PROGRESS IN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2016, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (6): 714-723.doi: 10.18306/dlkxjz.2016.06.005

• Special Column: Ecocivilization and Tourism • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Siting of urban recreational eco-space based on population characteristics: A case study of Changshu City, China

Kun SUN1,3(), Chengcai TANG2,*(), Linsheng ZHONG3   

  1. 1. Economics and Management College, Changshu Institute of Technology, Suzhou 215500, Jiangsu, China
    2. School of Tourism Management, Beijing International Studies University, Beijing 100024, China
    3. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
  • Online:2016-06-23 Published:2016-06-23
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41301161;Science and Technology Innovation Team Foundation of Beijing International Studies University;China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, No.2012M510529

Abstract:

Siting of recreational eco-space in a city plays an important role in the development of urban recreation, and is significance for creating a high quality living environment for the residents. In order to provide theoretical support for recreational eco-space siting in urban areas, this article, taking Changshu City, Jiangsu Province—a national pilot site of recreational city comprehensive evaluation standards—as the study case and the demographic characteristics of the city as the starting point, examined the distribution of different age group of the population in various urban functional areas, analyzed the time that can be used for recreation by the urban population and their willingness to engage in ecological recreation, and the recreation preference of different age groups for various recreational eco-space. We also calculated the demand index for recreational eco-space in different urban areas. Demographic characteristics, which significant differ in various urban areas, had great influence on urban recreational eco-space demand, wherein the impact of the scale of population flow was most significant. The population in different urban areas had varied requirements for different types of recreational eco-space. Affected by the size of the population, ecological recreation potential, and preference for different types of recreational eco-space, demand for recreational eco-space in commercial district was the highest, followed by residential district, office district, and industrial district. The population in each urban functional area had the greatest demand for grass area for recreation, followed by water and woodland. Population size, age groups, distribution, and demand for recreational eco-space should be used to guide the recreational eco-space siting practice in urban planning and constructing, and are useful information for improving the quality of life for urban residents.

Key words: urban recreation, population characteristics, recreational eco-space, siting, Changshu City