Citation
Non-traditional Outdoor Recreation in Hillsborough County: Identifying Constraints and Developing Strategies to Encourage Participation

Material Information

Title:
Non-traditional Outdoor Recreation in Hillsborough County: Identifying Constraints and Developing Strategies to Encourage Participation
Series Title:
18th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium
Creator:
Gullion, Margaret
Language:
English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Center for Undergraduate Research
Psychology/Social Sciences
Genre:
Conference papers and proceedings
poster ( aat )

Notes

Abstract:
Outdoor recreation can provide many physical, economic, social, and psychological benefits to individuals and society. Despite potential benefits, recent research suggests participation in outdoor recreation isn’t equally distributed among different ethnicities, with Caucasians participating more than others; there also appears to be a divide in participation among men and women, those with differing education levels, and those with higher or lower annual income. While many outdoor recreation studies focus on visitors or how to encourage youth participation, this study examines perceived barriers to outdoor recreation among non-users in Hillsborough County, FL. To gather the data, residents of Hillsborough County were surveyed in public places about their leisure preferences, perceived barriers, and what changes might encourage their use. Although survey participants said they would like to spend most of their free time in nature, the most commonly cited reasons for not participating were lack of time and being too busy with other activities. Most survey participants said they would participate more if they had more information and there were more wildlife-viewing amenities. The information gathered in this study is useful to recreation resource managers who wish to make the potential benefits a reality for all, not just those who traditionally participate. ( en )
General Note:
Research Authors: Margaret Gullion, Taylor Stein - University of Florida
General Note:
University Scholars Program
General Note:
Faculty Mentor: Taylor Stein - School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida

Record Information

Source Institution:
University of Florida
Rights Management:
Copyright Margaret Gullion. Permission granted to University of Florida to digitize and display this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.

Downloads

This item is only available as the following downloads:


Full Text

PAGE 1

Non traditional outdoor recreation in Hillsborough County: Identifying constraints and developing strategies to encourage participation Margaret Gullion, 1 Taylor Stein 1 1 School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Methods Discussion Selected References Introduction Results The Problem Outdoor recreation can provide many physiological, economic, social, cultural, and psychological benefits to individuals and society (Driver, 1998). Despite potential benefits, recent research by the Outdoor Foundation (2013) suggests that participation is not equally distributed among different ethnicities, and there seems to be a divide between genders, income, and education levels (Lee et al, 2001). If outdoor recreation can be so beneficial, ideally use would be more equally distributed among demographic groups. What are Constraints? experience by individuals to limit the formation of leisure preferences and/or inhibit or throughout the US at various recreation areas have found that ethnic groups with lower participation rates (i.e. non traditional users) are more likely to perceive lack of time, cultural reasons, and lack of information as major constraints. Purpose The goal of this study is to determine perceived constraints among various sociodemographic groups specifically in Hillsborough County, and also determine potential strategies to encourage more diverse participation. Study Site Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department 61 000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands Nature preserves, trails, 10 regional parks Data Collection and Analysis Questionnaire created that included questions from Scott & Jackson ( 1996 ) and Oguz & akci ( 2010 ) Respondents asked about 1. How many hours they ideally devote to various leisure activities 2. How important they felt different reasons for not participating to be 3. Which changes to management and facilities would increase park use 4. General park knowledge and use 5. Basic demographic data 119 questionnaires completed ( 71 % response rate) at laundromats, a city park downtown, a shopping plaza, public libraries, and a mall Data analyzed using SPSS and Excel software Respondents would, ideally, spend most of their free time participating in nature based recreation. Respondents said they would participate more if they were provided more information and if there were more amenities to view wildlife. How does this relate to constraints regarding lack of time? This seems to be an issue of quality of time rather than quantity of time. Even though there were some significant differences, scores were low across all demographic groups. The People felt most constrained by time, overall. Non whites thought it was more important that parks and facilities cost too Are these issues Hillsborough County has the power to fix? Park managers can make a bigger effort to distribute their information to a more diverse audience. Changes to cost such as free admission days would give people in low income groups an option to explore the parks without having to spend money. If non whites live farther away from parks, that might be part of a bigger issue that managers have little control over. Research Questions 1) What are perceived constraints of outdoor recreation non users in Hillsborough County, FL ? 2) Are there differences among various sociodemographic groups in their perceived constraints ? a) Is there a difference in perceived constraints between whites and non whites? b) Is there a difference in perceived constraints between men and women? c) Is there a difference in perceived constraints between those in different annual income brackets ? 3) How does a variety of outdoor recreation activities rank relative to other leisure activities for non users? 4) What changes can a public land management agency make to better appeal their nature based recreation opportunities to non users as a leisure option? Limitations and Implications This study is limited because of the small sample size and lack of diversity in respondents. Options should exist for individuals of all income levels. To increase park attendance overall, and to increase diversity in attendance, managers should focus on distributing their information in a more widespread way. Opinions of non visitors should continue to be sought out How respondents spend their leisure time Respondents reported that, on average, they would spend 2.46 hours visiting a park or natural area Respondents would spend the least amount of time, 1.82 hours going out to a mall or movie too busy with other activities in outdoor recreation, with an average score of 3.17 out of 5 Changes That Might Encourage Participation 78.4% of respondents said they would participate more if they were provided more information about existing parks and park programs 86.1% of respondents said they would participate more if there were more amenities to view wildlife (e.g. boardwalks and observation towers). Demographic Differences Non whites were gave higher scores for constraints related to cost, distance, and lack of information (Table 4). Respondents earning more than $50,000 found park crowding more important, and those recreation (Table 5). Women gave higher scores for safety concerns and not liking outdoor recreation than men (Table 6). Lettuce Lake Regional Park Bloomingdale Regional Library Table 1. Gender of respondents Table 2. Race/ethnicity of respondents Table 3. Distribution of income of respondents Table 4. Significantly different reasons for not participating reported by whites and non whites. Table 5. Significantly different reasons for not participating between low and high income groups. Table 6. Significantly different reasons for not participating between men and women. 1. Driver, B.L. (ed.) 2008. Managing to Optimize the Beneficial Outcomes of Recreation. Venture Publishing, INC. State College, PA. 400 pp 2. Jackson, E.L. (2000). Will research of constraints still be relevant in the twenty first century? Journal of Leisure Research, 32 (1), 62 69 3. Lee, J., Scott, D., & Floyd, M. F. 2001. Structural inequalities in outdoor recreation participation: A multiple hierarchy stratification perspective. Journal of Leisure Research, 33 (4), 427 449. 4. D., & akci I. (2010). Changes in leisure and recreational preferences: A case study of Ankara. Scientific Research and Essays, 5 (8), 721 729 5. Scott, D., & Jackson, E. L. (1996). Factors that limit and strategies that might encourage people's use of public parks. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 14, 1 17. 6. The Outdoor Foundation. (2013). Outdoor participation report. Surveying non visitors Lithia Springs Regional Park