Leisure Spaces Research Articles

Destination online reviews: lexicons and thematic arguments on social responsibility

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine online comments on destination social responsibility (DSR). Typically, visitors do not discuss their experiences in terms explicitly related to DSR. This study analyzes the natural language that visitors use and identifies connections to the dimensions of DSR (i.e. environmental, sociocultural and economic responsibility). The research objectives are to identify the lexicons of tourists and the thematic arguments related to DSR dimensions. This study also analyzes the association between those dimensions and tourist destination types. Design/methodology/approach This study reviewed 5,113 Tripadvisor comments about the top-ranking destinations in two countries. Expert judges used text mining techniques to explore lexicons and topics. Factor correspondence analysis was used to analyze the relationship between identified DSR thematic arguments and tourist destination types (e.g. nature, urban, culture and beach destinations). Findings Drawing from social identity theory and self-extension theoretical approaches, this study reveals that tourists share opinions using a lexicon of DSR dimensions. Interestingly, the results of this study identify five sub-dimensions in online reviews related to social responsibility in tourism destinations: environmental (i.e. “natural landscapes”), sociocultural (i.e. “cultural heritage” and “urban leisure and outdoor spaces”) and economic dimensions (i.e. “tourism services” and “guided tours and experiences”). This paper also describes associations between DSR lexicons, the reviews’ main sub-dimensions and destination types. Research limitations/implications The empirical study analyzes online reviews of top-ten tourism destinations in Spain and Argentina, countries with similar cultural backgrounds. Because of the focus on well-ranked destinations, this sample may exhibit a higher proportion of positive comments. However, the methodological contribution can extend to other destinations. This research can help researchers and destination managers understand the issues on which tourists comment in the context of their destination experiences and the three dimensions of DSR. Originality/value There is a lack of studies using natural language processing techniques to analyze the intersection between UGC and DSR; social media research has neglected this topic. This study integrates the five sub-dimensions the authors identified into a three-dimensional schema and enriches the classic DSR framework.

Um processo participativo de desenvolvimento de melhorias em áreas comuns de uso infantil

Abstract Research which evaluates Social Housing (SH) in Brazil often points out unfavorable conditions expressed by residents, in terms of the residential unit and common spaces, as well as surroundings. Participatory processes to improve projects are considered essential for political, social and economic reasons, and user values need to be prioritized. Processes to develop improvements for existing SH, that include residents as protagonists, with active participation, may guide more effective actions. However, participatory processes for home and public area renovations require procedures to effectively achieve their technical objectives and meet the needs and desires of their residents with feasibility of implementation. This research developed a case study with the participation of residents of a small SH project in Campinas - SP, with a specific focus on improvements for the children's leisure areas. The study involved the public targeted, children living in the analyzed SH complex, in defining their leisure space through dynamics and playful activities. Qualitative results are presented of this participatory process, involving children. Knowledge gained is methodological, with lessons learned for the planning and development of participatory co-design projects with children.

The nonlinear impact of urban blue-green space landscape pattern on residential housing price in a new first-tier city of China

Urban green and blue spaces (UGBS) play an increasingly vital role in enhancing urban environmental conditions and have been proven to increase residential property values. However, the nonlinear relationships between landscape patterns of UGBS and residential property values were less considered. To fill the gap, we employed nonlinear random forest (RF) models and partial dependence plots (PDPs) to analyze the impact of the spatial pattern of UGBS on housing prices in a new first-tier city (i.e., Nanjing) in China. The results showed that (1) The RF model explained 71.9% of the variation in housing prices. (2) Landscape patterns of UGBS significantly contributed to housing price variation, with the sum of relative importance scores of all the landscape pattern predictors amounting to 60.56%. (3) The PDPs results revealed that the percentage and spatial distribution of green and blue spaces positively influence housing prices. (4) Combining green and blue spaces boosted property values, with an average increase of approximately 0.41% and 0.53% in the percentage of landscape and mean patch area compared to green spaces alone. The findings of this study can inform urban planning policies and guidelines to optimize recreation and leisure spaces.

Nature and Effects of Climate in 2SLGBTQ+ Leisure Spaces: A Mixed Methods Study.

The climate within 2SLGBTQ+ leisure spaces plays a key role in shaping the experiences of diverse individuals who frequent them. Yet, the nature and effects of such spaces remain under-researched. In a mixed methods study, 548 diverse individuals completed a survey, and 22 respondents participated in a follow-up interview. Latent profile analysis of the quantitative data revealed three distinct typologies characterizing the climate of 2SLGBTQ+ leisure spaces: contentious, ambivalent, and welcoming. Notably, the contentious climate was linked to low sense of belonging and satisfaction, whereas the welcoming climate was associated with higher scores across the same outcomes. Additionally, specific social identities were predictive of membership in these climate profiles; individuals identifying as transgender/gender nonconforming and disabled were more likely to encounter contentious and/or ambivalent environments compared to welcoming climates, primarily due to limited options for welcoming climates. Intersectional analysis of the qualitative data illustrated that experiences of discrimination, particularly cisgenderism, racism, and ableism, contributed to poor social outcomes. These findings highlight that 2SLGBTQ+ leisure spaces may not translate into inclusive environments for everyone. The typologies developed could serve as a valuable tool to reflect on the ambiance of 2SLGBTQ+ leisure spaces and work toward welcoming climates.

Effect Verification in Ecological Landscape Design of Riverbank Leisure Space Based on Sketch Line Simulation Analysis

In order to improve the effectiveness of landscape design for riverbank leisure spaces, this article applies sketch line simulation technology to the design of leisure space landscapes, constructs a design model suitable for the needs of modern urban leisure space landscapes near rivers, and automatically generates high fidelity wireframes through hand drawn user interface sketches, thereby improving the efficiency of prototype design. The key to automatically generating high fidelity wireframes is to accurately detect the type and position of UI components from hand drawn UI sketches. In addition, a prototype software tool plugin was implemented to detect hand drawn UI sketches using an improved Faster R CNN and automatically convert the detection results into high fidelity wireframes. Through computer simulation research, we can see that sketch line simulation has a good effect in the landscape design of leisure spaces near riverbanks in cities.

Lived expertise of the structurally disadvantaged: towards a more just participatory transport planning process

In response to the negative effects of the car-dominated transport sector, especially in urban areas, and wider attempts to tackle the climate crisis, cities are reallocating car-dominated areas to promote active mobility, leisure and urban green space. These reallocations often take an experimental character and are accompanied by participation processes. Increased citizen participation results from both a paradigm shift in urban planning and a discourse shift towards mobility justice, emphasizing procedural and recognitional aspects of the transport transition. However, participatory planning processes themselves are conflict-ridden. They are criticised for favouring a loud, priviliged minority. Based on the need for diverse knowledge for mobility justice, including lived expertise, this study examines reasons for (non-) participation among structurally disadvantaged groups in transport planning, using Berlin’s Graefekiez neighbourhood as a case study. Focus groups were conducted with mobility-disabled people and women from a residential area with low socio-economic status. Our analysis revealed that non-participation was influenced by the feeling of being excluded and ignored. Simultaneously, the research format created was perceived as a welcoming space that better reflects the lived expertise of the neighbourhood and facilitates real exchange of perspectives. Based on this, recommendations are derived to improve participatory transport planning processes and the strengths of transdisciplinary projects.

Indigenized Leisure and Data Colonialist Systems

Social media sites and the opportunities they advertise are often promoted as facilitating community connection, creativity, and listening with others. Many facets and descriptors of social media opportunities can be related to First Nations’ understanding of what comprises wellness and leisure. With this in mind, many Indigenous users may partake in social media with the expectation of a primarily leisurely online experience that would contribute to an individual’s health and wellness. Couldry and Mejias’ (2019) concept of ‘data colonialism’ frames the purpose of online spaces such as the social media platforms TikTok, Instagram, and X (Twitter) as having a very different goal, one removed from leisure or where leisure is nothing more than a symptom of data collection efforts. This digital auto-ethnographic project, assisted by discourse analysis, utilizes the researcher’s Anishinaabe identity markers through site profiles to gather data which explores whether or not social media sites are truly a space of leisure for First Nation’s users under ‘data colonialism.’ This project finds a clash in data collection functions and online community opportunities, which renders Indigenized leisure within the digital space a fallacy. In council with teachings from Velkova and Kaun’s (2021) article Algorithmic Resistance: Media Practices and the Politics of Repair and Wemigwans’ (2018) A Digital Bundle; Protecting and Promoting Indigenous Knowledge Online, this project looks to the future, discussing the manipulation of social media affordances towards a true online wellness space for Indigenous users.

Young Women’s Sexual Expression and Vulnerability in Youth Leisure Spaces: The Affective Atmosphere of “Attacking”

AbstractThis article analyzes the phenomenon of “attacking”, a slang term referring to a common Israeli heterosexual script for casual sexual interactions in youth nightclubs, in order to reveal different affective relations that inform young women’s intensified vulnerability and sexual expression. Based on the theory of vulnerability and the theory of affect, it applies the relational standpoint to suggest the ambiguity of the affective atmosphere as a path to rethinking young women’s sexual expression in youth leisure spaces. Based on 39 semi-structured interviews with young women aged 18–23, this framework uses a wide range of affective responses as epistemic resources. The findings show how the affective atmosphere in “attacking” spaces reflects blurred social boundaries, intensified vulnerability, and affective relations, all of which inform young women’s sexual expression. They demonstrate the manifestations of the gender role division but also show how young women’s vulnerability serves as an affective resource for subjectification. The findings contribute to theorizing young women’s vulnerability as ambiguous, revealing how the leisure space offers different affective experiences – some deconstruct the subject, while others allow relational subjectification.

Revisiting modern campuses through spaces for leisure in Izmir, Turkey

ABSTRACT Division of working and leisure spaces as an early product of modern life has still its traces on urban context. Campus spaces, not only universities, reflect such a programmed structure related to modern everyday life. This paper aims to discuss the changing relationship between working and leisure on varying campus spaces, which embrace these two essential components of modern societies. Many campuses in early Turkey follow similar modernist organisational principles in their design and performs an original path in spatial transformation. Industry, education, and public service campuses, which were established in İzmir during the 1950s, constitute the spatial framework of this paper. The paper aims to trace the leisure areas of three campuses and examine this meticulously programmed life idea under the influence of the changing leisure spatial culture in Turkey from the 1950s to today. These spaces are articulated and examined by their dwellings and social interaction spaces. Besides, the social experience and individual perspectives of campus users are documented and merged with the physical analysis of the working and leisure spaces. Discussing those examples in socio-spatial details underlines the transformation and dissolution of campus idea in urban life and exposes the unique experience of campus spaces of İzmir.

Recent developments in second home research: has the COVID-19 pandemic spurred a re-thinking of second home mobilities?

ABSTRACT This paper explores whether the COVID-19 pandemic has initiated a “re-thinking” of second home mobilities globally. For a long time, second homes have mainly been seen as a leisure space and part of tourism consumption in rural areas in contrast to more productive, entrepreneurial and residential functions and practices. We claim that the pandemic has pinpointed second homes’ increasingly integrated role in everyday life practices, including being spaces for productive and regenerative ends, such as work, safety and health. Furthermore, the importance of second homes within a wider mobility framework is also highlighted, where second homes should be seen as not only a type of tourism mobility. In this paper, we carry out a literature review that aims to expand from the well-established tourism, rural studies and geography perspectives on second home mobilities and connect second homes to identify new research pathways which have been highlighted during the pandemic. By doing so we will pinpoint the growing avenues and future directions for second home research.

Lazer Boa Vista: Web Application of Leisure Spaces in Boa Vista/Roraima

Objective: The main objective of this study was to explore and identify the main leisure spaces in Boa Vista/Roraima, and to develop a web application that allows users to access interactive multimedia content with the information researched about the municipality (leisure spaces, equipment and activities). Theoretical Framework: The concept of leisure has changed over the years and is currently defined as moments of fun and relaxation in one's free time from work. Providing accurate and up-to-date information on leisure spaces enables people to access and occupy them quickly. Method: This study is characterized by exploratory research and applied research, as its purpose was to generate a product. After the exploratory research, the neighborhoods with the greatest potential for leisure spaces were defined to make up the web application. Leisure research tools were used (bibliographic and documentary research) and application development tools (the programming language suited to the application's purpose). Results and Discussion: 28 neighborhoods with preserved leisure spaces were found, including 25 types of leisure equipment and 45 types of leisure activities practiced in these spaces. This information was used to create the “Lazer Boa Vista” web application. Originality/Value: This study contributes by gathering and listing the leisure spaces in the municipality of Boa Vista/RR. The relevance of this study stands out for highlighting tourist leisure spaces, collaborating with this area socio-economically, popularizing and disseminating them through digital marketing.

Espaços de turismo e lazer na zona rural de Teresina (PI): uma proposta de desenvolvimento sustentável

Tourism in rural areas comprises all activities carried out in non-urban areas, which consists of leisure activities in rural areas in various modalities defined based on the offer: rural tourism, agritourism, ecological tourism, etc. This work aims to understand the dynamics of tourism and leisure spaces in the rural area of the municipality of Teresina, Piaui, and their contributions to sustainable rural development. To this end, exploratory, bibliographic, and documentary research was used. The time frame to be worked on is contemporary, with the use of data and information from the Municipality of Teresina (PMT) through the Municipal Secretariat for Economic Development and Tourism (SEMDEC), in addition to the enterprises that operate in the field. In 2022, PMT created the Teresina Sites Route with the aim of strengthening rural tourism in the municipality. The results demonstrate that, among the businesses that make up the route, there is a variety of services offered, with most of them focused on gastronomy and sports and/or recreational activities. There are few enterprises that aim to offer an approximation to activities traditionally related to rural areas, such as agriculture and livestock farming. When considering that tourism and leisure options in rural areas can bring economic, environmental, and cultural benefits, it is essential to ensure that the activity does not grow in a disorderly manner, since a lack of planning can cause environmental degradation, loss of cultural identity and increased cost of living due to the appreciation of the area in question.

Investigating Resident–Tourist Sharing of Urban Public Recreation Space and Its Influencing Factors

Urban public recreation space (UPRS) is an integral part of the urban public space system. With the rise of urban tourism, these areas have evolved into important spaces for leisure and entertainment, serving both residents and tourists. However, the extent to which these spaces are shared by the two groups remains unclear. This study quantified the level of UPRS equally shared by residents and tourists in Wuhan, China, using geotagged check-in data from 74 UPRS. We evaluated and compared the resident–tourist sharing degree across various types of UPRS and explored its influencing factors using multiple linear regression (MLR). The results indicated the following: (1) The sharing degree was at a moderate level and it varied significantly across different types of UPRS. (2) Characteristic streets had the highest sharing degree, followed by cultural spaces, urban parks, and tourist scenic spots. (3) The number of nearby tourist attractions, road density, and number of transport stops positively affected sharing degree. These findings suggest that the combination layout of UPRS with other tourist attractions and enhanced accessibility can effectively improve the shared usage of UPRS.

Exploring leisure constraints and participation among urban women through the lens of ambivalent sexism theory

ABSTRACT Through the lens of ambivalent sexism theory, this study explores the relationship between leisure constraints, gender bias, and leisure participation among urban women. We confirmed a pronounced negative correlation between leisure constraints and participation. Our findings further validate the pronounced influence of intrapersonal and structural constraints on participation, underscoring the importance of developing safe and private leisure venues tailored for women. A key insight from our research is the moderating effect of gender bias, notably hostile sexism, on the relationship between leisure constraints and participation. This highlights the pressing need to challenge and counteract male-centric ideologies. Our study suggests that policymakers and urban planners should prioritise the creation of women-friendly leisure spaces that are both safe and accessible. Public awareness campaigns may also be beneficial in challenging prevailing sexist ideologies that contribute to leisure constraints for women. Collectively, our findings not only contribute to the theoretical discourse in leisure studies but also provide pragmatic insights to champion gender equity in leisure participation.

“We Called It ‘Cancer Park’”: Soil Contamination and Outdoor Leisure in Southeast Los Angeles

Environmental justice work has long sought to illuminate and challenge the inequitable impacts of pollution. In this case study, we evaluated the impact of soil lead contamination on outdoor leisure in Southeast Los Angeles, where more than 2000 residential properties near a lead-acid battery recycling facility indicated high soil lead levels. This study employed an embedded case study design to (1) evaluate the impact of soil lead contamination on residents’ outdoor leisure and (2) illuminate the socio-political institutions that wield power to shape daily life. Embedded survey results indicated that neither objective nor subjective soil lead measures were associated with outdoor leisure time of adults or children; however, additional forms of evidence illuminated how compounding environmental hazards, inadequate communication, and power inequities shaped outdoor leisure activities in Southeast Los Angeles. These findings sought to critically illustrate that health promoting outdoor leisure spaces are a privilege afforded to some, but not all.

From rupture to disruptive innovation: the colonial subcontinent’s ‘Devil’s Wind’; the Mughal Bagh (garden) and the English-style public park

ABSTRACT Set against the backdrop of the 1857 uprising against British colonial rule in the Indian subcontinent, the article examines the impact of this tumultuous event on the Mughal era Bagh (garden). The uprising, while causing a sudden and unprecedented rupture in the subcontinent’s political, cultural and urban landscape, also led to a form of disruptive innovation that displaced the well-established Bagh, a private space for leisure or veneration of the deceased, by a novel garden type, an English-style public park. More often than not, this new garden type emerged from remodelling the Bagh, to result in a Bagh-turned-Public Park. This innovative venture not only physically replaced the original Bagh but also changed the notion of leisure from the Mughal-to-the-metropole-inspired variant. Concurrently, this landscape endeavour served the agenda of empire to stamp British authority. To make its case, the city of Delhi, whose large corpus of Mughal- era Baghs underwent remodelling, is selected. As the epicentre of the uprising, Delhi was the recipient of the colonial regime’s spatially tumultuous military and civic interventions to turn it into a tamed modern city, among whose new spatial icons was the English-style public park. Two gardens are examined to demonstrate the rupture and disruptive innovation, as colonial civic actors overlaid an English-style landscape on the Bagh. This seemingly innocuous landscape intervention was as disruptive and efficacious as its spatially violent military counterpart in transforming Delhi into a colonial modern city. The article concludes by taking stock of the Bagh-turned-Public Park in the present as a colonial legacy that continues to be an integral part of the leisure landscape of Indian cities.

Optimizing community green roof spaces in high-density cities: a K-modes clustering algorithm based analysis of resident preferences and spatial configuration

ABSTRACT Green roofs are an important part of the ecological system in high-density cities and a crucial component of community public green spaces. Analyzing preferences of residents during spatial planning can help improve their satisfaction and efficiency in using community rooftop spaces. This study uses K-modes algorithm to perform cluster analysis on questionnaires from 699 residents, and summarizes user profiles with significant characteristics by combing the comprehensive ratings of residents regarding different roof space functions. The study shows that differences in preferences among people are not only related to demographic characteristics but also to their interests and environmental perceptions. For example, low-to-middle-income groups, being price-sensitive, tend to reduce energy consumption expenditure. The highly educated population, driven by social needs, shows a clear preference for activity spaces and sports facilities. The elderly population, emphasizing healthy eating and rural memories, gives higher ratings to agricultural spaces. Finally, this study explores the correlation between certain resident characteristics and their preferences for green roof space functions, and proposes a “1+X” spatial configuration strategy dominated by Landscape Leisure Space, with Ecological Low-carbon Space, Agricultural Production Space, and Activity Gathering Space as options, in order to optimize community green roof spaces guided by resident needs.

International graduate students’ perspectives on sense of belonging in leisure

Sense of belonging (SB) has been linked to increased academic engagement, enjoyment, and motivation. This paper explored international graduate students(IGS)’ SB in leisure spaces and its lessons for leisure educators. The paper addressed the following questions: (a) How do IGS’ leisure experiences change after migrating to the US? Furthermore, (b) How does the orientation of IGS towards leisure spaces post-immigration impact their sense of belonging? In the context of leisure, three themes emerged from the intersectional autoethnographic vignettes of five doctoral students. Utilizing Bronfenbrenner's (1979) Ecological Model, we highlight how these themes relate to IGS’ different life systems and we propose a new model for studying IGSs' sense of belonging.

Pinballers, Videoits, and the Arcade: Race, Segregation, and Leisure Space in Twentieth Century Los Angeles

Pinballers, Videoits, and the Arcade: Race, Segregation, and Leisure Space in Twentieth Century Los Angeles

Transdisciplinary approaches assessing unmanaged urban green spaces reveal benefits for biodiversity and people

Rapid urbanization is projected for African cities at the cost of urban green space, which could jeopardize biodiversity and human benefits. Studies focusing specifically on human–green space relationships in the Global South are lacking, and the validity of extrapolating results from studies in the Global North remains questionable and cannot provide local context-specific design solutions. This study combines methods and perspectives from ecology and human geography with landscape design to better understand the benefits for biodiversity and people derived from unmanaged green spaces in the City of Tshwane, South Africa. Based on empirical data from two unmanaged green space areas in disadvantaged communities, we identify benefits for biodiversity and people and define guidelines for inclusive trans-disciplinary interventions. We combine information from a vegetation survey, a community survey of 200 respondents and a rapid assessment of multifunctional benefit provision to formulate in holistic landscape design proposals. We show that the sites have biodiversity value and provide habitat for > 169 different plant species, including protected species, and smaller wildlife. Residents use the spaces for utility, passive and active leisure, and > 76% of residents benefit from the use of these spaces. However, the integrity and provision of benefits from green spaces are threatened by pollution, safety concerns, biological invasions, and land conversion. Context-specific designs could be developed by merging methods across disciplines and involving local stakeholders to integrate the multifunctionality of socioecological benefits into landscape interventions. Collaboration across ecology, human geography and landscape design generates multifunctional perspectives of unmanaged green spaces that consider benefits for biodiversity and disadvantaged communities.