AN INVESTIGATION OF PARKS IN TERMS OF ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECREATION:THE CASE OF EFELER, AYDIN (TURKIYE)

Nowadays, human life is becoming better with recreational and leisure activities that play an essential role in peoples lifestyles. Urban areas with recreational facilities, such as green spaces, invite city residents to spend their leisure time in places where they can benefit from nature (Lawal et al., 2011). As elements of the urban landscape, parks have numerous functions, such as providing environmental benefits through active and passive recreation and being wildlife habitats (Solecki and Welch, 1995).Almost all of the parks under the responsibility of Aydın Metropolitan Municipality and T.R. Efeler Municipality have seating units (95.65% and 83.33%, respectively), and most have sports and fitness equipment (82.61% and 43.10%, respectively) and childrens playgrounds (56.52% and 61.49%, respectively). Whereas only one park under the responsibility of Aydın Metropolitan Municipality has a bicycle path and skateboard track, no parks under the responsibility of T.R. Efeler Municipality have a skateboard track and chess area. While there was no statistically significant difference between the neighborhoods in terms of the number of activities according to socio-economic status, a statistically significant difference was identified in terms of the number of activities between the parks under the responsibility of Aydın Metropolitan Municipality and T.R. Efeler Municipality.