5 Key Considerations for Park Lighting Design

Nighttime Park Lighting from the Perspective of Landscape Design and CPTED

Park lighting is not simply a facility for brightening dark spaces. It is an important element of outdoor space design that improves nighttime pedestrian safety, creates the atmosphere of a park, and harmonizes with the surrounding landscape.

In particular, in spaces where citizens stay and move around, such as parks, walking paths, waterfront areas, and rest areas, lighting should be planned with more than just brightness in mind. The location of lighting fixtures, light distribution, color temperature, glare control, and maintenance should all be considered together. If the lighting is too bright, it may disturb the atmosphere of the space. If it is too dark, it may create pedestrian anxiety and blind spots.

In general, pedestrian paths and walking trails may require an illuminance level of approximately 5–10 lx, depending on the purpose of the space. Major areas within parks are often reviewed within a range of approximately 5–30 lx, while secondary areas may be reviewed within a range of approximately 1–10 lx. In actual design, however, local government standards, the purpose of the space, surrounding brightness, pedestrian volume, tree placement, and light pollution standards should all be reviewed together.

Therefore, good park lighting is not simply “bright lighting.” It is lighting that is carefully planned according to the purpose of the space and the movement patterns of its users.

1. Pedestrian Circulation and Visibility

The first factor to consider in park lighting design is pedestrian circulation. Areas where people frequently move or stay, such as park entrances, walking paths, stairs, ramps, restrooms, parking areas, and rest areas, should be planned so that the lighting does not break off abruptly.

In particular, lighting for walking paths should do more than illuminate the ground. It should help users naturally recognize the direction in which they are moving. When lighting is arranged at regular intervals, pedestrians can feel more psychologically secure and understand the structure of the space more easily at night.

For example, in areas used at night, such as walking paths, pedestrian routes, and park entrances, it is advisable to consider not only the minimum horizontal illuminance but also vertical illuminance that allows people to recognize faces and surrounding obstacles. If only the ground is bright while people and surrounding facilities appear dark, the perceived level of safety may actually be reduced.

Lighting fixtures should also be placed at regular intervals as much as possible to avoid repeated bright and dark zones. Large differences in illuminance may cause pedestrians to feel uneasy when entering darker sections, and on stairs or ramps, this may increase the risk of accidents.

Park lighting not only illuminates a space but also guides people through it.

2. Reducing Blind Spots with CPTED Lighting

Parks are spaces where blind spots can easily occur at night. Areas with dense trees, the backs of facilities, restroom surroundings, parking lots, dark walking paths, and spaces behind benches can create anxiety because visibility is blocked or lighting does not reach them properly.

This is where lighting planning from a CPTED perspective becomes important. CPTED stands for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. From this perspective, lighting plays an important role in creating an environment where natural surveillance is possible and blind spots are reduced.

From a CPTED point of view, the purpose of lighting is not simply to increase brightness. It is to create an environment where people can recognize one another. For example, areas where users stay or movement is concentrated, such as park entrances, restrooms, parking areas, rest areas, and benches, should have enough illuminance for pedestrians to easily recognize nearby people and facilities.

In many cases, pedestrian path lighting is reviewed at a minimum of 5 lx or higher, and major entrances or high-use areas may require higher illuminance. However, rather than lighting every space with the same brightness, it is important to divide the space according to areas with high pedestrian movement, places where people stay, and areas where visibility may be blocked.

Good lighting makes a space beautiful while also creating a nighttime environment where citizens can feel safe.

3. Color Temperature that Harmonizes with the Landscape

Park lighting has a strong influence on the atmosphere of a space. Depending on the color temperature, the same space can feel warm and comfortable or cool and urban.

In general, warm light of around 2,700K–3,500K is suitable for spaces where rest and staying are important, such as parks, walking paths, and rest areas. On the other hand, for plazas, entrances, and main information areas where visibility and recognition are important, lighting in the range of 3,000K–4,000K may be considered depending on the character of the space.

In waterfront areas, light reflected on the water should also be considered. Excessive reflection may cause glare, while appropriate lighting can create depth and enhance the nighttime landscape.

Because parks contain many natural elements, excessive use of very high color temperature lighting may not suit the atmosphere of a resting space. Park lighting should be planned with consideration not only for brightness but also for color temperature and harmony with surrounding trees, paving materials, benches, waterfront spaces, and nearby structures.

Park lighting is not simply a facility. It is an important element of nighttime landscape design.

4. Minimizing Glare and Pedestrian Discomfort

If park lighting design focuses only on brightness, the space may become uncomfortable. When lighting fixtures are poorly positioned or light enters directly at eye level, glare can occur, making it difficult for pedestrians to see their surroundings clearly.

In particular, in areas where people stay for longer periods, such as walking paths, benches, viewpoints, and waterfront decks, light distribution and installation angles that reduce glare are important. Lighting should accurately illuminate the necessary areas while reducing unnecessary light spill.

For park lights and security lights, it is important to reduce upward light and prevent light trespass toward nearby residential areas or pedestrians. When selecting lighting fixtures, it is necessary to check whether light escapes upward, whether the light source is directly visible at pedestrian eye level, and whether light enters nearby residential windows.

For example, bollard lights or low-height lighting fixtures have the advantage of softly illuminating the ground. However, if the light source is directly visible, glare may occur. On the other hand, higher park lights can illuminate a wider area, but if the light distribution is not properly designed, light may spread in unnecessary directions.

Good park lighting is not lighting that is simply bright. It is lighting that is controlled so that users can walk and stay comfortably.

5. Maintenance and Product Selection

Because park lighting is installed outdoors, maintainability is very important. Lighting fixtures are exposed to rain, wind, humidity, dust, and temperature changes, so water resistance, durability, corrosion resistance, and electrical safety should all be considered.

For general outdoor lighting fixtures, a waterproof and dustproof rating of at least IP65 is often reviewed. IP65 means that the fixture is protected against dust ingress and water jets from all directions. In locations exposed to outdoor conditions, such as parks, walking paths, waterfront areas, and lawn areas, the waterproof and dustproof rating of the product must be checked.

Parks are also spaces where trees continue to grow. Lighting that works well at the time of installation may later be blocked by branches, or the direction of light may change as the surrounding environment changes. Therefore, when selecting lighting fixtures, both the current condition of the space and future maintenance should be considered.

Park lighting also requires regular inspections after installation. For example, seasonal tree growth, contamination of fixtures, light source lifespan, wiring condition, waterproof performance, and corrosion of foundations should be checked. Planning on-site inspections at least 1–2 times per year can help maintain lighting quality and safety more reliably.

Among various products such as park lights, landscape lighting, floodlights, linear lighting, and solar lighting, it is important to select the right products according to the purpose of the space and the maintenance method.

Park Lighting Is Part of Landscape Design

Park lighting is not about installing a single product. It is about designing the entire nighttime experience of a space.

The park entrance should be easy to recognize, walking paths should continue safely, and rest areas should feel comfortable. Waterfront areas should harmonize with the surrounding natural environment, while plazas or photo zones should enhance the symbolic character of the space.

In this way, park lighting is a comprehensive design element that should consider pedestrian safety, landscape quality, maintenance, CPTED, and the atmosphere of the space.

In particular, when planning park lighting, it is advisable to review the following items together:

• Whether sufficient illuminance is secured on main pedestrian routes

• Whether dark blind spots may occur

• Whether trees or facilities may block the light

• Whether the color temperature harmonizes with the surrounding landscape

• Whether glare or light trespass may occur

• Whether waterproof and dustproof performance and maintenance are sufficient

• Whether future tree growth and seasonal changes are considered

Ultimately, good park lighting is not just the result of choosing one product. It is the result of understanding the entire space.

Juyoung Lighting’s Park Lighting Proposal

Juyoung Lighting proposes outdoor lighting and landscape lighting suitable for various external spaces, including parks, walking paths, waterfront areas, plazas, and rest areas.

Beyond simply supplying lighting fixtures, we review site circulation, user behavior, nighttime visibility, harmony with the surrounding landscape, and safety from a CPTED perspective. We select appropriate products such as park lights, landscape lighting, floodlights, and solar lighting according to the purpose of the space, and provide lighting plans suitable for both public and private projects.

Park lighting is both a technology that illuminates space and a design that changes people’s experience. Juyoung Lighting works together to find the right direction of light for safe and beautiful nighttime park environments.

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Landscape Design, Landscape Lighting, Park Lighting, Park Lights, Solar Landscape Lighting, Outdoor Lighting, Exterior Lighting, CPTED Lighting, Nighttime Landscape Lighting, Project Portfolio