October 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 14

RESEARCH
Gauging People's Enjoyment of the Outdoors
By Kevin Roth, Ph.D.

ach year, the NRPA Research team surveys 1,000 U.S. adults
to better understand the frequency and ways that they interact
with parks and recreation. We take the results from that survey
to create the Engagement with Parks Report, providing park and
recreation professionals, policymakers and other key stakeholders with insights on the importance of local park and recreation facilities in the lives
of every resident of our nation.
The 2019 edition of the study
highlights continued strong, unwavering support for the mission
of parks and recreation, as defined by NRPA's Three Pillars.
Nearly equal shares of survey
respondents view each pillar as
" extremely " or " very " important
guiding principles for their local
park and recreation agency:
* Health & Wellness (75 percent)

2x
per

month

People who agree that
parks and recreation is
an important local
government service

People visit their local
park and recreation
facilities twice a month
on average

93%
88%

People who agree local parks
and recreation provide good
opportunities to interact with
nature and the outdoors

Parks & Recreation

9in
10

People who believe it is
important to protect
natural resources with
parks, trails and green
spaces

People who consider
high-quality park and
recreation amenities
important factors when
choosing a place to live

* Social Equity (74 percent)
* Conservation (73 percent)
This support holds firm across
nearly every segment of the U.S.
population, including by age, gender, race and ethnicity, income and
political affiliation.

Key Factors
People recognize and appreciate
the positive impact of parks and
recreation on their communities.
Nine in 10 survey respondents
agree that parks and recreation is
an important local government
service. The value people place
on parks and recreation closely
mirrors that for many other local
government services, nearly matching that for public safety, utilities,
transportation and education.
The nearby access to highquality park and recreation
amenities and programming plays
a central role in finding a home.
Eighty-five percent of survey
respondents indicate that having a nearby park, playground,
open space or recreation center
is an important factor in deciding where they want to live. This
includes nearly 3 in 5 who report
that nearby high-quality park and
recreation choices play a " very
important " or " extremely import-

| O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 | W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

ant " role in where they choose to
reside. Easy access to high-quality
park and recreation opportunities
is an important factor for all segments of the U.S. population, but
is particularly influential for millennials, Gen Xers, people who
identify as Hispanic and parents.
Each year, we include questions
in the Engagement with Parks
Survey tied to a specific theme.
This year's questions focused on
people's enjoyment of the outdoors. Parks, trails and other natural amenities connect people to
nature and provide a much-needed respite from our ever-connected lifestyles. Each also improves
the physical and mental health of
their visitors. Local park and recreation agencies manage millions
of acres of open space across the
United States - from parks and
sprawling trail networks, to beaches and other waterways.

Outdoor Recreation
Preferences
Survey participants identified a
number of desired outdoor recreation options for their community,
including:
* Access to a secluded, outdoor,
quiet place where they can relax
and reflect (87 percent)
* Places that provide a scenic view
of the nature around them (85
percent)
* Nearby access to lakes, ponds,
rivers and other water bodies to
take a swim, go fishing or for
boating (85 percent)
* Nearby trail networks for walk-

October 2019 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2019 - Parks & Recreation