Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
• the neighbourhood level (e.g. a community centre)
• local areas (e.g. a recreation ground)
• regions within cities
• a city-wide level (e.g. an art gallery).
An illustration of such a hierarchy for urban open space is illustrated in Table 5.1. The
result is an ordered provision, each with its own set of users meeting the needs and
aspirations of users which will vary in time and space. Within any urban context the
challenge for recreational planning is to match the supply and demand for such resources.
One further technique which Patmore (1983) advocated for urban recreation is the
resource inventory, whereby the range of existing resources is surveyed and mapped in
relation to the catchment population. This population may then be compared to existing
recommended levels of provision set by organisations for recreational provision. For
example, the National Playing Fields Association in the UK recommended 2.4 ha of
space per 1000 population, 'excluding school playing fields except where available for
general use, woodlands and commons, ornamental gardens, full-length golf courses and
open spaces where the playing of games by the general public is either discouraged or not
permitted' (Patmore 1983:118). In the UK, such playing fields were under increased
pressure for housing development to the point that new guidelines were issued to prevent
schools and local authorities from selling such leisure assets for short-term development
gains.
Patmore (1983) outlined the range of urban recreational resources and facilities and
provides a detailed spatial analysis of their occurrence and level of provision within the
UK in terms of
• capital intensive facilities (those with modest land requirements but a high capital
cost—and those with a high capital cost where the land requirement is extensive)
• parks and open spaces
• golf courses.
S.Williams (1995) adds an interesting array of other contexts including:
• the home
• the street
• gardens and allotments
Table 5.1:
Hierarchical pattern of public open space
Type and main function
Approximate size
and distance from
home
Characteristics
Regional park
400 hectares
Large areas of natural heathland, common
woodland and parkland, primarily providing for
informal recreation with some non-intensive
active recreations. Car parking at strategic
locations.
Weekend and occasional
visits by car or public
transport
3.2-8 km
Metropolitan park
60 hectares
Natural heath, common, woods or formal parks
