Exploring factors influencing recreational participation at Templer Park , Selangor / Nawfal Kamarul Bahrain and Nurul Akmaniza Mohd Nasir

Recreational activities are receiving much attention especially among urban communities. It is known
that open green space is always capable of providing recreational opportunities to the local community. Templer
Park, located between Rawang and Selayang, is seen as a strategic location to attract nearby communities from
heavily populated areas to perform their recreational activities. However, the function of the park may be in doubt
if the park has not successfully fulfilled the recreational needs and demands among local residents. Since more
and more people are living in cities, Templer Park’s function as one of the most important green spaces in the
state of Selangor must be understood because people’s interest for recreation activities is increasing too. Therefore,
this study investigated the factors influencing participation in recreational activities at Templer Park. A total of
200 respondents were involved in this study by answering survey questionnaires regarding the factors that might
contribute to their decision to choose Templer Park as a place for them to carry out recreational activities. Based
on the data collected, this study found that the two main factors which put off respondents living nearby from
coming to the park include being too busy with other chores and they thought that there was nothing interesting
about the park that could attract them to go there. The findings showed that Templer Park is lacking in terms of
being an attractive place to be visited by the residents living nearby to it; thus, there is a need of further action
from the local authority to enhance the role of the park such as upgrading the signboards, updating the park
information and keeping public provisions such as toilets and connecting roads in good condition in order to
improve the perception of local residents toward the park.