<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Allotment gardens are multifunctional elements of urban space, which have been shaped by various strands of development, among which a significant role is played by health purposes and recreational use. Different aspects and problems of the recreational use of allotments in the industrial area of the Katowice conurbation in Silesia, southern Poland are the scope for this analysis, and are considered against the background of their historical development. Allotment gardens are important components of an urban recreation system, and a primary base for recreation by the owners of these allotments. Time spent in gardens is filled with physical activities associated with taking care of them and also for passive recreation. An advantage is the possibility to spend leisure time, especially by hard working people or those with limited possibilities to access other forms of recreation. An advantage is the possibility to spend leisure time, especially by hard working people or those with limited possibilities to access other forms of recreation. The date of commencement of work and the number of people spending leisure time on the plots are dependent on weather conditions and being at the disposal of free time. Therefore, recreation is characterized by seasonality, and reveals significant differences in the number of allotment users each day. Socio-economic changes in the last few years have resulted in significant changes in the methods of utilising these gardens and the type of recreational use of individual allotments.</p></abstract>

Allotment gardens are multifunctional elements of urban space, which have been shaped by various strands of development, among which a significant role is played by health purposes and recreational use. Different aspects and problems of the recreational use of allotments in the industrial area of the Katowice conurbation in Silesia, southern Poland are the scope for this analysis, and are considered against the background of their historical development. Allotment gardens are important components of an urban recreation system, and a primary base for recreation by the owners of these allotments. Time spent in gardens is filled with physical activities associated with taking care of them and also for passive recreation. An advantage is the possibility to spend leisure time, especially by hard working people or those with limited possibilities to access other forms of recreation. An advantage is the possibility to spend leisure time, especially by hard working people or those with limited possibilities to access other forms of recreation. The date of commencement of work and the number of people spending leisure time on the plots are dependent on weather conditions and being at the disposal of free time. Therefore, recreation is characterized by seasonality, and reveals significant differences in the number of allotment users each day. Socio-economic changes in the last few years have resulted in significant changes in the methods of utilising these gardens and the type of recreational use of individual allotments.

Recreational use and health functions of allotments gardens in the Katowice conurbation, Poland

Department of Economic Geography, Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia, Będzińska Str. 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland

Environmental & Socio-economic Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Allotment gardens are multifunctional elements of urban space, which have been shaped by various strands of development, among which a significant role is...

Recreational use and health functions of allotments gardens in the Katowice conurbation, Poland

Published Online: Jun 27, 2015

Page range: 16 - 25

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/environ-2015-0034

Keywords
allotments, city, forms of recreation, active leisure time, use of allotment gardens

© University of Silesia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Recreational use and health functions of allotments gardens in the Katowice conurbation, Poland

Published Online: Jun 27, 2015

Page range: 16 - 25

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/environ-2015-0034

Keywordsallotments, city, forms of recreation, active leisure time, use of allotment gardens

© University of Silesia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
allotments, city, forms of recreation, active leisure time, use of allotment gardens