Objective This paper aims to construct an assessment system for urban riverfront green spaces based on the influence of vitality and to explore the impact of riverfront green spaces on their own and surrounding neighborhood vitality from different dimensions, and provide a scientific basis for the assessment methods and renewal strategies of urban riverfront green areas.

Method (1) This study constructed a model of urban riverfront green space assessment, applying analytic hierarchy process-entropy value method combined with weighting and TOPIS method for data synthesis. (2) Geodetector factor detection was used to assess the influence of quality of each dimension of the riverfront green space criterion layer and the single environmental factor of each index layer. (3) Interaction detection was used to assess the interaction between two dimensions of the criterion layer on vitality.

Result (1) The study constructed an urban riverfront green space assessment model containing 31 indicators in 6 criteria layers: surrounding environment, river spatial morphology, waterfront spatial morphology, ecological environment quality, facility service quality and accessibility. (2) The assessment results of 27 study units in 6 typical river sections in Haidian District of Beijing showed that among the study units, unit 21 was the best and unit 26 was the worst. Among the river sections, Tuchenggou and Nanchanghe River were better assessed; Jingmi Diversion Channel was in the middle due to its poor location and accessibility; Yongdinghe River Diversion Channel and Xiaoyuehe River were poorly assessed, which was attributed to the limitation of the river spatial morphology and the poor quality of ecological environment. (3) In the indicator layer, site vitality was significantly correlated with the building density of surrounding neighbourhoods, unit shape index and external road grade, while the density of cultural and leisure facilities had the highest explanatory power for the surrounding neighbourhood vitality. (4) For the criterion layer, the environmental factors of the single-dimensional criterion layer had limited influence on site vitality, and the surrounding neighborhood vitality was significantly correlated with the quality of facility services. The two-factor interaction of the criterion layers all showed an enhanced effect on the explanation of vitality. The synergy between the surrounding environment and the facility service quality had the highest level of explanation for site vitality and surrounding neighbourhoods vitality.

Conclusion (1) The assessment system constructed by the study can, to a certain extent, support the comprehensive assessment of urban riverfront green spaces and provide a basis for renewal and optimisation at different levels. (2) The Nanchanghe River and Tuchenggou River are of high quality, while the Kunyu Section of the Jingmi Diversion Channel should be upgraded by lowering the road level and adding pedestrian bridges, while the Xiaoyuehe River and Yongdinghe Diversion Channel should be improved through greening and near-naturalisation, creating a variety of water-friendly places, and providing a healthy ecological environment and diverse natural scenery through the formation of a variety of native plant communities. (3) In terms of general recommendations, importance should be laid on the environmental conditions of the district, emphasizing the balanced development of form, quality and accessibility, while when some of the dimensions are limited, priority should be given to the construction of facility service quality and ecological environment quality. (4) In terms of specific implementation strategies, enhancing the irregularity of the green space boundary and reducing the road level between the green space and the surrounding neighbourhoods are effective ways to enhance the site vitality of the riverfront green space. Increasing the type and density of cultural and leisure facilities within the riverfront green space, increasing the waterfront opportunities for the public, and creating a more open experience are effective means to enhance the surrounding neighbourhood vitality.