A Standard Framework for Assessing Plant Elements in Egyptian Public Parks: Case Study of the Nile Corniche Park, Minya

Abstract
Plant elements play a vital role in the landscape design of public parks. The selection of plant elements in these spaces is governed by several criteria and considerations aimed at achieving values that go beyond mere aesthetics and visual composition. In many cases, functional and environmental considerations are often overlooked, despite their importance in fulfilling the intended role of planting—such as improving and beautifying the surrounding environment, defining and organizing outdoor spaces, providing protection against strong winds, rainfall, and noise, as well as mitigating erosion and atmospheric pollution, which cities suffer from in our contemporary era.
This situation necessitates the development of a comprehensive model that integrates aesthetic, visual, functional, and environmental aspects, in order to establish indicators that assist urban designers in selecting suitable plant elements for each site, according to their morphological characteristics, scale, and other features. Such a model was previously developed in a research paper (M. Morsy, 2025) to evaluate plant elements based on their description within a set of climatic and design considerations that guide architects when designing public park spaces. The purpose is to support the process of selecting the most appropriate plant species for a given site.
In this paper, the proposed model is applied to the Nile Corniche Park in Minya City through a comparative relative analysis of the trees and shrubs planted there, measuring the degree of success or failure in their selection. The results revealed the distinct aesthetic, morphological, and functional characteristics of each species, as well as the aspects of success and shortcomings of their use in the Nile Corniche. The study concludes with the identification of plant species recommended for use in different urban and environmental contexts, providing a practical reference for landscape designers in future projects.