URBAN RECREATIONAL AREAS

URBAN RECREATIONAL AREAS
Jovana Stevanović 1, Nenad Stavretović1,2
1
The Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade
2
Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, Belgrade
Abstract: Urban recreational areas should simultaneously meet functional,
ecological, socio-cultural and aesthetic requirements that must be harmonized with
environment in which these areas are established in order to ensure its
improvement. This paper underlines both role and important impact of urban
recreational spaces on human life and well-being, and their structure and basic
principles of planning and management of sporting-recreational areas in urban
environment according to perspectives of landscape architecture. Proper selection
and an adequate combining of plants would enable the establishing of proper
recreational areas that will attract more users.
Key words: recreational areas, urban recreation, urban ecology, landscape
management
1. Introduction
Urban recreational areas are a necessary element of a city, acting as a part of
and determining the quality of human existence in cities. The main function of
urban recreational areas is to enable citizens to have healthy recreational activities
and a place for leisure. According to form of recreation, city recreational areas can
be divided into sites of active and areas of passive recreation. Parks have nowadays
become sites of passive recreation, whereas recreational spaces are actually objects
intended for active sporting activities. These spaces include playgrounds, solid
paved spaces and fields for group sporting activities (Dahl et al., 2003).
The intensity of using city recreational areas is determined by their
accessibility, so that these areas are usually situated in close proximity to
residential objects or on several large areas in the city, not to distant from
residential zone. However, despite the proximity to residential zones, these areas
often fail to meet visitors' expectations and therefore are not frequently visited.
This primarily refers to the list of activities, aesthetics and the way area is
managed, but also to the most important ecological conditions of the area.
Greenery in urban recreational areas, an organic component of the city,
together with the complex of objects, creates the image of city landscape. An
adequate organizing, management and maintaining of recreational areas, their
accessibility and enabling of ecologically based comfort, all contribute to the
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functional and spatial unity of residential ambient, to its attractive quality, acting as
supplementary elements of residential function. (Mitković et al., 2004).
The subject of this paper is underlining of the role and important impact of
urban recreational areas on human life and well-being, at the same time surveying
the structure of recreational spaces, as well as presenting of basic principles of
planning and management of sporting-recreational spaces in urban areas, according
to principles of landscape architecture.
2. The role and importance of urban recreational areas
Urban recreation is a human process of psychical and physical regeneration
in an urban area, which is achieved by involving in recreational activities, by using
means and spaces for recreation in urban environment (Vesnić Neđeral, 1993).
Factors determining frequency of visits and attractive quality of recreational areas
are the distance from working place and home, accessibility for pedestrians, list of
activities and ecological conditions primarily affected by vegetation of the area.
Greenery contributes to temperature drop of surrounding space which is of great
importance in summer, whereas in winter it prevents cooling of surrounding air
masses, performs their filtration, thus purifying and increasing their quality and
humidity, simultaneously reducing the effect of city island of heat. Recreational
spaces rich in greenery have a positive impact on appearing of secondary
reflections, and a certain influence on reducing the city noise. This is very
important in the zones of intensive traffic. Lawns of recreational spaces are of great
importance to connecting of soil and preventing the erosion, by avoiding the
excessive grass-covered soil draining and thus eliminating the raising of dust and
removing of superficial (best-quality) soil layer (Stavretović, 2002) (figure 1).
Fig 1. Plants can retard erosion
Well-managed city recreational areas contribute to the increase in entire space
ornamental value, attracting more users and contributing to the refinement of city
space and relieving the monotony. Greenery has the power of diminishing sharp
lines of existing objects architecture and of making particular or the important
objects distinguishable from other objects.
The importance of urban recreational spaces is evident in socialization of city
inhabitants, that is in making human relations more profound (figure 2). A number
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of sociological studies underlines the fact that urban green spaces play an
important role in the life of an individual, providing a sense of satisfaction. The
research has shown that citizens living not distant from urban recreational spaces
(up to 5 minutes of walking or a short drive by means of public transportation), are
more socially and physically active than others to whom these spaces are less
accessible (Maller Cecily et al., 2010).
There is a clear therapeutic connection between recreation, health, state of a
person's mind/feelings and nature. It has been determined that green recreational
areas, that is the interaction of natural elements, contributes to human mental health
and emotional stability, so that it can be concluded that areas of uban recreation
perform a psychological function. The experience of nature aspect while
performing recreational function, diverts spectators thoughts from the current state
and worries, with an improving effect on physical and psychical health.
Within attractive green background, the cultural and pedagogical interests of
citizens are encouraged, which are connected to cultivation, care, inclination and
creation of proper civilized attitude towards vegetation too. Contacts and
encounters with other people, especially with rivals in game and the attitude
towards spectators, enable civilized self behaving, but a civilized attitude towards
space and greenery too.
Fig 2. recreational areas encourages human interaction
3. Planning and management of urban recreational areas
Planning and management of recreational spaces often refers only to an
economical constructing, minimum space maintenance and long durability.
However, sporting-recreational spaces have to be adjusted to the climate, weather
and geo-physical condition, different citizens' needs, the age of users, as well as to
the city development dynamics in general. Recreational spaces should not be
divided into parts with all their functions diminished, and particularly the sanitary
and hygienic function, but should represent parts of an organized system.
Organizing and management of recreational areas in the city should
simultaneously meet functional, ecological, socio-cultural, and aesthetic
requirements harmonized with their environment. Basic factors to be taken into
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consideration when planning urban recreational areas are their accessibility,
quantity, quality in relation to users needs and quality of design, realization,
management and maintenance of the space, as well as their multifunctional purpose
(Živković, 2009).
According to Dahl and associates (2003), general principles that meet
modern requirements of recreational spaces planning, include:
1. usefulness of everything planned within recreational spaces;
2. recreational space intended for people (users);
3. the need to meet aesthetic and functional requirements;
4. enabling of experiencing the essence of space by applying certain forms , lines,
colours, textures, effect of domination rather than of chaos, the effect of enclosure
providing safety in using the space;
5. enabling the experience adequate to the space, where the usage should fit in,
according to characteristics and size of the space which should be adequate to the
characteristics of users;
6. The need to meet following technical requirements: the size adequate to the type
of activity, quantity (existing of many segments), orientation, natural condition
(wind, annual quantity of rainfall, type of rainfall, groundwater and erosion) and
enabling of maintenance;
7. economical management – the lowest possible expenditure;
8. space supervision for the purpose of preventing possible acts of vandalism.
Urban recreational area should comprise one or more segments of functional
zones: undisturbed leisure time and walking, active recreation, playgrounds for
children, economy based segment and management buildings. Space for active
recreation must be functional, sheltered from the wind, safe for people recreating
(players), sheltered from sun, noise and dust. Playgrounds for children should be
located in the way that they could be visible to the spectators sitting around in
order to enable parents' supervision. The characteristic of an intimate ambient
(sheltered by thick greenery), away from traffic, contributes to the attractiveness of
zones for undisturbed leisure and passive recreation. The outlining of space borders
by framing it with high greenery (tree-lined space) or by thick low vegetation,
simultaneously achieving the effect of an "enclosed cosy space", contributes to the
sense of belonging to the place. The required safety level is achieved by forbidding
of motor vehicle traffic or by the segregation of pedestrian and cart traffic. It is also
necessary to classify pedestrian communication into categories, to include plateaus
and resting areas within space intended for sitting, to avoid the barriers, that is, the
maximum reduction in steep slants and recommended use of ramps instead of
stairs.
City recreational areas can acquire a new dimension, if a multiple use of
space on the same site is enabled. Thus a baseball field can be used as a football or
soccer field, tennis court can be on the parking roof, whereas a golf course can
even be on the roof of residential object. It is of importance not only to know how
to use the space, but also when or how frequently it is used. In that way, space
productive values acquire a dimension of time.
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In management of urban recreational areas, particular attention should be
paid to the choice of materials and plants. The choice of materials for paths,
plateaus and resting areas should include the following criteria (Dahl et al., 2003):
durability, visual characteristic, accessibility, tactile characteristic of a material,
climate adaptability and draining characteristics. In that sense the use of such
materials as grass, brick, asphalt, wooden blocks, gravel, sand, concrete,
cobblestones and artificial grass/astroturf is optimal. An important factor to be
taken into consideration is the use of space. For example, in building a playground
for children, the use of concrete for side paths is adequate, because the durability is
the most important factor there, whereas for the surface around swings, which
should be less solid, porous and with proper drainage, the use of sand is
recommended.
Setting up an adequate lighting contributes to higher level of safety, at the
same time enabling the use of space at night. This particularly refers to regions
where summer heat is a limiting factor and there lighting can prolong the games
played there for hours. The use of wooden lamp posts instead of metal ones is
optimal because they better fit in the natural ambient and their positions should be
carefully considered.
An increasing frequency of motor vehicle traffic, enables more leisure time
and higher mobility of city inhabitants, consequently enhancing the accessibility of
recreational zones. The consequence of this is increasingly occurring situation of
motor vehicles parking on green spaces of recreational urban areas. This is
particularly evident in central city zones and it violates the basic conception of
space management. This problem can be solved in the following ways:
1. by setting up barriers made of inert material: fences, poles, high curbs;
2. by greenery planting: hedge, a group of shrubby vegetation, a group of trees, by
planting rows of trees or single trees at the distance less than of a vehicle length;
3. by the combination of greenery and artificial elements.
3.1 Plant materials in urban recreational areas
Proper development of green spaces of urban recreational areas represents an
effective strategy in making developed environment more attractive and in
attracting more possible users. An adequate choice of plants creates an aesthetic
and sustainable nature, with the aim of establishing stable and durable community
which should be easily maintained. Properly managed urban recreational areas
should represent a pleasant, calming scenery creating the sense of pleasantness
while performing recreational function, at the same time being an adequate way to
soften the sharp, cubic appearance of objects present.
Basic species are used to form the frames of massives, alleys and groups of
plants. Those are autochthonous tree species growing well in existing climate
conditions. Additional species are intended to create coloration and decorative
function (Vujković, 2003). These can be floral species or species with an
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interesting foliage colour, texture, interesting seasonally aspected changes or
interesting tree forms (Vujković, 2003). In urban recreational areas, group planting
should mostly be applied and it should also be strived to keep existing plantations
of autochthonous vegetation in order to achieve self sustainability of the space.
Controlled introduction and maintenance of allochthonous species, according to
their bio-ecological characteristics is also possible, however their invasive traits
should be taken into consideration. The schemes of planting should be made
according to the desired image of the space. Many plants may create a dramatic
atmosphere, whereas scattered planting provides a sense of pleasantness.
Lawns of green spaces represent a foundation, all other elements are being
laid on one after another, but also an effective final layer of a green space. Lawns
in urban recreational spaces occupy large surfaces and are heavily exploited by
users, especially if used exclusively for the purpose of an active recreation. Only
grassy foundation may expose and bear a dynamic trait of a person recreating
movement which is a dominating value of sporting spaces, thus being the most
important constructive element of sporting-recreational spaces.
Lawns in sporting-recreational spaces can be divided into: lawns for special
(game) purpose, ornamental or parterre lawns and ordinary lawns. Ornamental
lawns are not trampled on and are usually situated around entrances or
management buildings. Ordinary, that is, park lawns represented in all other
spaces, which are intended for mass exploitation, lying on or free recreation.
The use of adequate greenery enhances the performing quality of recreational
function with its multiple importance regarding peoples' health. In that sense,
maximum sanitary-hygienic role of greenery is achieved by proper choice of plant
species.
3.1.2
The choice of plant species intended for urban recreational areas
Plant species and especially trees that are part of urban recreational areas,
should be completely adequate to the environment conditions and a special
attention should be paid to the environment micro conditions, but also to meet the
demands of the project. Besides successfull and quick growth, plants should also
have decorative characteristics, however, various ornamental forms should be
avoided, because they are in a larger proportion dependent on environment
condition. If used ornamental forms, it should be strived to have them in the least
possible number and in most representative parts of space (entrance area and area
around management buildings). Apart from planting ornamental trees and shrubs,
the use of floral elements beside these objects, is possible.
If area is exposed to strong impact of winds, there is an additional danger of
wind blasts and heavy snowfall tearing out plants, therefore species with deeper
root system should be chosen. Space orientation should also be taken into
consideration. Space parts in south and southeast should be planted with helophyte
species (Acer pseudoplatanus, Celtis australis, Betula verrucosa, Qurecus spp)
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which are tolerant to drier conitions, whereas space parts in north and northwest
should be planted with species of semi-shade which demand mesophylic
environment conditions (Fraxinus excelsior, Castanea sativa, Prunus spp). Space
in closest proximity to road should be refined with species tolerant to air pollution.
(Carpinus betulus, Catalpa bignonioides, Quercus borealis, Platanus spp). For
better insulation, a tampon of greenery is planted on the space borders, with its
width and density depending on the intensity of damaging impact (figure 3). This
greenery tampon consists of broadleaf and coniferous trees and shrubs with the aim
of creating necessary micro climate conditions.
Fig 3. A tampon of greenery for reducing noice
In spaces exposed to harsh sunlight, plants with smaller leaves and plants
with hairy leaves, combined with conifers (Acer spp, Ulmus spp, Betula spp)
should be placed, because these plants receive sunlight in smaller quantities and
make the surface look softer (Živković, 2009). Plateaus intended for users resting,
are sun screened by using trees with thick crowns (Aesculus hippocastanum,
Quercus spp, Tilia spp, Platanus spp). Beside paths, plateaus and parking spaces,
species which fruit, when falling off, might injure people recreating or stain solid
surface, should be avoided.
When using greenery in recreational spaces, plants' phytocidal characteristics
should be taken into consideration. Greater attention should be paid to the choice of
coniferous species because they usually bear such characteristics. Characteristics
of plants causing asthmatic and allergic medical conditions, damaging and
irritating mucous tissue of respiratory system, thus damaging health of people
recreating, should also be taken into consideration. Poisonous species should
completely be excluded, as well as species of an unpleasant smell and species with
thorns. The use of cultivated fruit species is undesirable in recreational spaces,
because children are attracted to them in their phenophase of fruit riping.
All elements of urban recreational areas are exposed to users acts of
vandalism. In that sense, the choice of plant species should be aimed at fast
regenerating ones. Young plants are most often damaged and should be protected
untill become stronger. Single plants are more often damaged than those planted in
groups.
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Grassy spaces should consist of mixture of adequate species of grass in order
to enable recreational function in the best possible way and to form decorative and
durable surface. By using a mixture of grass species instead of monocultures, the
compensation for one species flaws by good characteristics of other species in the
mixture, is achieved. In forming lawns to be intensively trampled on, species with
leaves highly resistant to pressure and with root system branchy and fibrous,
species with high regenerative capacity, resistance to being trodden on, mowed and
infected by diseases, should be used (Stavretović, 2002). According to Stavretović
(2002) in climate conditions of Belgrade, following good-quality species could be
used in this type of lawns: Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Festuca
rubra, Festuca ovina, Festuca arundinacea, Agrostis capillaries and Agrostis
stolonifera.
The fastest growing and most effective type of lawn for the purpose of
recreation is achieved by placing the grass carpet. This is considerably more
expensive way of forming grassy surface, so that sown lawns are usually used for
recreational spaces, whereas for sporting game fields, grass covers are usually
recommended. In spaces aimed at achieving specific ornamental effects, especially
in the condition of thick shade below tree crown, plant covers may be used:
Hedera helix, Vinca minor, Vinca major, Lysimachia nummularia and others.
4. Conclusion
Neglected, unmanaged and unmaintained urban recreational areas aren't
attractive to users, and therefore should be revitalised according to the
characteristics of urban surrounding. When planning new recreational areas,
attention should be paid to basic principles of management, primarily the principles
relating to the choice and combining of plant material, because the main purpose of
these areas is in creating an environment that would meet ecological demands.
Good-quality planning and management of unoccupied and recreational areas,
increases the value of usefulness, quality and aesthetics of residential area, and at
the same time improves the quality of residing. (Mitković, 2004).
Life of a large city inhabitants is conditioned by understanding of necessity
and usefulness of urban recreational areas and by improving the quality of their
planning, management and use. An adequate choice of plants and their proper
combining enables forming of proper recreational areas intended for use by city
inhabitants. The system of recreational areas, functioning to the use by city
inhabitant, enhances the quality of life to the highest level. Good-quality
recreational spaces, according to principles of landscape architecture, attract more
people recreating and affect the health and well-being of city population.
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5. References
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planning and design, Waveland Press, Long Grove, Illinois.
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nature in everyday settings: Or how to create healthy environments and healthy
people, Eco Health, published online: 09 March 2010.
Mitković, P., Bogdanović, I. (2004). Slobodni i rekreativni prostori kao esencijalni
sadržaji stambene zone sa osvrtom na stanje u Nišu, Zbornik radova građevinskoarhitektonskog fakulteta, No. 20, 171-180, Niš.
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Stevanović, J., Stavretović, N., Obratov-Petković, D., Mijović, A. (2009).
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herbologica, Vol. 18, No. 2 115-125, Beograd.
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Živković, J. (2009). Urbane funkcije-rekreacija, Arhitektonski fakultet, Beograd
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