Recreation Policy Research Articles

Exploring tourists’ preferences and willingness to pay for national park recreation improvements based on regret and utility comparison

Research on the improvement of national park recreation policies has attracted much attention to discrete choice experiments to obtain tourists’ preferences and willingness to pay. However, individual choice behavior is extremely complex, and the single Random Utility Maximization (RUM) model ignores anticipated regret and is insufficient to explain individuals’ actual choice behavior. To investigate whether regret influences tourists’ choices regarding the improvement of national park recreation attributes, this study introduces the Random Regret Minimization (RRM) model and explores the performance of polynomial logit models and hybrid latent class models in analyzing discrete choice models based on utility and regret. By constructing a hybrid utility-regret model, we examine how tourists trade off between attributes such as vegetation coverage, water clarity, amount of litter, and level of crowding in national park recreation. Results indicate that the RRM model has better goodness-of-fit and predictive ability than the RUM model, indicating that regret is a significant choice paradigm, and the hybrid model better explains respondents’ choices. Specifically, 62.5% of tourists’ choices are driven by regret, and regret-driven respondents are more inclined to increase vegetation coverage and improve water clarity, while utility-driven respondents are more inclined to reduce litter and crowding. This study not only provides a reference for managers to develop more optimal recreation improvement strategies but also offers theoretical insights for national park recreation improvement policies.

Minding the Science–Practice Gap to Reach the Goals of Sustainable Recreation Research

Scholars featured in a recent special issue of the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration and others have noted that public lands management has yet to integrate sustainable recreation policy and practice (Cerveny et al., 2022, p. 1). Additionally, there is growing recognition that inter-agency and scientist-citizen collaboration are needed to achieve this goal. In this commentary, we offer an example of minding the science-practice gap through cocreating research. Specifically, we describe how scientists from the US Forest Service and the University of California, Davis, and practitioners from the Los Angeles-based organization Outward Bound Adventures (OBA) operationalized ten essential characteristics of research (DePoy & Gitlin, 2020) in the development of a research proposal and implementation of a study on urban Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) youth perspectives of the outdoors.

Find the one you like! Profiling Swiss parks with user generated content

The establishment of national parks originated from the desire to preserve scenic landscape areas of national or regional importance. With more recent diversification of protected area types and goals, obtaining knowledge on how parks are recreationally used has become more challenging for (local) policy makers and park managements, as there is a general lack of systematic and publicly available visitor monitoring data. We analyze recreational park use for 20 Swiss parks of national importance and develop park profiles, using user-generated content from Flickr. The 20 Swiss parks are described by 111,437 unique images taken by 6,468 unique users between 2007 and 2020. We fill an existing research gap by defining park use across three dimensions space, time and users, and combining these in our analyses. The park profiles provide information on diversity of recreational use and serve as a starting point for analyzing how the three dimensions contribute to this diversity. Our results show diverging park uses for the three dimensions indicating that park location matters, especially in terms of peri-urbanity and geographic region. Our method can be translated into European scale analyses, provided that different languages are considered. Park profiles are easy to communicate and easy to interpret tools for (local) policy-makers and park managers to segment the tourism market and develop new park marketing strategies to e.g. streamline visitation flows and reduce the negative impacts of outdoor recreation. In broader terms, our study serves as input for future recreation policy to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of protected areas Management implications•We offer insights into recreational park use in terms of users, space and time, particularly valuable for parks where monitoring visitation is vital (i.e. protected areas).•Park profiles provide easy to communicate and interpret extensible tools for (local) policy-makers and park managers.•Park profiles can be used for among others the development of new park marketing strategies catering preferences for differentiated user groups.•Since different recreational user groups differ in their recreational behavior and in turn their environmental impact, park profiles can help in streamlining visitors as a potentially effective management measure for increased park sustainability (e.g. biodiversity conservation).

Youth development in municipal recreation policy: a case study of Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT Policy implementation in municipal organisations is shaped by various policy frameworks and institutional structures that ultimately impact programming and service provision. The importance of youth development within recreation in municipal organisations in Canada is evident, but little research has focused on manager-level perspectives of youth development in the sector and the institutional factors that shape policy implementation therein. This research fills that gap by examining how youth development and associated policies are understood by managers in municipal recreation organisations (MROs). We used an instrumental case study methodology to examine the Province of Ontario, Canada and explore how youth development is understood in MROs, and how these understandings impact the implementation of policy related to sport and recreation. We draw from institutional theory to provide insight into how municipal organisations implement policy related to youth development. Our findings demonstrate the influence of the education sector on municipal recreation programming, how youth development is understood to occur through municipal work experiences, and the processes of involving youth in politics of municipal organisations, operations, and decision-making. We offer scholars and recreation practitioners a better understanding of the role of youth development in MROs and how policy related to youth development, sport, and recreation is implemented.

Grassland and managed grazing policy review

Perennial grasslands, including prairie and pasture, have declined with tremendous environmental and social costs. This decline reflects unequal policy support for grasslands and managed grazing compared to row crops. To create a resource for community partners and decision-makers, we reviewed and analyzed the policy tools and implementation capacity that supports and constrains grasslands and managed grazing in the U.S. Upper Midwest. Risk reduction subsidies for corn and soybeans far outpace the support for pasture. Some states lost their statewide grazing specialist when the federal Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative lapsed. The United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service support for lands with prescribed grazing practices declined after 2005 but remained relatively steady 2010–2020. These results reveal the policy disadvantage for grasslands and managed grazing in comparison with row crop agriculture for milk and meat production. Grassland and grazing policies have an important nexus with water quality, biodiversity, carbon and outdoor recreation policy. Socially just transitions to well-managed, grazed grasslands require equity-oriented interventions that support community needs. We synthesized recommendations for national and state policy that farmers and other grazing professionals assert would support perennial grasslands and grazing, including changes in insurance, conservation programs, supply chains, land access, and fair labor. These policies would provide critical support for grass-based agriculture and prairies that we hope will help build soil, retain nutrients, reduce flooding and enhance biodiversity while providing healthy food, jobs, and communities.

Drinking water catchment protection as disaster risk reduction: Modelling community support for restrictive recreation policy using the health belief model

While natural and anthropogenic hazards are increasing, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) can protect individuals and communities from the adverse effects of disasters associated with those hazards. Under global and Australian agreements, all levels of society are responsible for DRR – including the prevention of foreseeable new hazards and reducing existing hazards – with the greatest onus for action being on government. DRR can be achieved through implementing policies to reduce or remove hazards. As policies need to be accepted and followed by the community to be effective, it is important to understand the variables influencing community acceptance of those policies.

Assessment of recreational and tourist attractiveness of roadside territories

Problem. Currently, many roads and their infrastructure have been severely damaged by hostilities. In the post-war development of Ukraine, especially transport infrastructure, much attention should be paid to the restoration and construction of recreational facilities in roadside areas to ensure short-term and long-term recreation of drivers and passengers. Not many studies have been devoted to the problems of providing tourist and recreational potential with transport and recreational infrastructure in Ukraine. Basically, researchers pay attention to the characteristics of the transport complex of Ukraine in terms of the development of the roads themselves. Thus, it is necessary to determine the principles of selection of territories for the development of recreational facilities along highways in the restoration and development of post-war Ukraine. Goal. The aim of the work is to develop criteria and principles for assessing roadside areas in terms of the need and possibility of locating tourist and recreational infrastructure. Methodology. Analytical research methods were used to determine the approaches of foreign countries to the location of tourist and recreational facilities on highways. Determining the most attractive roadside areas for tourist and recreational infrastructure is based on the developed criteria and methodological approach to scoring the requirements of vacationers. Results. The main highways, which are tourist and recreational routes for Ukrainian and foreign vacationers, are characterized. The tourist and recreational infrastructure and its influence on the development of recreational business in the state are determined. The principles of location of recreational facilities in roadside areas abroad are analyzed. Recreational requirements of traveling tourists are revealed. Criteria and principles for assessing roadside areas for the construction of recreational facilities have been developed. Originality. Criteria and methodological approach for assessing the most attractive roadside areas for tourist and recreational infrastructure have been developed. The main priorities are suggested that should be the basis of tourism and recreation policy of the state in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Practical value. The use of the proposed methodological approach to determining the most attractive areas for the construction of tourist and recreational infrastructure will help avoid chaotic construction of roadside space and unmotivated alienation of agricultural land.

Local Partnerships for Health on National Forests

The USDA Forest Service has recently piloted health partnerships that facilitate therapeutic outdoor experiences on national forests, building on the growing evidence of the multiple health benefits of activities and time spent in nature. This article presents brief case studies of three pilot partnerships between national forests and health organizations in California, Indiana, and Georgia (USA). These partnerships deliver nature-based programming for the general public as well as those who are in recovery from major surgeries, have been diagnosed with cancer, and face chronic health challenges. To help recreation managers and policy makers understand the potential for such local health partnerships in a federal context, we describe the programs’ enabling conditions, their incorporation of service and stewardship activities, and the challenges and successes they have faced. Insights inform an expanding variety of health partnership models that advance the interconnectedness of human and ecosystem health on public lands as a fundamental dimension of sustainable recreation management.

Differences in Park Plans and Policies across U.S. Municipalities

Park planning documents may be valuable tools in order to promote policies and direct resources toward parks. However, the prevalence of such planning documents and policies specific to parks across municipal characteristics is not well known. This study compares the presence of parks and recreation plans and policies that address park safety and maintenance by municipality characteristics. Nationally representative data from the 2014 National Survey of Community-Based Policy and Environmental Supports for Healthy Eating and Active Living were analyzed (n=2005, response rate: 45%). About 7 out of 10 U.S. municipalities with a population of at least 1,000 reported having a parks and recreation plan. Prevalence of specific park or outdoor recreation policies was 78% for lighting, 85% for patrols by police and security, and 87% for maintenance of green space and equipment. The prevalence of a parks and recreation plan and of specific park or outdoor recreation policies were significantly lower in the smaller communities examined in this study. Most communities with at least 1,000 residents have park planning documents and policies, and opportunities may exist for practitioners to leverage the planning process to better engage residents. Future studies could investigate the role and importance of using planning documents, policies, or budget provisions to address park access and quality in less populous municipalities.

КЛАСТЕРНА МОДЕЛЬ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ ТУРИЗМУ В РЕГІОНАХ УКРАЇНИ

Introduction. An important task for the sustainable economic development of Ukraine is to update the structure of the economy and strengthen of innovation . Services are amounted for more than half of the GDP of Ukraine. Global trend of services is going to grow in the future. The development of tourist and recreational services in Ukraine does not competitive for potential and growing needs of domestic and foreign consumers. Tourism and recreation policy are been a problem for intensification competitiveness of economy, level of employment and income. Purpose The research task - is to analy z e current trends in the tourism industry in Ukraine and in the world. Important task is to formulation of strategic objectives of the policy of f tourism clusters formation in the regions of Ukraine, determination of measures of anti-crisis regulation of the industry in the modern conditions. Result The features and advantages of the cluster model of tourism business organization are analyzed, the conclusions on the implementation of such a policy in foreign countries are generalized. The key tendencies of development of the tourist branch in Ukraine are investigated, the list of specific features of tourism in the regions of Ukraine is formulated, their positive and negative consequences, directions of overcoming of the specified restrictions are outlined. The necessity of providing macroeconomic conditions of effective cluster policy in the regions of Ukraine is substantiated, the tasks for strengthening the level of interaction and partnership in the branch are formulated. In this article was identified the main global challenges of the current economic and epidemiological situation, their impacting on the tourism industry in the international dimension. The biggest threats to the resumption of tourism in Ukraine are outlined, management measures are proposed to resume the development of the industry and the formation of tourism clusters in the regions. Originality The effectiveness of the policy of support for cluster initiatives in European countries is studied, the target priorities are identified: increasing the economic competitiveness of the cluster and its members; creation of a joint tourist brand; inclusion of tourism development in the regional strategy; stimulation of researches and innovations in creation of tourist packages, their marketing; inventory of events and traditions of the region; identification and promotion of routes and tours; improving the professional skills of tourism staff, etc. Trends in the development of tourism in Ukraine, in terms of inbound and outbound, analyzed the limitations of the competitiveness of domestic tourism. Possibilities of diversification of tourist services, in particular - prospects of tourist services for the purpose of leisure, rest, treatment are estimated. Changes in the regional policy of formation of tourist clusters under the influence of decentralization reform in Ukraine are determined. In this article was identified the measures and tools of a managerial direction, which was targeted for restoring and developing of the tourism industry in the post-crisis period. They are aimed on strengthening cluster’s policy. The necessity of changes in tax and organizational and economic support of tourism development, improvement of the national transport system and logistics, expansion of stimulating policy at the local level is substantiated. Conclusion The formation of effective tourism clusters is one of the tasks of regional policy. The cluster model of tourism development solves the range of important and related tasks. In addition to the main goal - the formation of competitive effective specialization of the territory, it provides cross-sectoral cooperation - government, business and community. The benefits of enhanced interaction are reduced transaction costs for cluster members; strengthening the responsibility of participants for the decisions they make in view of the close cooperation with cluster partners, which are also business partners; growing responsibility for building the economy of their own region and protecting the interests of their community. The practical consequences of the development of tourism clusters are the formation of a long-term development policy of the territory by justifying their strategic goals.

Rereading the history of recreation in Canada: Moving beyond the politics of health

ABSTRACT In recent years there has been an increase in the number of recreation and public health professionals calling for a common agenda to address physical inactivity. A major reason for this has been the growing acceptance of recreation as a legitimate health partner. What is missed in these recent calls to bring recreation into conversation with health-related fields is that recreation policies and practices have largely emerged within the context of public health interventions. In order to address this gap in the literature, this paper uses Foucault’s analysis of social medicine to highlight how recreation already is, and has long been, a governmental practice built around the social and political objectives of public health. Recognizing the need to reorient how recreation is positioned in contemporary society, it ends by suggesting some alternative directions for recreation and introducing some philosophical questions about the future of recreation services in Canada.

Get active Powassan: developing sport and recreation programs and policies through participatory action research in a rural community context

ABSTRACT Participatory action research (PAR) is characterised by processes of community partnership and respectful attempts to address and mitigate power relationships between researchers and those affected by research. Further, these approaches to research seek to not only understand social phenomena within communities but also to affect change or action in and with community members. However, PAR projects are diverse in their theoretical underpinnings and the political economies of their research and action initiatives. These underpinnings are often located on a continuum between the participatory/Freirian and action-oriented/Lewinian ideologies of PAR approaches. In this paper, we reflect on the processes involved in a four-year PAR partnership with a rural community recreation committee located in Central Ontario, Canada. We discuss the process chronologically, including how we acquired and managed resources; developed programs and policies, and; monitored and evaluated outcomes. Drawing from field notes pertaining to the research partnership, we trace the way our research and action initiatives oscillated between these theoretical/philosophical approaches while we attempted to engage in the processes of empowerment and ongoing research and action. While much of the literature describes PAR processes rooted in either a Freirian or Lewinian tradition, we suggest that fluid movement within and between the two was a productive and enriching process. In doing so, we advance the idea of shifting along the PAR continuum as a framework for thinking about the methodological and logistical practices involved in PAR.

Thanks and Welcome!

It is with saddened heart that I announce the retirement of Dr. Nancy Richeson, PhD, CTRS, FDRT as Editorin- Chief of the American Journal of Recreation Therapy (AJRT). . .As with many transitions, change can be unsettling. Fortunately for the American Journal of Recreation Therapy and the field, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Allison Wilder, PhD, CTRS/L as our new Editor-in-Chief. Dr. Wilder is Associate Professor and Faculty Fellow at the Center on Aging and Community Living in the Department of Recreation Management and Policy at the University of New Hampshire—College of Health and Human Services.

Implementation of policies and practices to increase physical activity among children attending centre-based childcare: A cross-sectional study.

Supporting centre-based childcare services to create physical activity (PA) environments is a recommended strategy to improve child PA. This study aimed to describe the implementation of PA policies and practices by these services, and to examine the associations with service characteristics. Nominated supervisors of childcare services (n=309) in the Hunter New England region, New South Wales, Australia, completed a telephone interview. Using previously validated measures, the interview assessed the implementation of evidence-based practices shown to be associated with child PA. This includes: (a) provision of active play opportunities, (b) portable play equipment availability, (c) delivery of daily fundamental movement skills, (d) having at least 50% of staff trained in promoting child PA the past 5years and (e) having written PA and small screen recreation policies. Although 98% (95% CI 96, 99) of childcare services provided active play opportunities for at least 25% of their daily opening hours, only 8% (95% CI 5, 11) of services fully implemented all policies and practices; with no service characteristic associated with full implementation. Long day care service had twice the odds of having a written PA policy (OR 2.0, 95% CI 0.7, 5.8), compared to preschools (adjusted for service size, socio-economic disadvantage and geographical location). Improvements could be made to childcare services' operations to support the promotion of child PA. SO WHAT?: To ensure the benefits to child health, childcare services require support to implement a number of PA promoting policies and practices that are known to improve child PA.

A randomised controlled trial of performance review and facilitated feedback to increase implementation of healthy eating and physical activity-promoting policies and practices in centre-based childcare

BackgroundWhile it is recommended that childcare services implement policies and practices to support obesity prevention, there remains limited evidence to inform policy and practice. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of performance review and facilitated feedback in increasing the implementation of healthy eating and physical activity-promoting policies and practices in childcare services.MethodsThe study was conducted with childcare services in the Hunter New England region of New South Wales, Australia. Eligible services were randomised to a wait-list control group or to receive the implementation strategy. The strategy targeted the implementation of written nutrition, physical activity, and small screen recreation policies; providing information to families regarding healthy eating, physical activity, and small screen time; providing twice weekly healthy eating learning experiences to children; providing water and plain milk only to children; providing fundamental movement skills activities for children every day; and limiting the use of electronic screen time for educational purposes and learning experiences. Intervention services received a performance review and facilitated feedback process five times over the 10 months that included an assessment of current practices, goal setting, identification of barriers to implementation, problem-solving, and resource provision. The primary outcome was the proportion of services implementing all six policies and practices, assessed by nominated supervisor completion of a computer-assisted telephone interview at baseline and 12-month follow-up.ResultsOne hundred and eight services took part. There were no significant differences in the proportion of services implementing all six practices at 12 months (mean difference 0.51; 95% CI 0.16 to 1.58; p = 0.24). There were also no differences between groups in the mean number of policies and practices implemented (mean difference 0.1; 95% CI − 0.4 to 0.6; p = 0.71), or the proportion implementing each of the six individual policies and practices at 12 months (OR range 0.57 to 1.85; p > 0.05).ConclusionsFurther support may be required to assist childcare services to make recommended changes to their policies and practices.Trial registrationThe trial was registered retrospectively on 10 September 2014 with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12614000972628.

Impact of troop leader training on the implementation of physical activity opportunities in Girl Scout troop meetings.

Girl Scouts (GS) is a setting with large reach to target increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in girls. The Scouting Nutrition and Activity Program (SNAP) increased MVPA during intervention troop meetings; therefore, further examination of implementation of SNAP components is warranted to determine the processes contributing to intervention success. The purpose of this study is to examine variability in implementation of an active recreation (AR) policy into GS troop meetings. Troop leaders (n = 7) were randomized to receive SNAP, an intervention training on implementing a policy promoting AR, or a standard control. Meetings (seven meetings/troop) were observed, and girls in attendance (n = 76, 9-13 years, mean ± SD = 10.51 ± 1.19 years) wore ActiGraph GT1M accelerometers. Two observers attended each meeting and recorded start/stop points of AR time segments, as well as other tasks (i.e., opening/closing, snack, and Girl Scout curriculum [GSC]). Time-segmented accelerometer data were analyzed using Evenson cut points and paired with observation data. Researchers observed 181 segments (mean/day ± SD = 3.77 ± 1.24). Intervention troops implemented more AR segments/day (mean/day = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.62-1.09) than control troops (mean/day = 0.18; 95% CI = 0.00-0.39). A greater percentage of time (%time) was spent in MVPA during AR segments (mean = 10.99; 95% CI = 7.16-14.82) compared with GSC segments (mean = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.00-4.10), opening/closing (mean = 3.96; 95% CI = 0.54-7.38), and snack (mean = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.00-4.10) segments, and during opening/closing segments compared with GSC and snack segments. Intervention troops implemented more AR segments than control troops. Troop meeting patterns of PA were influenced by task. Adding time segments conducive to PA could increase the %time spent in MVPA during GS troop meetings.

Understanding the growth in outdoor recreation participation: an opportunity for sport development in the United Kingdom

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the growth in importance and scale of the outdoor recreation sector in the United Kingdom. It establishes a five-component model to help understand the growth in this sub-sector of the wider sport and physical activity industry. The paper is based on a narrative literature review of the importance of outdoor recreation and also sets the position of the sector in terms of sport policy in the UK. From determining the factors that are underpinning the growing importance of the sector the article goes on to establish implications for policy and practice in sport policy and development in the UK and beyond. It seeks to establish lesson learning between industry and academia that has underpinned the evolution of outdoor recreation policy development in recent years. Furthermore, it establishes future research agendas and directions for those working in outdoor recreation and physical activity spaces and places.

Nature-based outdoor recreation trips: Duration, travel mode and location

This paper studies the allocation of time to outdoor recreation trips in various natural environment types. We merge a multiple discrete-continuous demand system for time allocation with a discrete choice model for destination and travel mode choice. Accessibility enters the time allocation model through the logsum of the travel mode/destination choice stage.The model is estimated on data for the Netherlands, which was gathered through an activity diary approach that covers one entire year. Our model shows that personal characteristics, household characteristics, contextual variables and accessibility all augment the allocation of time to the set of natural environment types. The resulting estimates allow us to evaluate outdoor recreation policy initiatives, and we simulate the impact of changes in the availability of natural environment types with a constrained optimization approach. We show that time allocation changes are rather small with our simulated policy initiative, but have the intended effect on the group of consumers which the policy initiative aims for.

Coaching and Coach Education in Botswana

The purpose of this paper is to present the status of coaching in Botswana, particularly key developments in policies and practice. In addressing this purpose, authors referred to the National Sport and Recreation Policy, the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC), the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC), and National Reports. The authors first give a brief overview of Botswana’s geo-political, cultural, and economic status. Following the contextualization of Botswana sports, the authors present available coach education programs and BNSC and BNOC plans regarding the development of coaches in Botswana. Topics include qualification, remuneration, and recruitment of coaches. In conclusion, the authors provide suggestions such as the development and implementation of coaches’ certification program and research.

“We just want to play”: Adolescents Speak about Their Access to Public Parks

The discussion of play typically focuses on the activities of and benefits for young children while the perspectives and positive implications of play for adolescents are overlooked. During the participatory action research project, Youth Voices for Change, young people noted that, other than when they were participating in a team activity, they felt unwelcome in their neighborhood parks. Their attempts to use the swing set were denounced by parents and sitting around talking with friends drew suspicion from neighbors. The teenagers also lamented their ability to “just be a kid.” This paper discusses these views and what the youth did to impact change in local park design and citywide recreation policies. A public policy brief, in the form of a comic book, was developed and shared with city officials. This activism led to the youth being invited to participate in a park redesign and the city's recreation master plan update.