Abstract: In order to explore the characteristics and potential risks of heavy metal pollution in urban park soils, Shenzhen City, Huizhou City and Zhaoqing City in Guangdong Province were selected as the research areas. A total of 181 soil samples from 36 urban parks were collected to determine the contents of eight heavy metals, including Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Mn, Ni, Cu, and V. The primary sources of soil heavy metals were analyzed by the Absolute Principal Component Scores-Multiple Linear Regression (APCS-MLR) model and the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model, the risk assessment was conducted employing a refined version of the Potential Ecological Risk Index (NIRI) alongside the Health Risk Assessment model, and the priority control factors were identified by combining the four models. The results showed that only the mean value of Pb (30.42 mg/kg) in the soil of the urban parks in Huizhou was higher than the background value of Guangdong Province, and the main source was the traffic source. The mean values of Cd (0.74 mg/kg), Cu (59.04 mg/kg), Pb (88.13 mg/kg) and Zn (104.52 mg/kg) in the urban park soils in Zhaoqing exceeded the background values, with the main sources being a mixture of agricultural and traffic sources. The average values of Pb (46.91 mg/kg) and Cu (41.00 mg/kg) in the urban park soils of Shenzhen were higher than the background values, and the main sources were traffic sources and industrial sources, respectively. The potential ecological risk associated with soil heavy metals was present in all urban parks in the three cities, with parks in Zhaoqing exhibiting the highest level of potential ecological risk. The non-carcinogenic health risks posed by soil heavy metals in urban parks were deemed acceptable for both adults and children. Industrial activities were the chief contributors, with Cd and Cu recognized as the primary elements requiring regulation.