Landscape Preferences and Distance Decay Analysis for Mapping the Recreational Potential of an Urban Area

Irina Iulia Năstase,Ileana Pătru-Stupariu,Felix Kienast

doi:10.3390/su11133620

Abstract

Green infrastructure plays an important role in recreation and human well-being, especially in urban and peri-urban areas. Our study aimed to evaluate and map the recreational potential of an urban area (Brașov, Romania) using two data sets: (a) people’s preferred landscape features and (b) preferred locations where outdoor activities and recreation take place. The latter was gathered through participatory mapping techniques. For each location, we computed explanatory variables, e.g., the distance to 19 landscape elements known to be important for recreation. Based on (b), we determined the recreational activity profiles for each participant and evaluated how well these profiles matched the participant’s preferences for landscape features (dataset a). Finally, recreational potential was mapped by computing a recreational index using dataset b. Two preference profiles (P1: urban, infrastructure-oriented; P2: nature-oriented) were identified based on people’s preferred landscape features, and three recreational activity profiles were identified based on the preferred locations, i.e., an “urban”, a “nature”, and an “ubiquist” type. The importance of green infrastructures for recreation in both preference profiles was striking. Many persons belonging to the urban and infrastructure-oriented group indicated that they recreate in locations with a high amount of green infrastructure and nature. The map of the recreational potential shows hotspots for recreation but also areas lacking recreational provisions, giving useful insight for future urban planning.

Highlights

The recreation potential is—among other factors—strongly dependent on green infrastructure
Our study aimed to evaluate and map the recreational potential of an urban area (Bras, ov, Romania) using two data sets: (a) people’s preferred landscape features and (b) preferred locations where outdoor activities and recreation take place
People involved in interactions with urban green spaces in the wider sense have generally reduced stress factors, which has become an important indicator for assessing the quality of urban areas [73]. These results provide a useful insight into the recreational potential of the urban area of Bras, ov

Summary

Introduction

The recreation potential is—among other factors—strongly dependent on green infrastructure (hereafter referred to as GI) The latter has become a useful tool for the management of cities and is a popular subject in European policy regarding urban environments [1]. We use this broad definition of GI and include all patches with vegetation as well as infrastructure or natural elements that have clear links to these patches and support people’s well-being when outdoors This definition is in line with the EEAs (European Environment Agency) definition [3], which clearly suggests that GI is not restricted to inner cities but reaches out to the peri-urban and even the rural area. We refer the reader to [4]

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Discussion

Conclusion