The Secret To Beloved Florida Parks? AI Finds The Answer In Your Reviews

Researchers turn 30,000 online reviews into actionable data, revealing what makes green spaces truly great.

The five-star review you left for a local park might just be the key to designing better green spaces. Thanks to a new study from researchers at the University of Florida, artificial intelligence (AI) has analyzed over 30,000 online park reviews to uncover what people truly value in nature.

Published in the journal Ecosystem Services, the findings reveal that parks with a winning combination of features—more trees, open space, diverse plant and animal life, and water features—are the ones people love most.

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Led by doctoral student Haojie Cao and associate professor Jiangxiao Qiu at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (FLREC), the team used machine learning to sift through Google Maps and TripAdvisor reviews for parks, gardens, and greenways across Broward County. Their AI model identified 11 types of "cultural ecosystem services"—the nonmaterial benefits people get from nature, such as beauty, recreation, inspiration, and relaxation.

Decoding the Urban Experience

The study found that these benefits rarely exist in isolation. For example, a single park trail can simultaneously provide opportunities for jogging, quiet reflection, and birdwatching. This "bundling" of experiences, the researchers say, is what makes a park truly valuable.

"By applying AI to countless online reviews, we can now measure these cultural values and understand how park design and planning can be optimized for public wellbeing," said Haojie Cao.

For Broward County, one of Florida's most urban areas, the study offers a powerful blueprint for creating healthier communities. The research highlighted how certain features, particularly shade, walking paths, and water access, are essential in shaping positive experiences.

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"Social media data, empowered by AI, could provide a valuable means to understand where and how urban residents benefit most from parks," added Jiangxiao Qiu. He notes that this data is a form of citizen science, as the insights come directly from the public.

This new AI-driven approach is an adaptable roadmap that could be used anywhere, transforming casual online feedback into actionable insights for city planners. The research demonstrates how cutting-edge technology can be used to decode the intangible value of urban nature and build parks that truly serve their communities.

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