Assessment of Recreational Land Use in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

@article{1722698,
      author = {Menkiti Uchenna Victor},
      title = {Assessment of Recreational Land Use in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {10},
      number = {3},
      pages = {110-115},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1722698.pdf},
      abstract = {This study assessed sustainable recreational land use in Uyo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The aim was to assess the sustainability of recreational land use in the study area. The specific objectives were to examine the existing recreational land-use pattern, identify the challenges affecting sustainable recreational land use, and evaluate the socio-economic implications of recreational land use in Uyo. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. Primary data were obtained through structured questionnaires administered to 382 respondents, while secondary data were sourced from textbooks, journals, government publications, and relevant literature. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select respondents, and the data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages. The findings revealed that 50% of respondents used open spaces for recreation, 32.5% used school playgrounds, and 17.5% recreated at home. The major challenges affecting sustainable recreational land use were security concerns (37%), inconvenient location (29%), substandard recreational facilities (18%), and limited recreational space (16%). The study further showed that 39.3% of respondents reported that recreational facilities were maintained monthly, while 57.6% identified littering as the most common maintenance problem. In addition, 65.8% of respondents agreed that poor safety and security significantly reduce the patronage and effective use of recreational facilities. The study concluded that although Uyo possesses several recreational facilities, inadequate maintenance, poor security, insufficient infrastructure, and weak land-use management hinder the sustainable use of these spaces. It therefore recommended the provision of additional recreational facilities in underserved areas, regular maintenance of existing facilities, improved security measures, preservation of green and open spaces through integrated land-use planning, and the establishment of effective monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure sustainable management of recreational land use in Uyo.},
      keywords = {recreational land use; sustainability; urban planning; green spaces; recreation facilities; Uyo; land-use management.},
      month = {September},
  }