INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE’S PERCEPTION OF LANDSCAPE IN THE DESIGN OF RECREATIONAL PARKS, MINNA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Perception of any given environment enables one to comprehend and react to stimuli brought about by the environment. As such, the way landscape in recreational parks is perceived evidently affects the satisfaction derived from the recreational experience. Studies have shown that in Minna, people face several problems as regards outdoor recreation of which include inadequate recreational facilities, apathy towards recreation, time constraint, lack of finances and health problems and it is recommended to research the problem from the people‟s point of view. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate people‟s perception of landscape in the design of a recreation park in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria to foster more frequent visits. The research method adopted by this study is the mixed research method whereby both qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed. The sampling method adopted by this study is the Laddering technique where by data was collected in an unstructured manner based on a Means-end theory. The probability sampling technique therefore used as the sample technique for this study. As such, the use of questionnaires and observation schedules were employed to collect primary data from respondents and data about the existing recreational park in Minna. Relevant literature was analysed to bring out key parameters and variables to be measured for the study. Thus, the parameters measured in this study included five perceptual categories (open smooth, open coarse, rivers, agrarian, and structures) which were used to obtain the preferences for landscape settings for recreational park visitors. Also, the six perceptual qualities of landscape features; form, texture, sound, colour, pattern and smell were analysed to examine what respondents considered adds beauty to recreational parks. Hence, the result gotten from the analysis were cross tabulated with various social group factors for further examining. Furthermore, perceptual qualities where categorized based on the two perception modes; the allocentric and autocentric perception modes. It was discovered that the most desired landscape settings were structures, open smooth landscapes and water bodies having the percentiles of 31%, 22%, and 20% respectively. It was also discovered that a statistical relationship exists between gender and the preference for Structures in recreational park design, as the P value of the Pearson‟s Chi-square test yielded 0.002. The P- value of the Pearson‟s Chi square test also revealed that, for the Idoma tribe, the perception of form as a landscape perceptual quality is dependent on gender, as the value yielded was 0.03. Thus, it is recommended that recreational park managers and landscape architects should take into account not only the spacial qualities of landscape settings but also perceptual qualities so as to optimize user experience satisfaction in recreational parks design.