Study on the Sustainability Design of Recreation Spaces in Macao Based on Ecological Perception Theory

Recreation spaces, as vital components of urban environments, support entertainment, relaxation, and social interaction. As a World Heritage city, Macao faces distinct challenges such as land scarcity, ecological pressures, and traffic congestion. This study identifies sustainable design strategies for recreation spaces to inform Macao’s urban development. Grounded in ecological perception theory, GIS technology is employed to analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of recreation spaces, while grounded theory is applied to 27 online travel narratives to extract key factors influencing tourist satisfaction. A theoretical model of influencing factors and satisfaction pathways is developed and empirically validated using structured questionnaires and structural equation modeling (SEM). The results show that Macao’s recreation spaces exhibit a pattern of both concentration and dispersion. Three primary dimensions—physical environment, environmental perception, and cultural esthetic elements—are found to influence recreational satisfaction significantly and positively. Furthermore, a chain mediating effect among these dimensions is identified, revealing that the physical environment impacts satisfaction indirectly through environmental perception and cultural esthetics. This study offers practical guidance for the continuous enhancement of Macao’s recreational spaces and proposes a novel integrated model combining ecological, perceptual, and cultural esthetic perspectives. The findings also provide valuable theoretical insights for the planning and optimization of recreational spaces in other urban settings. This study provides not only practical design guidance for the continuous improvement of recreational spaces in Macao but also a new model combining ecological, perceptual and cultural esthetic perspectives for the research and planning of recreational spaces in other cities.