Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• abbas maroofnezhad ¹
• ebrahim amiri ²
• vali kavoosighafi ³

¹ Ph.D., Department of Geography and urban planning, Mahshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mahshahr, Iran

² Assistant Professor Department of Humanities Education,Farhangian University of North Khorasan

³ Masters Geography and urban planning, Mahshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mahshahr, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Sport has always been an important part of the culture of any society that can have a significant impact on the individual and social levels. The increase in the population of cities and the change in the pattern of work and machine life has created one of the biggest problems. It has brought with itself the diseases of the present age, that is, inactivity and many problems such as physical, mental, educational, and so on problems. Therefore, proper status, rational distribution of sports spaces and the creation of sports places ensure the health of the community. The use of sports lands is one of the most important uses and is very important and it is very important to pay attention to it in urban space in urbanization processes with increasing demand of population for cities. Residential areas, land, commercial buildings, sports spaces and leisure times, roads and parking lots, and so on will replace vegetation, to the extent that today in terms of green space and open areas between urban networks and natural patterns, no vacant space is found. Undoubtedly, paying attention to sports and recreational spaces and urban services is the most important point. Sports spaces are places in which the fields of sports perform leisure times or participate in various competitions. 
Data and Method
The purpose of the present research is to analyze the status of sports places and uses in Izeh. The research method is applied in terms of type and descriptive-analytical in terms of method and library, questionnaire, interview and observation methods have been used to collect data. The statistical population of the research is elite experts in the field of urban and sports in this city. The sample size has been considered 27 people and through personal estimation method. For data analysis, Williamson’s model and SPSS software and one sample test were used.
Results and Discussion
Urban land use planning, spatial organizing of human activities and performances should be defined based on the demands and needs of urban society. Attention to sports and recreational spaces is considered as one of the most important service uses in the city. Sport has regained its role as a part of the city's recreational performance along with other service spaces. Sports can make people enthusiastic to spend their money by bringing people together for a variety of sports events, from making sports public to holding sports competitions. By exercising and attending sports events, people need the proper sports infrastructures, environment, places and facilities. Per capita sports facilities vary in various countries from European to American countries. Therefore, in this research, the status of sports places and uses in Izeh has been evaluated and analyzed. The proposed criteria for analysis and evaluation of sports places in Izeh were selected and determined in 14 indicators.
Conclusion
Sports spaces are considered as one of the most important uses at the city level, which have allocated a significant level to itself. According to conducted studies, out of 15 neighborhoods in Izeh, four neighborhoods do not have sports space and 11 neighborhoods have sports space of 67,653 square meters. Also, from the analysis of 14 selected components using Williamson’s model, it was specified that the average of Williamson’s index for Izeh is 0.21, which indicates the shortage and inappropriate distribution of sports space and use in this city. Also, based on the results of one-sample t-test, the status of the number of sports places (hall/indoor) with -2.819, the status of holding sports competitions at the neighborhood level with -2.787, the appropriate distribution of sports uses at the city level with -2.767, the status of sports equipment at the parks and gardens levels of the city with -2.760 had the most severe dissatisfaction among experts, respectively, while the components of the status of donors’ welcoming to build sports places at the city level with -1.01, the status of financial cooperation between government and semi-government departments with the sports sector of the city with -1.023, the status of sports activities in the dimension of health at government and semi-government departments level of the city with -1.03, had less intensity in dissatisfaction in this regard.

Keywords

• Evaluation
• Per capita
• Sports space
• Sports Land use
• Williamson Model
• Izeh City

Main Subjects

• Urban Planning