SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND PATRONAGE OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, NIGERIA

The paper examined the spatial distribution and patronage pattern of recreational facilities in the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). The study used primary data, which were obtained through a structured questionnaire administered randomly to the selected academic and non - teaching staff of UNILORIN. Geo-spatial data on the locations of the recreational facilities were collected and analyzed with the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Nearest Neighbour Analysis respectively. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Analysis was employed to examine the relationship between residence and patronage of recreational facilities at 5% level of significance. With an Rn value of 1.47 (p=0.000378), the distribution of recreational facilities in UNILORIN was dispersed. The paper also observed that, there was no significant relationship between staff place of residence and their patronage of recreational facilities (r = 0.05, p value = 0.474). The study established that health benefits and pleasure with Enhancing Factor Index of 2.58 and 2.46 respectively, were the major enhancing factors of recreational facilities patronage. The paper concluded that locations of recreational facilities are far from each other and by implication the distribution is nor regular. The paper therefore recommended that future recreational facilities should be evenly distributed so as to foster more patronage by staff members of University of Ilorin.