By the water: Recreation, sports, and nature destinations along Helsinki's waterfronts

Transcription

1 By the water: Recreation, sports, and nature destinations along Helsinki's waterfronts Taylor Tyger Fulbright Forum 2015: Education, Innovation, Science and Art University of Jyväskylä Research partners: Tiina Laatikainen and Marketta Kyttä (Aalto University)

2 Helsingin sielu Meri/rannat/saaristo ovat Tärkein viihtyvyystekijä Helsingissä Ehkä tärkein asia kotikaupungissani Helsingin sydän Helsingin seudun keskeinen resurssi ja voimavara! Meri näkyy, laittaa meidät stadilaiset kartalle, aavan meren tälle puolen Koko Helsingin sielu Helsinki on Itämeren tytär Onneksi löytyy paljon vesialueita täältä Stadista. En voisi kuvitellakaan asuvani landella, jossa ei ole merta. The sea is actually the best thing about Helsinki. When I start thinking why on earth I'm still here and counting all pluses and minuses, the sea and Nordic skating come first on the positive side.

3 ENJUSTESS Environmental justice and ecosystem services: Access, equity and participation in the use and management of aquatic environments in the Helsinki region Joint project between Finnish Environment Institute (where I am currently working on a new project), University of Helsinki, Aalto University, and University of Eastern Finland Project objective is to identify cultural ecosystem services of urban aquatic environments- blue infrastructure Main questions: Where are valuable aquatic environments in Helsinki? How do people use these environments? How are these environments managed?

4 As a guest researcher at Aalto University: Used spatial data and survey results to identify valuable blue infrastructure that provides cultural ecosystem services to residents Blue infrastructure = water environments such as rivers, ocean, and lakes Cultural ecosystem services = nonmaterial benefits that nature provides for people through recreation, education, cultural heritage, spirituality Spatial data = information about the geographic location of places on Earth Public participation data = information gathered directly from residents or other stakeholders about their insight on a particular topic (in my case, through surveys using spatial data)

5 Why? Local knowledge from residents for planning and management purposes Reduce potential conflicts between residents and planners Understand most popular activities and most important values Understand who uses these places and how they access them Identify future wishes Apply non-monetary values to benefits/services Identify potentially conflicting uses

6 Value of softgis A type of PPGIS- Public Participation Geographic Information System Combines an interactive, online map with traditional questionnaire Brings mapping and spatial analysis to a local level Online participation allows for more people to participate at a lower cost Can guide respondents with lists and allow for free open-ended answers Requires respondents to answer correctly before moving on Data visualization Water.softgis.fi

7 Results 2,121 survey respondents Qualitative data and more than 27,000 mapped points 124 clusters identified (where 5 or more points were near each other)

8 Sports activities Type of activity Frequency of visits Mode of transportation Nature activities Recreation activities Several times a week Several times a month Less than monthly On foot Bike Public transit 32.4% 13.7% 53.8% 13.0% 38.3% 48.7% 37.0% 20.1% 19.9% 21.5% 1.5% Sports activities Car Other Swimming Diving Jogging Canoeing Sailing Motor boating Jet skiing Winter swimming Snow mobile Skating Cross country skiing 8.2%.2% 22.2% 1.5%.9%.5%.1%.9%.0%.8% 5.0% Nature activities Hiking Bird watching Other nature observation Fishing Hunting Nature area work Sauna by the water 5.9% 3.4% 8.5% 1.4%.1%.2% Relaxing near water (sunbathing, sitting, etc.) Picnics Recreation activities Visiting shop or restaurant (cafe, coffee shop, etc.) Spending time with family and friends Taking kids to swim Taking dog to swim Walks by the water 1.2% 25.6% 13.5% 20.8% 27.5% 6.8% 2.8% 32.6%

9 Waterfront classifications Beach Rocky area Urban vs. rural Urban Semi urban Rural Remote Type of waterfront Marsh and vegetation Open space or park Trail Square/plaza or urban public space Type of water feature Harbor Seashore Inland water (sea) River Lake Marsh Amenities Restaurant, Recreation areas/sports Seating Showers Bathrooms bars or cafes fields/docks/barbeque Shops Many nearby places/very urban

10 Toolonlahti (201 points) Home locations of visitors Urban vs. rural Type of waterfront Type of water feature Urban Semi urban Rural Remote Beach Rocky area Marsh and vegetation Open space or park Trail Square/plaza/ urban public space Harbor Seashore Inland water (sea) River Lake Seating Showers Bathrooms Restaurants, bars or cafes Recreation areas, Amenities sports fields, docks, barbeque, etc. Shops Many nearby destinations/very urban Recreation activities 49 % #1 Recreation activity Walks by the water #1 Recreation activity % 37 % #2 Recreation activity Visiting shop or restaurant #2 Recreation activity % 21 % Sports activities 47 % #1 Sport activity Jogging #1 Sport activity % 46 % #2 Sport activity Skating, cross-country skiing #2 Sport activity % 1 % Nature activities 4 % #1 Nature activity Other nature observation #1 Nature activity % 4 % #2 Nature activity Hiking, birdwatching #2 Nature activity % 0 % 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Travel mode On foot Bike Public transit Car Other

11 Vartiosaari (18 points) Home locations of visitors I have no property on Vartiosaari but I find it truly disgraceful that even the Green Party is willing to sacrifice Vartiosaari for more housing. This island is one of the few unspoilt islands of Helsinki and should not be developed. I find the thought of 7000 more inhabitants on this island as unjustified and protest any development on this beautiful island. Urban vs. rural Urban Semi urban Rural Remote Beach Rocky area Marsh and vegetation Type of Open space or waterfront park Trail Square/plaza/ urban public space Harbor Type of Seashore water Inland water (sea) feature River Lake Seating Showers Bathrooms Restaurants, bars or cafes Recreation areas, Amenities sports fields, docks, barbeque, etc. Shops Many nearby destinations/very urban Nature activities 44 % #1 Nature activity Other nature observation #1 Nature activity % 39 % #2 Nature activity Hiking #2 Nature activity % 33 % Recreation activities 44 % #1 Recreation activity Spending time with family and friends #1 Recreation activity % 39 % #2 Recreation activity Relaxing near water, walks by the water #2 Recreation activity % 22 % Sports activities 11 % #1 Sport activity Jogging, cross-country skiing #1 Sport activity % 6 % #2 Sport activity #2 Sport activity % 60% 40% 20% 0% Travel mode On foot Bike Public transit Car Other

12 Future wishes: Locations to be protected Locations to be protected Number of points marked

13 Future wishes: Areas of conflict (places marked for both housing and protection)

14