Public Awareness of the Relation between Nature-friendly Watercourse Modifications and Recreation in Cities

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present the results of a method of public preferences – a questionnaire survey finding an awareness of the relation between the modifications of watercourses and recreation in urban environment. The aquatic ecosystem and the water itself in a landscape are regarded by citizens as a mere source of energy, food, and water used for industry or as a means of transport. However, water elements along with the flora and fauna belonging to this living ecosystem provide a plethora of opportunities for a development of e.g. recreation, tourism, even an entire region. The questionnaire method used has been applied in selected cities in the Czech Republic, e.g. in Frýdek‑Místek, Olomouc, Vlašim, Benátky nad Jizerou and others. The criterion for selecting the cities has mostly been the construction of nature-friendly modifications to watercourse while seeking to increase the recreational potential of the area. The outcome of this article is to present the original results of the public survey which have subsequently served for a further processing of drafts and measures for recreational potential in the selected locations. The most important finding of this research was the minimum level of selected site citizens’ awareness of revitalization and flood modifications, projects that were realized on watercourses in the cities.

Keywords

• rivers in the cities
• recreational use
• survey