Preferences and Constraints: A Study on Urban Outdoor Sportive Recreation Areas

Abstract

It is increasingly important to identify the determinants and barriers to the use of urban parks. To this aim; the sample group in the study, which was carried out to determine the participation preferences and constraints of individuals using open space urban recreation areas, consists of 629 people using 11 urban open recreation areas in Turkey’s Ankara province. In addition to the demographic questionnaire, “Preference Factors of Recreation Areas” (PFRA) and “Sportive Recreation Barriers Scale” (SRBS) scales were used to collect the data. Frequency, arithmetic mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. Independent sample t test and one-way analysis of variance ANOVA test were applied to determine the difference since homogeneity and normal distribution conditions were fulfilled. Correlation coefficients were given by Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and regression analysis was used. The findings obtained can be stated that individuals who use open space recreation areas in Ankara province have a high preference for recreation area participation and perceive sportive recreation barriers at average values. It was determined that the variables such as gender, education level, marital status and reasons for going to recreational areas significantly differentiated recreation area preference factors and sportive recreation barriers. It was found that there was a statistically significant relationship between PFRA and SRBS, and it was also found to be a factor in explaining the barriers to sportive recreation. Within the scope of the findings obtained, the findings were discussed with the support of the literature in terms of evaluating the preference factors of open space urban recreation area users for using parks and the barriers that they may encounter.