Micro-scale thermal performance of tropical urban parks in Singapore

•None of the parks surveyed at the hottest time fell within an acceptable operative temperature range.•Vegetation quantity and turf pavement do not contribute consistently towards thermal moderation in micro-scale conditions.•Continuity of tree shade would be one of the most important factors in reducing temperatures in the tropical urban context.

As Singapore is near the equator, heat is a concern, especially given the increasing yearly average temperatures and significant urban heat island effects. National greening policies propose increasing the number of parks; this may indirectly benefit thermal conditions at a macro level, but there has been little consideration of the thermal environment within these spaces. This study examined micro-scale thermal conditions within 10 urban parks at the hottest period of the year, assessing operative temperature with three measurement variables: air temperature (ta), globe temperature (tg), and wind velocity (v). It found that 1) thermal performances between and within parks range widely, and 2) critical thermal points in the respective parks highlight the value of shade, especially in terms of volume and continuity over a length of path. The findings suggest the need for a quantitative study of design factors to guide the future planning and design of climatically adapted parks in the tropics.