What makes leisure life in the city so attractive even today

City parks and recreational areas, pedestrian zones and shopping arcades, cafes and restaurants are among the most popular leisure activities in Germany. Traditional cultural institutions such as opera, theater, and concert halls, on the other hand, contribute less to the leisure appeal of a place to live. This is the finding of a new representative survey conducted by the BAT Leisure Research Institute, in which 2,000 people aged 14 and over were asked to evaluate 44 leisure facilities and venues in their residential and urban environment.

Outdoors, in the open air, between contact and consumption

Green spaces and city parks achieved the highest level of attractiveness with 85 percent approval, followed by local recreation areas (80 percent), pedestrian zones (79 percent), shopping centers and arcades (76 percent), as well as restaurants (76 percent) and cafes (75 percent). Leisure areas in green spaces, outdoors, and in the fresh air were favored, as were social meeting places while shopping or dining. "What fascinates people so much about these leisure places," says Prof. Dr. Horst W. Opaschowski, the scientific director of the BAT Institute, "is the feeling of greater freedom, of informality and non-committal behavior: no one wants anything, no one has to do anything." People enjoy the casual contacts, the relaxed conversation, and the conviviality. Relaxation and experiences, contact and consumption are the four cornerstones of an urban lifestyle in leisure time.

Nature and urban green spaces are always an integral part of life. This also explains the great appeal of zoos and amusement parks, cycle paths, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, playgrounds, and public sports facilities. It is striking that, for example, zoos are more important to retirees than to families with children, cycle paths are particularly valued by the health-conscious middle generation of 35- to 54-year-olds, and young people especially appreciate outdoor swimming pools and public sports facilities.

Are cultural institutions more for city visitors than for city residents?

In the leisure activities of the population, local cultural institutions such as theaters (53), concert halls (44), and opera houses (38) hold only moderate importance. Churches (57), funfairs (65), cinemas (58), flea markets (59), and city and street festivals (68) are valued considerably more highly. The low standing of traditional cultural institutions among the population should give local politicians pause for thought, especially as they are increasingly losing young patrons. Almost half of all retirees are enthusiastic about opera, but only one in six young people aged 14 to 17. Even those aged 20 to 29 do not find opera particularly appealing (29). This is certainly more a question of pricing than programming. Because libraries, adult education centers and museums are still highly valued by young people.

„"Sport is best enjoyed in a club"“

In the subjective assessment of the population, the advertising slogan "Sport is best in a club" clearly holds true. Almost two-thirds of the population (62%) appreciate the recreational value of sports clubs. Fitness studios (46%) and commercial sports centers (44%) receive significantly lower ratings. Respondents with a higher level of education (Abitur) in particular find commercial fitness and sports centers less appealing (35%).

The commercialization of leisure activities is met with overwhelming public disapproval in some establishments. Video stores, casinos, arcades, and sex shops rank at the bottom of the popularity scale. Two-thirds of Germans are not enthusiastic about video stores. And 79 percent find casinos less appealing, while 83 percent consider arcades less attractive. Surprisingly, respondents make little distinction between casinos and arcades. This result appears to be more a matter of moral judgment than a question of external factors such as facilities, atmosphere, lighting, or luxury.

New demands on municipal leisure policy

Improving the infrastructure for citizens' leisure activities in a sustainable way must become a key task for state and local politics in the coming years. The changing leisure habits of German citizens necessitate a cross-departmental leisure policy that coordinates green space and swimming pool planning, as well as sports and cultural policy. A future-oriented leisure policy must not lose sight of economic interests, but it must also advocate more strongly than before for non-commercial leisure opportunities for citizens. A needs-based leisure policy is simultaneously an effective investment policy for the leisure activities of tomorrow.