item. Here, “utilization” refers to accessibility and ease of use, such as the location, size, number, and convenience of facilities, while “management” is defined as the current condition and ongoing maintenance level of facilities, encompassing cleanliness, functionality, and quality of inspections.
Survey items on expectations for local environment improvement and agreement with policy support in forest recreation
Visitor satisfaction with forest recreation sites is an important evaluation indicator, but it is also critical to examine how satisfaction influences individuals’ local environment and quality of life, as this provides practical evidence for creating sustainable urban environments and formulating policies. As urban forests perform various positive functions such as psychological restoration and emotional stability as they serve as green spaces within cities (Lee, 2016), it is necessary to investigate the impacts of forest recreation facilities on citizens’ lives. Accordingly, this study introduced an item on “expectations for local environment improvement” to assess the extent to which forest recreation facilities are perceived to bring about positive changes in citizens’ local environment.
Furthermore, urban forests have the characteristics of public goods and are mostly established and managed through local government budgets, making it important to assess citizens’ policy support (Tilman and Haight, 2023). Accordingly, this study measured “agreement with public budget allocation” for the expansion or qualitative improvement of forest recreation facilities, in order to identify the level of social consensus for implementing future forest recreation policies.
Data collection
This study collected data through an online survey conducted across seven districts (“Gu”) with 700 adult residents of Incheon Metropolitan City between November 13 and November 22, 2023. Web surveys are more efficient in terms of time and cost compared to telephone or face-to-face interviews, and their ability to cover a wide range of items made this method appropriate for this study’s objectives (Dillman et al., 2014). The survey areas were selected from seven out of the ten autonomous districts (“Gu”) of Incheon, excluding Dong-gu, Ganghwa-gun, and Ongjin-gun, which were excluded due to their relatively high proportion of elderly populations and lower internet accessibility. Although no preliminary survey was conducted, respondents did not report any significant difficulties in understanding the items, nor did any unusual issues arise during the main survey process.
Sampling was conducted using a stratified approach by gender and age group, followed by non-proportional quota sampling and random sampling. This method was employed to secure representativeness of the population and minimize sampling bias. The sample size was determined based on the total population of Incheon Metropolitan City as of September 2023 (2,987,918 people), and a total of 700 respondents were recruited, with 100 from each district, at a 95% confidence level. A valid sample of 557 was used for final analysis excluding invalid responses by considering missing data.
Analysis method
The data collected through the survey were analyzed using SPSS 29.0. To identify the determinants of visitor satisfaction with forest recreation sites by age group and to construct a predictive model that analyzes their combined effects, the study employed CHAID (Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection), a decision tree analysis algorithm. CHAID is a classification technique that recursively performs multi-way splits of the data based on the significance probability (p-value) of the chi-squared statistic. Since CHAID predicts categorical dependent variables, the split criteria are explicit, and its excellent interpretability and explanatory power make it suitable for data-driven decision-making (You, 2019; Kim, 2023). Accordingly, this study applied the CHAID method of decision tree analysis together with K-Fold cross-validation to predict the key factors affecting visitor satisfaction with forest recreation sites by age group and to derive classification rules for satisfaction according to the combined conditions of variables. The criteria for splitting and merging independent variables in the CHAID method were set at a significance level of 0.05. To prevent overfitting, pre-pruning was applied to limit the maximum tree depth to 5, with a minimum case number of 20 for parent nodes and 10 for child nodes. The risk difference between resubstitution and cross-validation and classification accuracy were used as assessment indicators to review the validity of the predictive model. Moreover, to clearly present the structure of visitor satisfaction determinants across age groups, the dependent variable (visitor satisfaction) was converted into a categorical variable, while the independent variables were defined as sociodemographic characteristics, usage behavior, and satisfaction with forest attributes. For clearer classification, satisfaction with forest attributes was converted into “dissatisfied,” “neutral,” and “satisfied.”
After that, binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the effects of age-specific visitor satisfaction determinants on perceptions of local environment improvement and policy support and investigate the process in which the findings are extended to policy and practical implications. Binary logistic regression analysis is a method for statistically estimating the effect of independent variables on a dependent variable when the dependent variable is categorical (Hong, 2005), making it suitable for verifying whether satisfaction determinants actually lead to perceptions of local environment improvement or attitudes toward policy support. This study set contribution to local environment improvement and agreement with policy support as the dependent variables and converted them into categorical variables, with the reference groups for these dependent variables set as “no contribution” and “disagree,” respectively. The independent variables were selected as the visitor satisfaction determinants identified in the preceding decision tree analysis. In the interpretation of the results, the estimated values indicate the likelihood that each determinant belongs to the comparison group relative to the reference group. Based on this, the study empirically examined how key age-specific determinants of visitor satisfaction affect individuals’ perceptions of local environmental improvement and their support for related policies.
Results
Sociodemographic characteristics of respondents
Out of total 557 respondents, young adults (30s and under) accounted for 29.6% (n = 165), middle-aged adults (40s-50s) for 34.1% (n = 190), and older adults (60s and above) for 36.3% (n = 202), showing a relatively balanced distribution across age groups (Table 2). In terms of frequency of forest recreation experiences, older adults reported the highest frequency among the age groups, with “1–2 times per month” ( 38.1%), “3–4 times per year” (23.8%), and “1–2 times per week” (22.3%). Middle-aged adults also showed relatively high frequency, with “1–2 times per month” (37.9%), “3–4 times per year” (29.5%), and “1–2 times per year” (17.9%). In contrast, young adults reported generally lower frequency, most often “3–4 times per year” (36.4%) and “1–2 times per month” (27.3%). Regarding season of visits, all three age groups most frequently answered “autumn,” followed by “spring” and “all seasons.” As for companions during visits, visiting with “family” was the most common across all age groups. However, family visits were particularly dominant among middle-aged adults, whereas young adults and older adults also showed relatively higher proportions of visits “alone” or with “friends/partners/co-workers.” Average monthly income levels were generally distributed above 1,553 USD across the sample.
Exploring predictors of visitor satisfaction among young adults and regression analysis on perceptions of local environment and policy support
Analysis results for predictors of visitor satisfaction among young adults
This study aimed to explore the determinants and classification rules affecting visitor satisfaction with forest recreation sites by age group using decision tree analysis. For the predictive model of visitor satisfaction among young adults, the risk estimate was 0.224 (SE = 0.026) for resubstitution and 0.224 (SE = 0.032) for cross-validation, showing no difference in risk, thereby indicating that the model was not overfitted. In addition, the overall classification accuracy was 87.3%, suggesting that the model was reliable with a low rate of misclassification for visitor satisfaction among young adults.
The decision tree model for visitor satisfaction among young adults is presented in Fig. 1. At the root node (Node 0), where no predictors were entered, 94 out of 165 (57.0%) young adult respondents reported they were “satisfied.” After the variables were introduced, the significant predictors determining visitor satisfaction were identified as “signpost management,” “harmony of the entire forest,” “use of night lighting and CCTV,” “use of rest facilities,” and “experienced season.” Among these, “signpost management” appeared at the highest level of the tree, confirming it as the most influential variable in classifying visitor satisfaction.
Specifically, the visitor satisfaction rate among the group satisfied with signpost management was very high at 95.3%, indicating that signposts function as a key factor in satisfaction among young adults. Furthermore, when respondents were satisfied or dissatisfied with use of night lighting and CCTV while also satisfied with signpost management, the visitor satisfaction rate reached 100.0% in both cases. Even when they responded at a moderate level, the satisfaction rate remained high at 78.6%. This suggests that regardless of satisfaction with use of night lighting and CCTV, a positive perception of signpost management consistently maintained high satisfaction rates, implying that young adults place importance on clear information provision and visual order when using urban forests.
In contrast, when signpost management was evaluated as neutral or below, the visitor satisfaction rate decreased to 32.7%. In particular, when respondents were dissatisfied with both signpost management and the overall harmony of the entire urban forest, the visitor satisfaction rate further declined to 15.6%. Moreover, when satisfaction with the use of rest facilities was also neutral or below, the satisfaction rate dropped to the lowest level of 7.5%. However, when respondents were satisfied with the harmony of the entire forest, even if satisfaction with signpost management was low, the satisfaction rate rose to 62.2%. Furthermore, when the visiting season was a specific season (summer or autumn) or when they responded as all four seasons, the satisfaction rate increased further to 79.2%, showing a relatively high rate of satisfaction. This indicates that satisfaction among young adults varies depending on the interactions among signposts, natural landscapes, and seasonal experiences, rather than a single factor.
Logistic regression results for perceptions of local environment and policy support among young adults
A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the effect of satisfaction with forest recreation among young adults on perceptions of local environment and policy support (Table 3). The independent variables were set as the determinants identified in the decision tree analysis: signpost management, harmony of the entire forest, use of night lighting and CCTV, use of rest facilities, and experienced season.
The results of the logistic regression analysis (Table 4) indicated that all of the independent variables were not statistically significant at the 0.05 level for perceptions of local environment and policy support. This suggests that, for young adults, the visitor satisfaction determinants do not affect perceptions of local environment improvement and policy support.
Exploring predictors of visitor satisfaction among middle-aged adults and regression analysis on perceptions of local environment and policy support
Analysis results for predictors of visitor satisfaction among middle-aged adults
For the predictive model of visitor satisfaction among middle-aged adults, the risk estimates were 0.163 (SE = 0.027) for resubstitution and 0.268 (SE = 0.032) for cross-validation. Although there is some difference, this indicates an acceptable level of generalizability. In addition, the overall classification accuracy was 83.7%, suggesting that the model effectively classified visitor satisfaction among middle-aged adults.
The decision tree model for visitor satisfaction among middle-aged adults is presented in Fig. 2. At Node 0, 110 out of 190 respondents (57.9%) reported they were satisfied. After the variables were introduced, the significant predictors determining visitor satisfaction were identified as “tree and plant care,” “separation of driveways and sidewalks at the entrance,” “use of rest facilities,” “use of water fountain and mineral spring,” and “the beauty of lush trees.” Among these, “tree and plant care” appeared as the primary splitting variable, confirming it as the most critical factor determining satisfaction among middle-aged adults.
Specifically, when respondents were satisfied with tree and plant care, the visitor satisfaction rate was high at 88.8%. When they also responded neutral or above for separation of driveways and sidewalks at the entrance, the satisfaction rate further increased to 94.8%. For use of water fountain and mineral spring, the satisfaction rate reached 100.0% when respondents were either satisfied or dissatisfied, and even when they responded as neutral, the satisfaction rate remained high at 86.2%. This indicates that, regardless of satisfaction with use of water fountain and mineral spring, tree and plant care and separation of driveways and sidewalks at the entrance are the key factors of satisfaction among middle-aged adults.
In contrast, when respondents were neutral or dissatisfied with tree and plant care, the visitor satisfaction rate sharply dropped to 30.7%; but here, the satisfaction rate slightly increased to 44.8% when they responded neutral or above for use of rest facilities, and it rose to 72.7% when satisfied with the beauty of lush trees. However, if they responded neutral or below for this item, the satisfaction rate fell again to 31.1%. Notably, when respondents were not satisfied with tree and plant care and also dissatisfied with use of rest facilities, the proportion of those not satisfied with their visit reached the highest level at 97.1%.
These findings suggest that middle-aged adults prioritize the health of trees and landscape quality when using urban forests, with entrance pathway management serving as a supplementary factor influencing satisfaction. Moreover, when tree and plant care is inadequate, other factors failed to sufficiently improve satisfaction, resulting in a marked decrease in overall satisfaction. Therefore, ensuring proper tree and plant care should be the highest priority for enhancing satisfaction among middle-aged adults.
Logistic regression results for perceptions of local environment and policy support among middle-aged adults
A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the effect of satisfaction with forest recreation among middle-aged adults on perceptions of local environment and policy support. The independent variables were set as the determinants of visitor satisfaction among middle-aged adults: tree and plant care, separation of driveways and sidewalks at the entrance, use of rest facilities, use of water fountain and mineral spring, and the beauty of lush trees.
The analysis results (Table 4) showed that the only statistically significant factor for perceptions of local environment improvement was “the beauty of lush trees.” For middle-aged adults, the likelihood of perceiving the local environment to be improved increased 2.318 times as their satisfaction with the beauty of lush trees increased (B = 0.841, OR = 2.318). Moreover, the factor affecting agreement with policy support was “tree and plant care.” As satisfaction with tree and plant care increased, the likelihood of agreeing to additional budget allocation for forest recreation increased 2.023 times (B = 0.705, OR = 2.023). This indicates that middle-aged adults perceive the local environment as actually improved when tree density and beauty are higher, and they are more likely to view policy support and budget expansion positively when they are satisfied with tree and plant care.
Exploring predictors of visitor satisfaction among older adults and regression analysis on perceptions of local environment and policy support
Analysis results for predictors of visitor satisfaction among older adults
For the predictive model of visitor satisfaction among older adults, the risk estimates were 0.129 (SE = 0.027) for resubstitution and 0.183 (SE = 0.027) for cross-validation. The small difference between the two risk estimates indicates that the model was not overfitted. In addition, the overall classification accuracy was 87.1%, demonstrating sufficient predictive power of the model.
The decision tree model for visitor satisfaction among older adults (Fig. 3) shows that, at Node 0, 120 out of 202 respondents (59.4%) reported they were “satisfied” with the forest recreation site. After the variables were introduced, the significant predictors determining visitor satisfaction were identified as “tree and plant care,” “use of public restroom,” “signpost management,” “sports facilities management,” “use of rest facilities,” and “various types of tree composition,” with “tree and plant care” confirmed as the most critical variable.
Specifically, when respondents were satisfied with tree and plant care, the visitor satisfaction rate increased significantly to 86.5%. In particular, the group that was satisfied not only with tree and plant care but also with signpost management and use of rest facilities showed the highest satisfaction rate of 100%, and even when respondents rated use of rest facilities as neutral, the satisfaction rate remained high at 91.7%. In contrast, when signpost management was rated as neutral or below, the satisfaction rate decreased to 66.7%, and further dropped to 43.8% when respondents were dissatisfied with various types of tree composition. However, even if respondents were not satisfied with signpost management, satisfaction with various types of tree composition restored the satisfaction rate to 92.9%, indicating that landscape diversity can compensate for shortcomings in the signage system.
Meanwhile, when respondents were not satisfied with tree and plant care, the visitor satisfaction rate dropped sharply to 26.8%, and further decreased to 17.9% when they were also not satisfied with the use of public restrooms. If respondents were dissatisfied with sports facilities management, satisfaction fell to 0.0%, and it remained at only 28.3% even when rated neutral or above. However, even if they were not satisfied with tree and plant care, the visitor satisfaction rate increased to 84.6% when they were satisfied with the use of public restrooms, indicating that hygiene facilities can function as a factor that can restore visitor satisfaction.
Therefore, older adults consider “tree and plant care” as an absolutely critical factor, while the signage system and convenience/hygiene facilities serve as supplementary factors. Notably, when tree and plant care is inadequate, satisfaction tends to decline sharply, in which case hygiene facilities play an important role in partially restoring satisfaction.
Logistic regression results for perceptions of local environment and policy support among older adults
A logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the effect of satisfaction with forest recreation among older adults on perceptions of local environment and policy support. The independent variables were set as the determinants of visitor satisfaction: tree and plant care, use of public restroom, signpost management, sports facilities management, use of rest facilities, and various types of tree composition.
The analysis results (Table 5) showed that “tree and plant care” was a statistically significant factor at the 0.05 level. Specifically, as satisfaction with tree and plant care increased, the likelihood of perceiving that it contributes to local environment improvement increased by 2.193 times (B = 0.785, OR = 2.193), and the likelihood of agreeing to additional budget allocation increased by 3.240 times (B = 1.176, OR = 3.240). This suggests that older adults who are satisfied with tree and plant care believe that forest recreation contributes to local environment improvement and more actively support relevant policies and additional budget allocation.
Discussion
The results of this study showed that the determinants of visitor satisfaction showed clear differences among young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults, reflecting differences in age-specific characteristics and usage patterns. Based on these findings, the study examined urban forests usage characteristics by age group and proposed suitable urban forest management strategies.
Young adults: Focused on spatial order but with limited connection to perceptions
The main determinants of visitor satisfaction with forest recreation sites among young adults were signpost management, harmony of the entire forest, use of rest facilities, and experienced season. In particular, the fact that signpost management was identified as the most influential variable indicates that young adults value clear information provision and spatial order when using urban forests. These findings align with Koo et al. (2013), who reported that signposts enhance the usefulness of forests for visitor groups.
Meanwhile, the regression analysis in this study showed that visitor satisfaction among young adults was not significantly related to perceptions of local environment or attitudes toward policy support. This suggests that young adults primarily perceive urban forests as personal leisure spaces, which is consistent with Byun et al. (2023), who classified young adults as the “indifferent type” regarding forest welfare policies. In other words, although forest recreation participation among young adults increased after the COVID-19 pandemic, this did not extend to recognition of the public value of forests (Chang et al., 2021). However, Mandziuk et al. (2021) reported that young adults who prefer diverse tree species and multilayered structures show a higher willingness to pay (WTP) for forest policies, indicating that there are differences in policy engagement perceptions even within among young adults.
Therefore, to enhance policy engagement and perceptions of local environment improvement among young adults, there is a need for strategies that go beyond simple facility management and combine policy promotion with participatory experiences. Lee et al. (2024) reported that young adults prefer active, experiential programs on weekends, suggesting that installing storytelling-based signposts, strengthening landscape management, and offering weekend experiential programs can be concrete measures. Such strategies can encourage young adults to extend their satisfying experiences with urban forests to perceptions of local environment and policy engagement.
Middle-aged adults: Satisfaction with ecological comfort and accessibility that leads to perceptions of local environment and policy support
Visitor satisfaction with forest recreation sites among middle-aged adults was determined by substantive and ecological factors such as tree and plant care, separation of driveways and sidewalks at the entrance, use of rest facilities, use of water fountains and mineral springs, and the density and aesthetic beauty of trees. Among these, “tree and plant care” emerged as the most influential factor enhancing visitor satisfaction, and positive perceptions of it also had a significant impact on agreement with policy support. In addition, satisfaction with dense and aesthetically pleasing landscapes extended to perceptions of local environment improvement, suggesting that the natural landscape of urban forests is not merely an aesthetic value but a factor that substantively influences perceptions among middle-aged adults.
Lee (2022) also analyzed that middle-aged adults tend to use urban forests primarily to experience nature and appreciate the landscape, which aligns with the high satisfaction with tree and plant care and landscape elements observed in the present study. Ultimately, middle-aged adults tangibly experience ecological comfort and local environment improvement through their experiences with urban forests, and which can extend to attitudes toward policy support. Accordingly, urban forest policies targeting middle-aged adults should be designed with focus on perceptible environmental enhancements such as strengthening tree and plant care, improving accessibility, and maintaining basic facilities, while strategically linking these positive perceptions to policy messages.
Older adults: Satisfaction with vegetation management that positively affects perceptions of local environment improvement and policy support
Visitor satisfaction among older adults is closely related to vegetation management and basic infrastructure maintenance, such as tree and plant care, various types of tree composition, use of public restroom and rest facilities, signpost, and sports facilities management. This suggests that older adults perceive urban forests as key environments to gain physical stability and psychological comfort. In particular, older adults responded sensitively to the management status of basic infrastructure, which aligns with their tendency to pursue physical and mental health promotion through forest recreation (Piao et al., 2016). Kim et al. (2010) also revealed that exercise is a primary purpose of forest recreation for older adults. Jang et al. (2020) also stated that older adults frequently engage in traditional and leisurely activities such as hiking, walking, and enjoying natural scenery, using urban forests mainly for health promotion and relaxation. These studies support the finding that basic infrastructure management plays a crucial role in shaping satisfaction among older adults.
Moreover, satisfaction with tree and plant care among older adults had a significant effect on their perceptions of local environment improvement and policy support. This indicates that older adults perceive the urban forest environment and policy support in an integrated manner. Accordingly, the management and policy design of urban forests targeting older adults require systematic enhancement of basic infrastructure and tree and plant care. Furthermore, a clear messaging strategy is needed to connect policy, environment, and daily life so that older adults can perceive that the urban forest environment they encounter in everyday life is the outcome of policy support.
Conclusion
Rapid urbanization and social changes following the COVID-19 pandemic have further highlighted the importance of urban forests. Urban forests have been re-examined as key spaces that improve the quality of life and support mental and physical restoration, and patterns of urban forest use have also diversified. This study classified urban forest users in Incheon Metropolitan City into young adults (30s and under), middle-aged adults (40s–50s), and older adults (60s and above), analyzed the determinants and combined effects of visitor satisfaction with forest recreation sites by age group, and examined their relationship with perceptions of local environment improvement and policy support. The results showed that visitor satisfaction among young adults was determined by spatial legibility and spatial order, such as signpost management, harmony of the entire forest, and use of rest facilities; however, their satisfaction did not lead to local environment improvement or policy interest. Accordingly, tailored strategies are required for young adults, such as improving information delivery methods, promoting storytelling-based policies, developing participatory guidance systems, and offering weekend experiential programs. Middle-aged adults valued ecological comfort and accessibility, such as vegetation management, green coverage, and entrance maintenance, and higher satisfaction with vegetation management was associated with increased policy support. Therefore, for middle-aged adults, there is a need for management strategies that include tangible improvements in ecological environments, enhanced accessibility, and maintenance of basic facilities. For older adults, visitor satisfaction was determined by vegetation management as well as basic infrastructure management such as the use of rest areas, public restrooms, and sports facilities, with satisfaction in vegetation management strongly influencing perceptions of local environment and attitudes toward policy support. Accordingly, improving the quality of vegetation management and enhancing the safety and convenience of basic amenities should be prioritized.
This study has both academic and practical significance in that it empirically examined differences in the determinants of satisfaction by classifying urban forest visitors into age groups, and that it suggested directions for formulating tailored forest welfare policies. However, as a case study focused on a specific region, the results are limited in their generalizability across different regional characteristics or urban scales. Moreover, a preliminary survey to fully verify the validity of the survey items was not conducted, and the items were focused on user convenience, failing to encompass experiential programs, social interaction factors, or elements that enhance ecosystem service values. Future research should consider various types of regions and include variables such as social participation factors, use of experiential programs, and ecosystem service values to comprehensively investigate the multidimensional value of urban forests. This approach can guide urban forests policies toward a direction that encompasses both social and ecological sustainability.
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