Connecting physical and social dimensions of place attachment: What can we learn from attachment to urban recreational spaces?

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the ways in which people form attachments to recreational spaces. More specifically it examines the relationship between recreational spaces associated with sporting activity in urban neighbourhoods and place attachment. The focus is on the ways in which changes to these spaces exposes the affective bonds between people and their surroundings. The paper applies a qualitative methodology, namely focus groups and photo elicitation, to the case study of Parkhead, a neighbourhood in the East End of Glasgow. Parkhead has historically been subjected to successive waves of redevelopment as a result of deindustrialization in the late twentieth century. More recently redevelopment associated with the 2014 Commonwealth Games involved further changes to neighbourhood recreational spaces, including refurbishing of existing sports facilities and building new ones. This paper reflects on the cumulative impacts of this redevelopment to conclude (a) that recreational sports spaces provoke multi-layered and complex attachments that are inextricably connected to both temporal and spatial narratives and (b) that research on neighbourhood recreational spaces can develop our understanding of the intricate relationship between the social and physical dimensions of place attachment.

Valuing Urban Heritage Through Participatory Heritage Websites: Citizen Perceptions of Historic Urban Landscapes

“…Of course, these attributes are strongly connected to the first category of the built environment, as culture always takes place in specific buildings or public spaces. The presence of culture and leisure on the websites underscores the finding from earlier research that former recreational spaces can be part of the collective memory of a neighborhood (Madgin, Bradley, & Hastings, 2016; Rivero, 2017). It has been observed in those studies that the disappearance of such spaces often evokes a sense of loss.…”

Examining the relationship between place attachment and behavioral loyalty in an urban park setting

“…A few studies have examined attachment through data collection at multiple parks (Lee & Shen, 2013;López-Mosquera & Sánchez, 2013). More recently, Madgin et al (2016) examined attachments to recreational sports spaces and activities in urban areas. They concluded that those spaces "provoke multi-layered and complex attachments that are inextricably connected to both temporal and spatial narratives and (b) that research on neighborhood recreational spaces can develop understanding of the intricate relationship between the social and physical dimensions of place attachment" (p. 677).…”

“…As suggested, fostering attachment between residents and urban parks can help to successfully manage and develop parks. Yet, there is little understanding as to the formation of attachments to recreational spaces within urban areas (Madgin, Bradley, & Hastings, 2016). This study examines how attachment to parks and park user loyalty are related.…”

Beyond traveling and working: Place attachment of the Chinese local working tourists

“…Although the emotions to a place are identified as not just positive aspects but also negative ones like fear and hatred (e.g. Madgin et al, 2016), most of the working tourists in this research have positive emotions to the destinations where they have working holidays.…”