Methods for mapping recreational and social values in urban green spaces in the nordic countries and their comparative merits for urban planning

One of the challenges faced by urban planning is to identify and evaluate recreational and social values of urban and peri-urban green spaces. Over the past 30 years a number of methods for mapping recreational and social values have been developed and implemented in the Nordic countries, in dialogue between research and urban planning practice. This paper provides a framework for assessment of planning methods and an analysis of the comparative merits of seven Nordic mapping methods and how they address the challenges of identification and evaluation of recreational and social values. The assessment shows that challenges are addressed in complementary ways and are tailored to different planning purposes. There is also scope for further improvements of the link between research and planning.Management implicationsThis paper provides a framework to compare and evaluate different tools for outdoor recreation planning in urban environments. Planners and managers may use this comparison to select a suitable approach for defining and mapping recreational and social values of urban and peri-urban green spaces. The paper distinguishes between three main methodological approaches: methods based on concepts rooted in perception of design, methods based on mapping experiences and methods focussing on social values.