K2.12 Access to recreational areas

Share of people who have access to (children's) playgrounds and recreation areas

Our living space consists of the natural and built environment, the inhabitants and visitors of the settlements and the interweaving of activities that we carry out in the local environment. The constant interaction between residents and the environment shapes the quality of life. A functional, orderly and healthy local environment is essential for quality life, as it enables various groups of residents to function daily, use services, work, recreation, hobbies, rest and privacy. Research shows that the local environment plays a key role in people's physical, mental and social well-being. Poor environmental quality contributes to the increase of chronic non-communicable diseases (obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, diseases of the nervous system, mental and reproductive disorders and allergies). In recent years, it has been increasingly recognized that, in addition to physical and ecological, social characteristics of the environment also contribute to good health and well-being; infrastructural arrangement, acceptance or connectivity, safety and the possibility of residents participating in decision-making and taking action to improve their home environment. Monitoring this indicator is very important for the municipality, because from the point of view of population health, a community that is safe, attractive, affordable, environmentally and economically sustainable, socially connected, has good access to public areas and services, provides employment and education is supportive. it has an organized public transport system and walking and cycling infrastructure. By creating opportunities for attractive and safe physical activity in free time, the local community can significantly contribute to improving the physical and psychological well-being of its residents.

The indicator "Access to recreation areas" shows the proportion of people aged 18-74 who answered in the survey that they can easily access children's playgrounds and outdoor recreation areas in the environment where they live.

Percent (%).

The indicator "Access to recreation areas" shows the ratio between the number of persons who, in the "Health-related behavioral style" survey, answered the question "Can you access (children's) playgrounds and recreation areas in the place where you live?" YES, and the number of all persons who answered the questionnaire, multiplied by 100.

Access to recreational areas

$=\frac{The number of persons who can access the recreation areas}{The number of all persons who answered the questionnaire}x100$

The indicator for the municipality is calculated on the basis of a model that takes into account the prevalence of accessibility to recreational areas (including YES answers) at the level of the administrative unit and demographic data of the municipality.

Health-Related Behavioral Style Survey (CINDI), National Institute of Public Health.

Data is collected periodically. The last survey was conducted in 2020.

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4. Giles-Corti B, Badland H, Mavoa S, Turrell G, Bull F, Boruff B, Pettit C, World Health Organisation. Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region. WHO Regional Office for Europe. 2018 https://www.euro.who.int/en/publications/abstracts/environmental-noise-guidelinesfor-the-european-region-2018

The survey includes people aged 18-74. The survey does not cover the population residing in the institution at the time of the survey. The answers are based on a subjective assessment of the living environment.