Abstract:
Recreation is one of those qualities of a city that make lives of city dwellers happier,
satisfactory and fruitful. The increased density of population in our cities caused the
elimination of much open space while at the same time it created an ever-growing need
for recreational facilities. Most of the areas of our cities have grown naturally. These
cities developed with a very limited scope for recreation. This is true for Khulna also.
With the growth of population in the Khulna Metropolis, the importance of recreational
spaces and facilities is becoming more prominent. There is an increasing demand for
recreation in the city, whereas the neighborhoods are being built with very limited
scope for recreation for prospective residents. Urban planners emphasize the need to
provide recreational facilities in residential neighbourhoods because they contribute to
the mental and physical well being of residents.
It has been noted that, there is serious lack of outdoor recreational facilities in Khulna
City. The people due to various reasons do not properly use whatever facilities exist in
the city. For this instance, people mainly enjoy home-based recreation. Home-based
recreation is largely affected by the availability of home-based recreational facilities
and financial affordability. Again, home-based recreational facilities are mainly
available to higher income people, where the lower income group avail very little and
cheaper facilities. The results of the study present a thorough understanding of the
neighbourhoods recreational activities, facilities, problems and behavior of the people
concerned. This study tried to establish there are direct and indirect linkages of physical
and mental well being of residents with that of recreational facilities available in their
neighbourhoods and also these out-side it. In this regard, surveys, interviews, etc.
investigated the level and quality of recreational facilities available and the effect these
facilitieshave on the local residents.
