Parks are important public resources that offer opportunities to be physically active and connect socially. However, parks are not well attended by adolescents, and limited research exists to inform optimal park design to increase adolescents’ park visits and support active and social park use. This study aimed to gain in-depth insights into park characteristics that are important for influencing park visitation, park-based physical activity and social interaction among adolescents. Participants (n = 34, aged 13–18 years, 41.2 % female) were recruited from diverse neighbourhoods in Melbourne, Australia. Walk-along interviews were conducted in nine pre-selected parks, where researchers and participants walked together during the interview. The interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and analysed using content analysis. The most commonly mentioned characteristics for encouraging park visitation were: the presence of natural features; sports features (e.g., sports courts); playgrounds; aesthetics/condition; and location. The presence of sports features, fitness equipment, walking/cycling paths, playgrounds and green open space were the most frequently mentioned features for encouraging park-based physical activity. The most commonly mentioned features for encouraging socialising when at the park were: presence of barbecue/picnic areas; sports features; seating; organised events; and shade/shelter. Female adolescents more commonly mentioned safety and the presence of playgrounds, and males more commonly noted sports features, size and location as being important for park visitation. Adolescents also considered social factors, such as accompaniment and peer influence, as being critical for encouraging them to visit the park. Many park features were important for all behaviours. For example, sports features were most commonly mentioned as being important for encouraging adolescents’ park visitation and active and social park use. Stakeholders should consider these factors when (re)designing parks to ensure the parks appeal to this sub-population and encourage adolescents to visit and be active and social in this setting.

公园是重要的公共资源，可提供身体活动和社交联系的机会。但是，青少年对公园的照顾并不充分，并且存在有限的研究来告知最佳公园设计，以增加青少年的公园访问次数，并支持活跃和社交公园的使用。这项研究旨在深入了解公园特征，这些特征对于影响公园参观，基于公园的体育活动和青少年之间的社交互动非常重要。参与者（n = 34，年龄13-18岁，女性41.2％）是从澳大利亚墨尔本的不同社区招募的。在九个预先选定的公园中进行了步行式访谈，研究人员和参与者在访谈中一起步行。对采访进行录音，逐字记录并使用内容分析进行分析。鼓励参观公园的最常提到的特征是：自然景观的存在；体育功能（例如运动场）；游乐场; 美学/条件；和位置。运动功能，健身器材，步行/自行车道，游乐场和绿色开放空间的存在是最常提及的鼓励公园体育活动的功能。在公园时，最常提及的鼓励社交的功能包括：烧烤区/野餐区；体育功能；座位 有组织的活动；和阴影/庇护所。女性青少年更常提及安全性和游乐场的存在，而男性则更常提及体育功能，规模和位置对于参观公园很重要。青少年还考虑了社会因素，例如伴奏和同伴的影响力，对于鼓励他们参观公园至关重要。公园的许多功能对于所有行为都很重要。例如，最常提及的运动功能是鼓励青少年参观公园以及积极使用社交公园。在（重新）设计公园时，利益相关者应考虑这些因素，以确保公园吸引这一亚群，并鼓励青少年在这种情况下参观并活跃和社交。