Primary school football in Victoria Park
APPA position statement
on sport and recreation
We advocate the following positions on a range of sports and recreation usage of the Park Lands:
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Major sports and recreation events should be limited, and those approved should meet strict guidelines with enforceable penalties for non-compliance. All major sports events should be assessed for their environmental impact. |
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Consolidation of organised sports grounds should occur to increase natural areas. |
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No fences should be erected around sports grounds, wherever possible. |
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Preference should be given for natural as against hard (asphalt or artificial) sports surfaces. |
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On-site car parking for sporting events should be minimised. |
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Areas for informal recreation and family activities should be encouraged in accordance with Park Lands Management Strategy criteria. (2) |
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Improved cycling and pedestrian access to the Park Lands should be created. |
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Reduction of total building area for sports facilities should be achieved by encouraging shared use. |
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There should be transparency of existing sports leases, particularly when being renewed. |
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Commercial sports permits and leases for private profit should be discouraged. |
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There should be a reduction over time of the number and extent of horse agistments in the Park Lands. |
Benefits of sport and recreation
As already indicated, the Adelaide Park Lands have always delivered recreation and sports benefits to the people of Adelaide and South Australia. 'The accommodation of many recreation activities from formal sport to walking, cycling, jogging and playing are highly valued and seen as contributing to a healthy lifestyle. Just being in the Park Lands to sit, think, picnic or wander was seen as "re-creative" of body, mind and spirit' (3). These benefits fall into four categories.
Environmental benefits
As Adelaide continues to grow, the range of sports and recreation uses in the Park Lands will throw increasing pressure for the provision of more dedicated recreation and sport areas. While much can be done to encourage the citizens of Adelaide and visitors to use the Park Lands, it is necessary to maintain a balance between environmental integrity and sport and recreation use.
Social and community benefits
The Adelaide Park Lands, through recreation and sport, can be a positive influence on developing healthy social and community attitudes such as cooperation, understanding, character building, team spirit, fair play and loyalty, which enhance strong community values. 'Recreation and sport is one of the best predictors of community satisfaction.'(4)
Personal and individual benefits
The Adelaide Park Lands, through sport and recreational activities, provide people of all ages with opportunities to participate in activities that contribute to the growth of body, mind and spirit.
A range of economic benefits can be derived from sport and recreational activities in the Adelaide Park Lands. These include the value added by developing and maintaining high quality participatory sports venues. But the most important economic benefit is related to reducing health costs through involvement of people of all ages in regular physical activities as a part of their sport and recreation. The cost of physical inactivity is conservatively costed at around $400 million each year Australia-wide. (5)
Conclusion
It is inevitable that, as the City of Adelaide and surrounding suburbs expand, there will be additional pressure on the Park Lands for a range of uses, including those for sport and recreation. Careful planning and management are required to bring the Adelaide Park Lands up to the standards of use and sustainability required for a major city.
(Bracketed numbers on this page relate to the Bibliography.) top |
