| Abstract: | The activities of water-accessibility can release the crowded city spaces, increase the function of environmental quality, and support more leisure and recreational places. Sea surrounds, rivers and streams are flowing on Taiwan. They can provide many tourism resources. The objectives of this research were to study the definition of water-accessible environments, the perceived preference to play around the water-accessible sites, the perceived experience of water-accessible recreation, and the satisfaction of the water-accessible leisure and recreation. Four hundred and thirty-five people were selected in this cross-sectional, descriptive study by using a structured questionnaire. There were 400 valid questionnaires collected to analyze as the results, the valid corresponding rate was 88%. The surveys were conducted during the period of March to April 2007. The results of this study were the followings:
1.The most perceived definition of water-accessible environments was rivers, streams or water-accessible parks.
2.The perceived preferences to play around the water-accessible sites:
(1)All of the surveyed people had ever gone to play around the water-accessible sites, 91.7% of the surveyed samples liked to play around the water-accessible places.
(2)The reasons for that the surveyed people did not like to play around the water-accessible places was dangerous.
3.The perceived experience of water-accessible recreation:
(1) The perceived preferences to play around the water-accessible sites were sea shores, riversides or the sides of streams.
(2) The frequency of the perceived preferences to play around the water-accessible sites was once a year.
(3) The activities of the perceived preferences to play around the water-accessible sites were swimming, staying on the water and jogging.
(4) The facilities of the perceived preferences to play around the water-accessible sites were not too many.
(5) The numbers of the places for the perceived preferences to play around the water-accessible sites were rare.
(6)Most of the surveyed people did not agree to cover the surfaces of the rivers or streams of Taiwan.
(7) Around half of the surveyed ones agree to deconstruct the covers of the rivers or streams of Taiwan.
4. To relax, to decrease pressure, and to recover energy were the top three perceived experience of water-accessible recreation.
5. The satisfaction of the water-accessible leisure and recreation:
(1)The different surveyed people? ages significantly correlated to the planning of the water-accessible environments, the planning and the maintenance of the water-accessible leisure and recreational facilities.
(2)The different surveyed people? occupations significantly correlated to the planning of the planning and the maintenance of the water-accessible leisure and recreational facilities.
(3)The different surveyed people? educations significantly correlated to the planning of the planning of the water-accessible environments.
According to the results of this study, lots of water-accessible spaces are required by the surveyed people. We should avoid covering the surfaces of the rivers or streams of Taiwan, to destroying the ecology of surface water, and to depriving the people?s water-accessible rights. Therefore, the authorized Governments are suggested to adopted people?s opinions to improve the water-accessible environments. Especially for the water base, to improve the planning and the maintenance of safe facilities, and to encourage people to learn swimming and water rescue technology. The results of this study are expected to give the references for the authorized Governments to increase the quality of the water-accessible environments. |
