Provision Of Recreational Facilities Research Articles

Relevant landscape components in a large urban green space in Oporto (Portugal)

Landscape components are essential in the design and fruition of any urban green space (UGS). This is particularly relevant considering the growth rate of the urban population worldwide, the increase in the number and intensity of severe weather episodes due to climate change, and the relevance of UGSs for global human well-being, as highlighted by the United Nations in their Sustainable Development Goals. This study examines users’ perceptions of UGSs regarding the importance of landscape components, which can influence users’ preferences for UGS use. The research was conducted in a major urban park subdivided into 10 landscape units in Oporto, Portugal. The paper uses information gathered through face-to-face surveys from stationary park users (n = 500) engaged in diverse activities, through which 13 landscape elements were assessed for their relevance in determining choice of location. The results show significant differences between the assessed landscape units at the user level for all socio-demographic variables, with the exception of the gender variable. Significant differences between landscape units were also identified in terms of the relevance attributed to the different landscape components. Exploratory factor analysis identified five main factors influencing user preferences: comfort and security (including vegetation density, tranquillity of space, availability of shade, good maintenance, and forest coverage), landscape diversity (diversity of open spaces, diversity of flora and fauna, and presence of shrubs), water presence, recreational facilities, and open spaces for activities. The results also highlight an issue related to distributional justice regarding the assessed study area. Our results have relevant implications for the design and management of UGSs. We propose diverse actions, addressing issues related to the balance between open spaces and rich greenery, multifunctional design, shade coverage, maintenance, forest coverage, vegetation diversity, the incorporation of water features, and the provision of recreational facilities.

Homebuyers’ heterogeneous preferences for urban green–blue spaces: A spatial multilevel autoregressive analysis

Integrated urban blue-green spaces (UBGS) represent a new global strategic initiative in the construction of ecologically multifunctional and socially inclusive cities. A common challenge is to integrate social preferences and values into UBGS planning and management. Using a 3-D spatial multilevel autoregressive model, this study attempts to differentiate and decompose the impacts of four UBGS attributes (including river water quality, detectable black-odorous problem, riparian greening, and provision of recreational facilities) on apartment prices in Guangzhou (China), so as to elicit homebuyers’ preferences and associate their preferences with higher hierarchical level (district) socioeconomic characteristics. Our modelling results reveal that homebuyers are insensitive to a relatively good water quality (Grade IV) of UBGS, but strongly dislike UBGS with black-odorous phenomenon. Both riparian greening and recreational facilities could command premiums, showing homebuyers’ significant preferences. At the aggregated level, district average income level plays a moderating role: homebuyers’ positive preferences (for riparian greening) and negative preference (for black-odorous river) become weakened when district income level increases. And district population density plays an enhancing role: homebuyers’ positive preferences (for riparian greening and recreational facilities) and negative preference (for black-odorous UBGS) become stronger when population density increases. These findings help optimizing UBGS design and establishing UBGS restoration priorities differently in divergent urban contexts, so as to improve environmental welfare and social equity.

Provision of Recreational Facilities in Asokoro District, Abuja, Nigeria

Provision of Recreational Facilities in Asokoro District, Abuja, Nigeria

The Factor Structure of Tourist Satisfaction in Forest Recreation Tourism: The Case of Taiwan

Previous studies have identified overall tourist satisfaction as a function of satisfaction with multiple destination attributes and examined the asymmetric relationship between attribute-level satisfaction and overall tourist satisfaction in a variety of tourism contexts. However, this issue has not been empirically tested in the context of forest recreation tourism. This study aims to fill this literature gap by examining the perceptions of Chinese tourists toward the determinants of tourist satisfaction in a specific context, the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan. Alishan is one of the attractions Chinese tourists consider a “must see” in Taiwan. However, there has been insufficient provision of tourism infrastructure to accommodate the steady influx of Chinese tourists. To achieve long-term sustainability, forest managers are requested to allocate their limited resources to those sector-specific attribute-level satisfaction factors that potentially enhance overall tourist satisfaction the most. According to the three-factor theory of tourist satisfaction, “information services” and “recreation facilities” were classified as basic factors, whereas “safety and emergency system” was considered as an excitement factor. It is concluded that the top priority of improvement should be paid to the existing provision of recreation facilities, because they are identified as a sector-specific basic factor with low satisfaction.

EVALUATION OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE STUDENTS OF ISLAMIC AZAD UNIVERSITY

Background and Purpose: Quality of life is a ubiquitous concept, and improving quality of life plays a pivotal role in the promotion of individual and social health. This parameter requires exclusive attention in case of students since quality of life remarkably affects learning and academic achievement.This study aimed to evaluate quality of life among the students of Islamic Azad University of Yazd, Iran. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 participants randomly selected from the student population of Yazd Islamic Azad University, Iran. Data were collected via self-report questionnaires about quality of life. Data analysis was performed using SPSS V.16.0. Results: In this study, mean of quality of life score was 16.16±146.91. In addition, a significant difference was found between quality of life and gender (t=2.7, P=0.007), place of residence (t=2.0, P=0.04) and insurance status (t=3.16, P=0.002) of the subjects. However, there was no significant difference between quality of life and field of study, education level and family size (P>0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, student quality of life was at an average level.Therefore, it is recommended that special attention be given to the enhancement of this parameter among students. In this regard, programs focusing on conflict resolution, effective decision-making, self-defense and relationship improvement, as well as provision of recreational facilities, could be beneficial in increasing student quality of life.

Recreation as a comlementary capacity building strategy among Oyo state civil servants, Nigeria

Meaningful capacity building should essentially include promotion and maintenance of health of workers. The nature of office responsibilities, if care is not taken easily predisposes workers to sedentary, aetiology of heart diseases capable of promoting social, physical and mental health problems with adverse consequences on workers’ productivity. The study focused complementary role of recreation in capacity building among state civil servants of Oyo State in order to enhance, sustain and maintain their health. 2800 participants involving males and females drawn from 20 Ministries on equal basis, through randomization were used for the study. Self-developed questionnaire, validated for construct and content assurance were employed to collect data which were analysed with chi-square (X2) inferential statistics at 0.05 alpha level. Based on the conclusions, recommendations were proffered on strategies to promote recreation among workers with the provision of recreational facilities at secretariats as well as introduction of mandatory monthly ‘walk for fitness’ by every rank and file of workers under the leadership of recreation experts.

Mental health of doctors in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

IntroductionDoctors are vulnerable to psychiatric morbidity as a result of their busy schedules and multiple role obligations. Yet, they often don't admit they have mental health problems nor are they readily subjected to mental health evaluation by their colleagues due to fear of labeling and general stigma.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of doctors in the service of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria was done using a socio-demographic questionnaire and the twelve items General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) using a cut-off point of 3 to indicate possibility of psychiatric disorder (GHQ-12 positive). Non-parametric analysis and regression test of factors associated with psychiatric morbidity was done using SPSS. Level of significance was set at 0.05 p-value.ResultsTwo hundred and forty one doctors representing 68.9% of the doctors participated in the survey. The point prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among the doctors using the GHQ-12 was 14.9%. Being married, non-participation in social activities and perception of work load as being “heavy” were significantly associated with psychiatric morbidity (p-value < 0.05).ConclusionThe prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among doctors at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital was higher than the general population prevalence. Measures to lessen the negative effect of marriage and the perceived heavy work load on mental health of doctors, such as provision of recreational facilities within the hospital and encouragement of doctors’ participation in social activities are advanced.

An Assessment on Provision of Recreational Facilities in Nigerian Universities In the 21st Century

This paper is an assessment of provision recreational sports facilities in Nigerian Universities in the 21st Century. The researcher having seen that adequate sports facility is an essential element in the effective delivery of sports program in Nigerian Universities, assessed some basic facilities in the first generation and some second generation Universities respectively. The data revealed that Nigerian Universities do not have sporting facilities befitting their status especially the second generation Universities. The paper went further to present some basic considerations for the provision of recreational sport facilities in Nigerian Universities. The role of Universities in the provision of recreational facilities was equally discussed in the paper. Finally, the paper recommends among others that Federal Government should declare a state of emergency on sporting facilities in Nigerian Universities because of the commonality in the problem of inadequacy and unavailability of standard recreational sports facilities in virtually all the Universities in Nigeria.

Conservation—Tourism Partnerships in Western Australia

The diversity of Western Australia's landscapes and the high degree of endemism of the State's plants and animals make their protection important on a world scale. Currently over 20 million hectares of the State are protected in national and marine parks and nature reserves, areas that continue to attract increasing numbers of tourists. Given the vastness of Western Australia, the size of its parks and reserves, their wide dispersal, and relatively small population of taxpayers—external funds and resources have been essential to the management of parks and wildlife and provision of recreation facilities by the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Nature-based tourism is one significant area of partnership through which the Department can attract resources to meet its mission.CALM is working in a number of arrangements with a range of partners to support conservation and tourism. Partnerships have been established with a large number of organisations including federal, state and local governments, industry bodies, community groups, education providers, indigenous peoples and non-profit associations. Conservation partnerships have been undertaken in the natural, cultural and heritage environments and include heritage conservation, volunteer program and conservation card. Some of the established tourism partnerships include the development of leases and licences, wildlife viewing centres, and ecotour programs. In addition CALM has held two ecotourism seminars in WA together with the Ecotourism Association of Australia, which have been discussed in this paper.