Winter Activity Park : A feasibility study of the implementation in Södertälje municipality
Abstract: Today there is a growing issue of physical inactiveness, especially during the winter period, leading to various health issues. The new-found concept of a Winter Activity Park can be a possible solution for Swedish municipalities, as a means to increase spontaneous physical activity, and improve public health, during the winter season. The concept has originated from the need for increased spontaneous physical activity during winter and includes creating a physical activity facility with the usage of artificial snow. Södertälje is a municipality where a Winter Activity Park could act as a solution in order to increase spontaneous physical activity. The aim of the study is to assess the feasibility of a Winter Activity Park, using artificial snow, in Södertälje municipality. The study sets out to determine what is technically required in order to implement a Winter Activity Park, and by including two specific sites in Södertälje (Stadsparken and Tveta Friluftsgård), it can be assessed how well each site is meeting the requirements. Additionally, the study sets out to assess what possible environmental impacts the implementation may lead to at each site, as well as determining how artificial snow should be obtained to have the least contribution to climate change. The results show that there are several technical requirements that need to be fulfilled at a site in order to implement a Winter Activity Park. Neither of the chosen sites are currently meeting all the technical requirements for a Winter Activity Park, although it is considered possible for both sites to be able to fulfil them at a later stage. By conducting an EIA, it was concluded that Tveta Friluftsgård were likely to experience less negative environmental consequences from the implementation of a Winter Activity Park, compared to Stadsparken. By calculating the carbon footprint for the alternative ways of obtaining artificial snow, it was concluded that producing snow directly at a site, using a lake as a water source, would be the most favourable, in terms of least contribution to climate change. As a final conclusion, it was determined that a Winter Activity Park is feasible in Södertälje municipality, with Tveta Friluftsgård and production directly at the site seemingly being the best way to go. However, depending on what the purpose of the Winter Activity Park is, other sites and methods of obtaining snow can be more suitable. In order to create a more comprehensive view of the feasibility and sustainability of the concept of a Winter Activity Park, future studies should investigate social and economic aspects related to the concept.
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