Determine the Carrying Capacity of the Tourism and Recreational Range of Natural Areas along the Urban and Sustainable Urban Planning. (Case Study: Mashhad Metropolis)

Aims & Backgrounds: Today, the concept of capacity utilizing the maximum number of users who use a natural or recreational area at a given time without changing disturbance in the environment is widely used in urban management and planning. The purpose of this study is to determine the recreational range and tourism capacity in the Mashhad area. To this end, three types of physical, real, and effective physical capacity have been attempted to provide planners and designers with a sufficiently reliable basis for decision making and planning for sustainable development. Methodology: The research is of a practical nature and data is collected through library and field studies. Initially, 7475 hectares of the area were selected as useful and usable areas for users through the registration of ground points and the preparation of a land use map using the GIS tool. In the next step, through computational formulas, three types of physical, actual and effective physical capacity were estimated. In the meantime, the required parameters were extracted and calculated by reviewing the records, obtaining the users' votes and theoretical research foundations. The researcher-made questionnaire (Likert spectrum) was also provided to users with a record (384 people) in order to score the site management capability parameters.  Findings: Five limiting factors and ten subsample parameters were used as coefficients in calculating the actual runway capacity of the study site. Meanwhile, the highest points belonged to grocery stores (4.8) and the lowest points belonged to the regional relief system (1.2). Finally, the physical, actual, and effective site of the study site was estimated to be 89700000, 1829880, and 969836, respectively. Conclusion: In general, the area accepts a significant number of users for recreational and sports activities. On the other hand, the area has pristine spaces suitable for the design and deployment of sports and leisure facilities. However, environmental and safety priorities must also be taken into account.