Advancing Park Climate Planning Through Scaled Inquiry on Regional and Park-Based Ecosystem Services and Place Attachment

Parks near urban areas provide important opportunities for locals to connect with nature and enjoy outdoor leisure. Climate change planning needs in these parks are pronounced, especially given the large local populations they serve. Ecosystem services, particularly cultural ecosystem services, can...

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Main Authors: Elizabeth E. Perry, Erin E. Budzyn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2230
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author Elizabeth E. Perry
Erin E. Budzyn
author_facet Elizabeth E. Perry
Erin E. Budzyn
author_sort Elizabeth E. Perry
collection DOAJ
description Parks near urban areas provide important opportunities for locals to connect with nature and enjoy outdoor leisure. Climate change planning needs in these parks are pronounced, especially given the large local populations they serve. Ecosystem services, particularly cultural ecosystem services, can frame people’s perceived benefits from these park systems and the larger region. Place attachment on park system and regional scales can differentiate the extent of perceived benefits by the strength of park and regional connection. Together, these can highlight priorities for climate action and communication. The Huron-Clinton Metroparks in densely populated southeast Michigan (US) exemplify an important urban-proximate park system grappling with climate change effects within the parks and across the region. We assisted the Metroparks in creating their Climate Action Plan, including surveying regional residents’ and Metroparks recreationists’ (n = 4069). Here, we examine associations between respondents’ prioritized ecosystem services and levels of place attachment to southeast Michigan and the Metroparks. Results show that on both geographic scales of the park system and region, the three most valued cultural ecosystem services were leisure time spent outdoors, appreciation of beauty, and physical/mental health benefits. However, place attachment level (ambivalent, moderate, or strong) on both scales surfaced ecosystem services prioritization differences and a potentially enhanced role of cultural ecosystem services related to relationships—cultural heritage, social capital, and spirituality—within the Metroparks and with the strong place attached. We discuss these patterns and their connections to the park system and regional climate action planning and communication.
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spelling doaj-art-ffd91c1d7c1c4c54a857a94f6dc28dd82024-12-27T14:35:32ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2024-12-011312223010.3390/land13122230Advancing Park Climate Planning Through Scaled Inquiry on Regional and Park-Based Ecosystem Services and Place AttachmentElizabeth E. Perry0Erin E. Budzyn1Department of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USADepartment of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USAParks near urban areas provide important opportunities for locals to connect with nature and enjoy outdoor leisure. Climate change planning needs in these parks are pronounced, especially given the large local populations they serve. Ecosystem services, particularly cultural ecosystem services, can frame people’s perceived benefits from these park systems and the larger region. Place attachment on park system and regional scales can differentiate the extent of perceived benefits by the strength of park and regional connection. Together, these can highlight priorities for climate action and communication. The Huron-Clinton Metroparks in densely populated southeast Michigan (US) exemplify an important urban-proximate park system grappling with climate change effects within the parks and across the region. We assisted the Metroparks in creating their Climate Action Plan, including surveying regional residents’ and Metroparks recreationists’ (n = 4069). Here, we examine associations between respondents’ prioritized ecosystem services and levels of place attachment to southeast Michigan and the Metroparks. Results show that on both geographic scales of the park system and region, the three most valued cultural ecosystem services were leisure time spent outdoors, appreciation of beauty, and physical/mental health benefits. However, place attachment level (ambivalent, moderate, or strong) on both scales surfaced ecosystem services prioritization differences and a potentially enhanced role of cultural ecosystem services related to relationships—cultural heritage, social capital, and spirituality—within the Metroparks and with the strong place attached. We discuss these patterns and their connections to the park system and regional climate action planning and communication.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2230climate actionclimate changecultural ecosystem servicesMetroparksMichiganoutdoor recreation
spellingShingle Elizabeth E. Perry
Erin E. Budzyn
Advancing Park Climate Planning Through Scaled Inquiry on Regional and Park-Based Ecosystem Services and Place Attachment
Land
climate action
climate change
cultural ecosystem services
Metroparks
Michigan
outdoor recreation
title Advancing Park Climate Planning Through Scaled Inquiry on Regional and Park-Based Ecosystem Services and Place Attachment
title_full Advancing Park Climate Planning Through Scaled Inquiry on Regional and Park-Based Ecosystem Services and Place Attachment
title_fullStr Advancing Park Climate Planning Through Scaled Inquiry on Regional and Park-Based Ecosystem Services and Place Attachment
title_full_unstemmed Advancing Park Climate Planning Through Scaled Inquiry on Regional and Park-Based Ecosystem Services and Place Attachment
title_short Advancing Park Climate Planning Through Scaled Inquiry on Regional and Park-Based Ecosystem Services and Place Attachment
title_sort advancing park climate planning through scaled inquiry on regional and park based ecosystem services and place attachment
topic climate action
climate change
cultural ecosystem services
Metroparks
Michigan
outdoor recreation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2230
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AT erinebudzyn advancingparkclimateplanningthroughscaledinquiryonregionalandparkbasedecosystemservicesandplaceattachment