Recreation Management Research Articles

Reimagining U.S. Federal Land Management through Decolonization and Indigenous Value Systems

U.S. Federal Land Management Areas (FLMAs) are grounded in settler colonialism, including Indigenous land dispossessions and violations of Tribal treaties. This critical thought-piece is written by Indigenous scholars to reimagine FLMAs (especially recreation areas) through decolonization and the Indigenous value systems embedded within the “four Rs”: relationship, responsibility, reciprocity, and redistribution. We reweave conceptions about parks and protected areas, reimagine park management, and reconfigure management foci to reflect Indigenous value systems shared by Indigenous peoples. We emphasize a need for Tribal comanagement of FLMAs, the inclusion of Tribal land management practices across ecosystems, and the restoration of Indigenous land use and management rights. Land and recreation managers can use this paper to 1) decolonize park management practices, 2) understand how Indigenous value systems can inform park management foci, and 3) build a decolonized and reciprocal relationship with Tribes and their ancestral landscapes.

A Review of Trends and Knowledge Gaps in Latinx Outdoor Recreation on Federal and State Public Lands

The Latinx population in the United States, estimated to compose 28% of the country’s population by 2050, has a long history of public land use. Yet while research on Latinx outdoor recreation in urban green spaces has increased over the past 20 years, research on Latinx outdoor recreation on federal and state public lands has waned. This study synthesizes the literature on public land use and outdoor recreation on federal and state public lands by the Latinx population in the United States to assess the state of knowledge and to strategically identify research needs in Latinx public land use and outdoor recreation. Our analysis reveals that while institutional barriers such as policies, practices, and procedures that favor some ethnic groups over others continue to exist, barriers to access, such as distance to sites, available free time, and knowledge about how to use public lands may be shifting, offering clues that may help guide informed approaches to outdoor recreation management.

Bold Moves for Visitor Use Management: Public Health, Public Engagement and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Public land management is inherently complex and requires a systems approach that integrates ecological, economic, and social values. Currently, there are few tools and examples available for federal land management planning that use a systems approach. Issues are often approached from a disciplinary perspective, and outdoor recreation problems, assumptions, and solutions often focus too narrowly on how to mitigate recreation impacts as opposed to understanding the broader role of visitor use and access, public engagement, and public health in sustainable land management. The Visitor Use Management Framework (the Framework), developed by the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council (IVUMC, 2016) provides interagency guidance for managing public use on federal lands and waters. The Framework uses a process that can be incorporated into existing agency planning and decision making. It follows all of the Council agencies’ (NPS, BLM, USFS, USFWS, ACoE, NOAA) planning principles and illustrates how to specifically address visitor experiences and resource protection with an integrated planning approach. This research note explores the evolving role of the Framework in sustainable recreation management and how public health, public engagement, and representation, inclusion, and access can be incorporated throughout the Framework to ensure planning decisions meet the needs, values, and preferences of diverse user groups. Further, this paper invites a broader discussion around next steps for boldly moving to integrate public health, public engagement, and representation, inclusion, and access more fully into all aspects of visitor use management, including the Framework. Collective effort and ongoing innovation is needed to ensure that the Framework is thoughtfully implemented in ways that provide opportunities to enhance outdoor recreation access and inclusion for a broader range of people.

Management of environmental and recreational forest management of the Moscow Metropolitan Region

Management of environmental and recreational forest management of the Moscow Metropolitan Region

GIS&T in Recreation Planning and Management

GIS&T in Recreation Planning and Management

ЩОДО РЕКРЕАЦІЙНОГО ЛІСОКОРИСТУВАННЯ В УКРАЇНІ

The article is dedicated to the main aspects of recreational forest management in Ukraine. According to epidemiological situation in the country, one of the most important functions of the forest is recreation, because the last one, in the author's opinion, is one of the important forms of rational leisure, meaningful leisure, health and treatment, cognitive interests. The article considers the issues of general and special recreational forest use and defines the concept of "ecotourism", which means the type of tourism, that consists of travel to natural areas to satisfy cultural, environmental, educational, cognitive and other needs without anthropogenic impact (or minimal impact) on the relevant area. It is established that the constantly growing process of attracting more and more people to the cycle of recreational activities leads to the constant expansion of forest areas, to some extent covered by recreational activities. That is why an important condition for rational use, protection and management of recreational forests is their zoning. It is concluded that according to their functional features, human recreational activities in forests can be divided into the following types: medical, health, sports, tourism, cognitive, mining, emotional and motivating. And, most often, these activities are closely interrelated, or one activity stems from another. In addition, it is given the definition of "recreational forest use" - as a set of actions aimed at meeting their needs with the involvement of forest resources (recreation, tourism, sports, amateur fishing, treatment and rehabilitation, etc.).

Сучасна динаміка сніголавинних процесів на території гірського масиву Полонина Боржава

The article analyzes the current dynamics of avalanche processes in the territory of the Polonyna Borzhava mountain massif, as one of the most avalanche-prone zones of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The studied area is visited by thousands of tourists every year, especially in winter, as ski tourism is quite well developed here. Accordingly, hundreds of tourists face a direct threat to life and health - avalanches. Therefore, first of all, it is worth showing the current dynamics of avalanche processes on Polonyna Borzhava from the point of view of rational management of recreation and tourism. Almost every year, people, both professionals and beginners, are killed or injured in avalanches on Polonyna Borzhava. Knowledge the basics of handling during avalanche danger, obtaining information about the onset of such periods and evaluating changes in the multi-year dynamics of avalanches can minimize risky situations in the mountains. An analysis of avalanche seasons in Polonyna Borzhava during 2011-2020, based on the materials of the Plai avalanche station, the Transcarpathian Regional Center for Hydrometeorology and the Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Transcarpathian Region, showed that the most avalanche-dangerous month is February, when 40,7% of all avalanches occurred. During the studied period, the most avalanches with a volume of 1001-5000 m3 occurred, which do not cause significant damage to the environment, but can lead to the death or injury of people and animals. The number of avalanches varies greatly from year to year, because in the short term it directly depends on weather conditions (amount of solid precipitation, air temperature of the cold half of the year, wind activity, etc.), and in the long term it depends on climatic changes. During 2011-2020, the most avalanches occurred in 2012 (25), and in 2014 and 2020 they were not recorded at all. Clarification of the average multi-year dates for the formation of stable snow cover showed that it falls on November 21. Taking into account the trends of global warming, shifting of seasons, greater transition of precipitation to the liquid phase, etc., avalanches in Polonyna Borzhava will become a rarer phenomenon with very large annual variability in number and volume. The work uses descriptive and literary research methods, as well as elementary means of mathematical statistics.

THE ESSENCE AND COMPONENTS OF THE INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR INCLUSIVE TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL NATURE

Topicality. Inclusive development is one of the new social approaches that should be fully ensured in such a socially significant area as tourism and recreation. The peculiarity of the use of natural recreational resources requires the improvement of the institutional environment and legislative and legal support for inclusive development.Aim and tasks. The article is devoted to the formation of the design of the institutional support system for the inclusive development of tourism and recreational nature management and the content of its elements.The objective of the article is to disclose the essence of norms, rules, institutions, methods, activities and tools that together create equal opportunities in the use of socially significant recreational resources, harmonize the interests of the subjects of recreational nature management and contribute to the implementation of the goals of inclusive development.Research results. Institutional support for the inclusive development of tourism and recreational nature management should be built using a systematic approach, disclosing the importance of functions, principles and criteria for its provision in the context of interaction between the subjects of tourism and recreational nature management. The implementation of an inclusive institutional regime ensures the growth of the social product in the socio-economic system and its fair distribution among all participants.The main functions of the institutional support for the inclusive development of tourism and recreational nature management are: control; regulation, especially property relations; coordination; ensuring environmental and social security and information. Along with regulatory, economic and infrastructural measures, among the main priorities for the implementation of an inclusive approach is the formation of an information environment and investment support.Conclusions. Tourism and recreational nature management is not provided with an effective system of management and regulation of the processes that take place in it. It needs a separate improvement of the institutional environment in the context of inclusive development. The proposed design of the inclusive tourism and recreational nature management system will allow realizing such dominants of inclusive development as: ensuring equal opportunities in access to valuable recreational resources and recreational services; equal opportunities for the realization of the right to rest, restoration of psychophysical conditions, health improvement, harmonious development of the personality; ensuring social and economic activity, well-being and employment opportunities in the field of tourism and recreation business; high efficiency in the use of socially important natural resources and conditions

Who Started, Stopped, and Continued Participating in Outdoor Recreation during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States? Results from a National Panel Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has been proposed as a catalyst for many U.S. residents to re-engage in outdoor recreation or engage in outdoor recreation for the first time. This manuscript describes the results of a representative U.S. national panel study aimed at better understanding the socio-demographic profile (gender, ethnicity, community type, income, and age) of those participants new to outdoor recreation since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, we address how these new outdoor recreationists differ from (1) those who frequently participated in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic and continue to participate in outdoor recreation, (2) those who did not frequently participate in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic and remain un-engaged, and (3) those who frequently participated in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic but stopped their frequent participation following the onset of the pandemic. Results from this U.S. national study suggest that 35.8% of respondents indicated that they did not participate regularly in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic or during the pandemic, 30.4% indicated that they did participate regularly in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic and continued to do so regularly during the pandemic, and 13.5% indicated that they did participate regularly in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic, but did not continue to do so during the pandemic. More than 20% of the sample indicated that they were new outdoor recreationists. The majority of respondents in all categories, including those that were new to outdoor recreation amidst the pandemic, identified as being white, however these new outdoor recreationists were also the least ethnically diverse. The previously but no longer outdoor recreationist respondents were significantly more ethnically diverse than the other three groups, and they tended to live in more urbanized settings. Discussion of these results includes implications for outdoor recreation managers, and researchers who seek to better understand who the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced with regard to outdoor recreation participation. Implications regarding social justice, access and equity to public places that facilitate outdoor recreation, and health-related policies are discussed.

Motivations and spatial behavior of OHV recreationists: A case-study from central Utah (USA)

Despite the growing popularity of off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation, only a small body of research has focused on the motivations of these recreationists, how motivations vary across participants, and how motivations are related to recreationists’ on-site behavior. Our investigation integrates established theory from the field of outdoor recreation management to develop a better understanding of the diverse motivations of OHV users visiting the Sheeprock Mountains region of central Utah, USA. We pair data on OHV users’ recreation experience preferences with data on their spatial behavior to develop strategic approaches for resource management. This can help balance the trade-offs between maintaining the quality and diversity of outdoor recreation experiences while limiting resource impacts. Our analyses revealed the motivations of OHV users were not related to a variety of variables characterizing OHV users’ rides (e.g., distance, speed, etc.). However, we did find distinct differences in the routes favored by OHV users preferring different outdoor recreation experiences. We visualize the concentration of routes preferred by OHV users with different experience preferences to inform the development of spatially targeted interpretation and signage efforts. Through this approach, we demonstrate how a better understanding of the diverse motivations of OHV users can be used to inform communication strategies designed to get the most meaningful information in front of the right users in the right places. The motivations of OHV users were not related to a variety of variables characterizing the OHV users' rides. There were distinct differences in the routes favored by OHV users preferring different outdoor recreation experiences. We document a method for visualizing the concentration of routes preferred by OHV users with different experience preferences. Visualizations of the concentration of routes preferred by OHV users with different experience preferences can be used to inform the development of spatially targeted interpretation and signage efforts.

Open for All: How Are Federal and Municipal Land Management Agencies Adapting to the COVID-19 Pandemic Alongside Increased Societal Recognition of Racial Injustice

In addition to impacts on human health and the economy, COVID-19 is changing the way humans interact with open space. Across urban to rural settings, public lands–including forests and parks – experienced increases and shifts in recreational use. At the same time, certain public lands have become protest spaces as part of the public uprisings around racial injustice throughout the country. Land managers are adapting in real-time to compound disturbances. In this study, we explore the role of the public land manager during this time across municipal and federal lands and an urban-rural gradient. We ask: How adaptable are public land managers and agencies in their recreation management, collaborative partnerships, and public engagement to social disturbances such as COVID-19 and the co-occurring crisis of systemic racial injustice brought to light by the BLM uprisings and protests? This paper applies qualitative data drawn from a sample of land managers across the northeastern United States. We explore management in terms of partnership arrangements, recreational and educational programs, and stakeholder engagement practices and refine an existing model of organizational resilience. The study finds abiding: reports of increased public lands usership; calls for investment in maintenance; and need for diversity, equity, and inclusion in both organizational settings and landscapes themselves; and the need for workforce capacity. We discover effective ways to respond to compound disturbances that include open and reflective communication, transforming organizational cultures, and transboundary partnerships that are valued as critical assets.

Pandemic Panic Course Design: A Faculty Team Approach

Recreation Management faculty developed an alternative online experience in place of the internship in response to two conditions created by the pandemic: (a) uncertainty of students being able to obtain internships and (b) student safety. The vision was to have students build and practice problem solving skills, inspire innovation as well as be mentored by recreation professionals in the field. This brief provides an overview of the faculty team approach to designing a course within six weeks to be a quality online experience as an alternative to the traditional internship.

Social Preferences of Young Adults Regarding Urban Forest Recreation Management in Warsaw, Poland

The paper presents results of questionnaire research conducted to determine social preferences regarding leisure in Warsaw municipal forests (WMF) (Poland). The preferences pertained to frequency of visits and willingness to pay for recreational infrastructure in a forest depending on its appearance, level of development, and the respondent’s income. The data were processed using statistical analysis (ANOVA Friedman test, U Mann–Whitney test, logistic regression). The results show that the higher the development level of a forest, the more often young people choose it for leisure. Willingness to pay for a forest depends on its development level, with respondents more willing to fund forests with a higher development level. No such correlation with the respondents’ income was found. Preferences regarding the selection of a specific type of forest for leisure were dependent on per capita income of the respondents only in the case of forests at a lower level of development. A forest’s preference level affected the willingness to pay for it and varied depending on the development level.

Covid-19 and outdoor recreation management: Increased participation, connection to nature, and a look to climate adaptation.

Outdoor recreation management perspectives were investigated based on the general perception of increased public outdoor recreation participation during the Covid-19 pandemic and supported by survey research at local, regional, and national levels in Sweden. There is an interest in how outdoor recreation professionals perceived outdoor recreation by the public during the pandemic and whether professionals could identify specific implications from the Covid-19/outdoor recreation experience. Climate adaptation literature supports the idea that current global challenge coupled with projections for ongoing challenge requires a pro-active approach; this turn to climate adaptation for potential consideration or guidance is based on characteristics that the Covid-19 pandemic shares with climate change. Outdoor recreational professionals' review of a recent public survey and subsequent semi-structured interviews with this group were conducted to obtain outdoor recreation professionals' detailed perceptions on survey outcomes. Results show that the professionals confirm a rapid and significant increase in outdoor recreation participation. Further, professionals identified critical trends in the increase of new or inexperienced outdoor recreation participants. A positive and proactive list of implications emerged as themes of the interviews. A review and synthesis of the themes support the national goals for outdoor recreation in Sweden. Further, results indicate a current opportunity for outdoor recreation to address concerns for diminishing nature experience and support connectedness to nature. The connectedness to nature outcome further strengthens the comparison with climate adaptation strategy given the potential relationship between connectedness to nature and pro-environmental behavior.

THE NEEDS OF THE POPULATION OF KIROV REGION AS THE FACTOR OF THE TOURIST AND RECREATIONAL SPACE CREATION

The tourist and recreational needs of the population are major factors in the tourist and recreational space creation. The identification of needs should be systematic and involve all components of tourism and recreation. The relevance of this paper due to the need to provide scientific support to the processes of spatial planning and management of tourism and recreation in the Kirov region. The regulators currently overlook the recreation focusing only on tourism. The aim of this examination is study of the needs of Kirov region population and research on the specificities of the organization of recreational activities of the population in enterprises, in free time after work, on weekends and during long vacation. The survey has been used in order to achieve the objective. The survey was conducted among 2125 persons in online form. Several types of questions have been selected to identify features of inclusive and daily recreation, recreational activities on weekends and during long vacation. In addition, the attitude of residents to the advantages and disadvantages of rest within the Kirov region, the sums of money allocated for leisure and travel, and the attitude to services of travel firms were determined. The results have been found out the low level of satisfaction with leisure activities in the workplace, a lack of recreational areas and occasional breaks, which have a negative impact on overall productivity. The organization of recreational activities on weekends and vacation is less problematic for residents, but is often implemented in the cheapest and passive forms and on an independent basis. The research results can be used to improve the processes of territorial planning and management of the regional tourist and recreational system of the Kirov region.

Thru-hikers’ smartphone use on the Pacific Crest Trail

ABSTRACT The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) runs from Mexico to Canada across the western United States. Attempting to complete the entire trail (i.e. thru-hiking) is increasingly popular. We surveyed 560 PCT thru-hikers and found that 97% carried smartphones. This study examined backcountry smartphone use along the PCT. We assessed thru-hikers’ daily smartphone use, different smartphone use behaviours, and days on the trail. Factor analysis categorized the smartphone use behaviours into logical groups: communication, navigation, feeling safe, boredom alleviation, and photography. Regression analysis found that days on the trail, navigation, and boredom alleviation were significant, positive predictors of thru-hikers’ daily smartphone use. Additionally, females were significantly more likely than males to report using smartphones to feel safe. Smartphones are fully integrated into daily life, so outdoor recreation managers should understand how to employ the technology to enhance rather than hinder the quality of outdoor recreation experiences. Implications and future research are discussed.

Improvement of ecological and economic mechanism of recreational tourism management in the context of European integration

The article describes the current state of development of recreational and tourist activities. The role of European integration in the context of the tourism industry is defined. The functions and properties of the Ukrainian tourist business are considered. Opportunities and risks of development of recreational and tourist activity are specified, and also roles of recreation and tourism are defined. The role of state regulation and management in increasing the level of development of recreational and tourist activities is described. The parameters of formation and increase of the level of development of recreational tourism are indicated. The ecological and economic mechanism of recreational and tourist activity in the context of European integration processes is formed. Features of functioning ecological and economic mechanism of management of development of recreational tourism are considered, and also importance of development of programs on development of recreational and tourist activity is considered. It is noted that recreation and tourism play one of the main roles in formation and development of rest physical and mental condition. Obtained a high level of efficiency from recreational tourism, people can only due to temporarily living in remote, away from home, tourist areas of recreation. European integration and globalization processes have a positive impact on the development of recreational tourism and gaining competitive advantages, providing the above components. Investment reserves have been identified as a method of increasing the competitiveness of recreational and tourist activities in Ukraine in the context of European integration. Certain tourist complexes in Ukraine form stable economic zones and development of regions of recreational and tourist activity. An important issue remains the creation of favorable investment flows for both foreign and domestic investors, which, in turn, stabilizes working conditions given the rational use of investment on a long-term basis. Thus, these problems increase the relevance of the need to improve the mechanism for the management of recreational and tourist activities, primarily by government agencies. European integration processes in Ukraine require the formation and implementation of a model of relations between recreational areas and governance structures, which should meet the requirements of regional policy of the European Union, which in the future provided more prospects for cooperation, interregional and international cooperation.

Building Community Virtually on the Fly

The Recreation Management and Leadership (RML) program at Western Washington University utilizes a cohort-based model in which sequenced courses and overnight retreats work in tandem to cultivate an inclusive learning community. COVID-19 necessitated not only that we quickly move all of our courses online, but it challenged us to transition our nature-based retreats to a virtual environment as we attempted to build community and foster connections over Zoom. In this piece, the RML faculty shares how the missteps of our first virtual retreat taught us lessons about connecting, interacting, and teaching in a virtual space and prepared us to run a vastly improved, successful Zoom retreat the following year.

Equipping Students to Meet the Changing Online Recreation Needs of Older Adults

The Recreation Management program planning course unites students and community members to develop, plan, market, and facilitate a recreation program. In March 2020, the COVID19 pandemic shifted course delivery to an online platform requiring faculty and community partners to create a fully online experience. This paper highlights the changes made to the course experience, lessons learned, and future plans.

Collaborating With Parks and Recreation Departments to Address Youth Health.

Adolescence is an important time for addressing health, including mental health, obesity, substance use, and food insecurity. As the myriad health and wellness needs of community members expands, it becomes increasingly difficult for one profession alone to address these needs. The park and recreation field was founded to address the health and wellness needs of people, and much of their programming is focused on youth. Thus, municipal park and recreation departments are becoming increasingly involved in collaborative partnerships with other health-serving agencies within their community. This study explored park and recreation directors' experiences in collaborating with health agencies to better address health and wellness factors that affect the youth in their communities. This phenomenological qualitative study employed in-depth interviews with park and recreation directors and used thematic analysis. Nine interviews were conducted from four of the six New England states. The most common health concern seen by the directors was mental health, primarily behavioral health challenges. Parks and recreation collaboration with public health organizations ranged from none to close collaborations; directors regularly spoke about wanting to strengthen their collaborations. Public health and park and recreation staff have similar challenges with staffing and resources; additionally, they have complimentary skills with regard to planning and implementing health-related programs. For that reason, creating purposeful collaborative partnerships between public health agencies and park and recreation departments, focused on measurable outcomes, may increase benefits to the health of youth in a community.