DESIGN FACTORS OF PARK FACILITIES FOR MUSLIM FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN EXTREME SPORTS

Abstract

Extreme sports, such as water sports, airborne sports, and mountain sports, become the sensational alternative among youth as they involve in various indoor and outdoor sports’ activities. It enhances the individual's endurance, physical fitness, and helps to control and eliminate stress, thus promote healthy lifestyle. Extreme sport activity is one of the greatest challenges for people who prefer it rather than the organised sports. The number of participation in Malaysia is less from women, especially the Muslim women. A pilot survey indicates that discomfort on existing extreme sport facilities is the main reason of less participation among women. This research aims to identify the design factors that contribute towards lack of participation and dissatisfaction among Muslim women on the existing facilities of extreme parks. Thus, the best design and spatial planning of the facilities that meet women’s need and comfort as a space to practice and participate in extreme sports can be discovered. The methodologies applied are as follows: survey on user’s satisfaction, observation
on physical factors and physical planning (access audit), interview with the management officers, and case studies on women sport complex design that apply Sharia-compliant features. A total of 80 survey respondents were randomly drawn from a cluster sample of Muslim women in Klang Valley area to record their perceptions, satisfaction and preferences. Observation and interview were conducted at four (4) selected extreme parks in Klang Valley, which are Enerz Indoor Extreme Park, Putrajaya Challenge Park, District 21 and Shah Alam Extreme Park. The result obtained from the research will contribute to the ideal guidelines, design and spatial planning of extreme park that give freedom, comfort and satisfaction to individuals, especially to the Muslim women in practicing and participating in extreme sports activities. The guidelines will also be an educational references for the future.