Patterns of using places for recreation and relaxation in peri-urban areas: The case of Lake Podpec, Slovenia

Abstract

The paper addresses the issues of place capacity for occupancy for rest and recreation in the context of peri-urban landscapes of high natural or cultural values. It sets these issues in the frame of bottom-up approaches, considering qualitative-, small- and slow-data-oriented methods and techniques, using observation & behaviour mapping. It focuses on designing the concept of a natural site’s carrying capacity and evaluating an area’s carrying capacity for specific use. It proceeds from a study conducted by Golicnik Marušic (2015), which showed the prudence of addressing the development and planning of green infrastructure from the perspective of user needs and habits. By including the concept of an area’s carrying capacity, it also incorporates the conservation aspect. Based on data obtained through observation and mapping, the article comments on current use and users in terms of their age, use of a place, frequency of activities, and type of activities in the case of Lake Podpec, a popular recreational site at the fringe of Ljubljana marsh, Slovenia.