A recreational purpose assessment in sustainable coastal planning and management: example of province Maltepe-Kartal coast band

The aim of the study is to determine the recreational satisfaction levels of Maltepe - Kartal coastline users, which is one of the important coastal recreation areas of the city of Istanbul, to evaluate their recreational opportunities, to develop suggestions for increasing the positive characteristics, to contribute to the solution process of existing problems with a professional perspective in landscape planning and design scales. In this context, first of all, natural and cultural data related to the area were collected, and the recreational perceptions and satisfaction levels of the users were measured by applying a questionnaire to 423 users who visited the coastal strip. The recreational opportunities of the study area were evaluated with an expert point of view with the observation forms applied in the field. It has been evaluated in terms of 9 criteria at 21 important nodes of the field (intensive use, intersection of important transportation lines, recreational facilities) for expert evaluation. They are; land form, plant diversity, proximity to water, activity diversity, wide-angle view, close environment observations, rarity, cultural changes and color material characteristics. In line with the field observations and the applied questionnaires, it is observed that the study area is faced with the pressure of intensive use and construction. It has been determined that there is intensive use especially at the weekend, daytime and afternoon is frequently preferred as the usage time. In areas where the carrying capacity is exceeded and intensely crowded; the use of picnic purposes, the inadequacy of the equipment (garbage can, toilet, bench, etc.) and parking areas are seen as administrative problems. Especially in cities such as Istanbul where the amount of urban open and green areas per person is low, the existence and sustainability of the use of coastal strips that offer recreation based on the presence of water and green areas has gained importance. Suggestions for recreational planning and landscape design can be listed as follows; Finding uses for the tastes and needs of all urban individuals, not exceeding the physical carrying capacity, increasing the designs for disabled individuals, eliminating the concerns about the safety of life and property, taking measures regarding traffic-related noise and pollution. It is thought that the suggestions developed as a result of the evaluations can guide local administrations, planners and designers for the study area and similar areas.