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by ARC
KEY FINDINGS OF THE
1996 RECREATION ROUNDTABLE SURVEY:
OUTDOOR RECREATION IN AMERICA 1996
Performed by Roper Starch Worldwide
- The Roundtable’s 1996 Recreation Quality Index (RQI)
reflects a continued, though modest, gain in the public’s perception of
overall quality of outdoor recreation in America. The 1996 RQI stands at
109 versus 100 in 1994 and 107 in 1995.
- The public perceives recreation opportunities
locally and at vacation destinations to be essentially flat, with no
measurable change since the Roundtable’s initial 1994 survey.
- In 1995, we saw a significant climb in
recreation participation at the highest levels -- those who participate
once per month or even more frequently. In 1996, more than half of all
Americans again reported engaging in recreation at least monthly -- but
the percentage did not grow further.
- While the ranking of favorite recreation
opportunities remained nearly unchanged in 1996, we saw declines in
participation in 27 of 34 activities we track. A possible explanation
for the drop is that people appear to be "streamlining" their recreation
menus, participating more in fewer activities. Americans reported
engaging in 4.0 recreational activities, on average, in 1995 but just
3.3 in 1996.
- One in three Americans took an outdoor
recreation vacation over the past year -- identical to the percentage in
1995.
- Satisfaction levels with recreation experiences
tell an interesting tale. In general, satisfaction with recreation
experiences locally is declining, including perceptions of availability
of activities and instruction, quality of service provided by park staff
and the value for fees paid. In contrast, satisfaction with vacation
experiences has climbed. For the first time, more than half of the
survey respondents rated the amount of activities and instruction
available as either excellent or very good, and quality and value
assessments rose even more sharply. We do not ask about who provides the
services at these sites -- public agency or private company. This may be
an area of inquiry for 1997.
- RQI is comprised of three component
measurements: opportunity, participation and satisfaction. The highest
opportunity score is for RV camping followed by off road bicycling and
motorboating. The highest participation scores are for off-road
bicycling, downhill skiing, horseback riding and canoeing/kayaking. The
top satisfaction scores come from wildlife watchers, RV’ers and hikers.
Overall, the top RQI ratings come from off-road bicyclists, horseback
riders and canoeists/kayakers.
- Outdoor recreation experiences are meeting the
public’s motivations for engaging in recreation. As in the past, fun,
fitness, family and familiarity with the environment are key motivators
for participation.
- Less than 1 in 3 of those earning less than
$15,000 participate at least monthly in outdoor recreation, versus 2 in
3 of those with earnings of $50,000 and above. This is important because
the key finding of the benchmark 1994 research was that Americans who
regularly engage in recreation are substantially more content with their
lives than other Americans. The main challenge for those involved in
recreation -- whether in industry, government or simply as
recreationists -- is to broaden participation among relatively
disadvantaged segments of the American public since we know that
participation brings with it prospects for a more happy and contented
society.
- For the first time in 1996, we asked questions
regarding awareness and use of recreational facilities managed by
federal agencies. 72% of all respondents know of National Park
Service-managed areas while 62% know of specific U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service area and 59% know of Forest Service sites. When asked about
visits to these lands, 21% report visits to National Park Service sites
and an equal 9% report visits to Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife
Service sites. Seven in ten Americans report no visits to federal
recreation areas in the past year. Thus, the large number of estimated
visits to federal sites -- some two billion in 1995, according to agency
counts, represents a large number of visits by a relatively small group
of Americans.
- The RQI for Generation X’ers climbed
substantially in 1996 to 116 from 103, nearly catching the RQI for the
core "Boomer" group of 30 to 44 year-olds (120). X’ers lag in
perceptions of opportunity and satisfaction but report the highest
participation levels.
- Americans in and around mid-sized cities
continue to report the highest RQI -- 116 -- but substantial gains have
occurred since 1994 in both our largest cities and in rural communities
(102 and 108, respectively, for 1996 versus 84 and 89 in 1994).
- Outdoor Recreation in America: 1996 is based
upon a national sampling of 2,000 adult Americans in Late March/early
April. All questions were asked in-person, the same methodology employed
in the Roundtable’s 1994 and 1995 surveys. The 1996 survey was funded in
part by the Bureau of Land Management.
- Americans spend heavily on recreation -- more
than $300 billion annually according to industry sources. Part of this
spending is by federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management, the
National Park Service and the Forest Service. In fact, federal agencies
have direct recreation and visitor services budgets exceeding $1 billion
annually. This funding allows them to serve an estimated 2 billion
visits each year. Currently, only a small portion of federal recreation
program costs are paid directly by visitors -- less than 10%, according
to recent Congressional testimony.
- The 1996 survey included a question which is
designed to help the recreation industry and government officials
understand public attitudes toward higher costs for recreation. The
question asked how much more recreationists would have been willing to
pay on their last visit to a federal recreation site. One in five
reported an unwillingness to pay any more. The mean of all respondents,
though, was slightly over $12. Not surprisingly, those who were
extremely satisfied with their most recent experiences at federal sites
were far more likely to be willing to pay more ($14.50) than those who
were only somewhat satisfied ($9.80) or those who were dissatisfied
($6.40).
- Recreationists who were least willing to pay
more included fishermen, RV’ers and motorcyclists/snowmobilers --
perhaps because those who participate in these activities are already
required to pay fees ranging from campground charges to vehicle
registration and license fees. In all three activities, 27% of the
participants reported no willingness to pay more, versus 21% of all
recreationists. Campground users and off-road bicyclists reported the
highest willingness to pay more -- with off-road bicyclists reporting a
mean of $20, nearly double the figure for all recreationists.
- Just over one in four Americans (28%) reported
that they had visited a federal recreation site over the past twelve
months. Recreationists most likely to have used a federal recreation
site over the past twelve months were: wilderness campers (72%); hikers
(66%); equestrians, kayakers and canoeists (each 64%); wildlife watchers
(62%) and off road bicyclists (60%). Data from the Forest Service shows
that the top recreational activity on the lands it manages is pleasure
driving: viewing the scenic beauty of mountains and rivers, wildlife and
other features from cars, RV’s, motorcycles and more. Our study confirms
this link between national forests and pleasure driving. More than 62%
of those who reported visiting a Forest Service site also report that
they went pleasure driving -- a higher level than for visitors to any
other federal land system.
AMERICAN RECREATION COALITION
RECREATION FACTS LIBRARY
(FACTS COMPILED FROM 1995-1996)
I. TRAVEL, TOURISM AND RECREATION IN GENERAL
-- Travel and tourism accounts for more than $400 billion
annually in spending, while recreation and related activities generate
more than $300 billion annually -- roughly equivalent to the gross
national product of Australia.
-- Consumer spending on recreation and entertainment was 6.5%
of total consumer spending in 1980 and has climbed steadily upward to
10.5% of consumer spending in 1994.
-- A body of water was the favorite destination of those
responding to a recent survey by the Recreation Roundtable. An ocean,
lake, reservoir or river was the recreation trip choice for about 40% of
the respondents.
-- The average American enjoys about 130 leisure days per
year.
-- Americans are accorded about 130 leisure days per year. In
comparison, first-century Romans had only 66 free days per year, while
three centuries later their imperial descendants enjoyed 175.Englishmen
of the early 16th century had over 200 days off, but the Khmer Rouge
allowed Cambodians fewer than 40 work-free days per year in the 1970s.
-- Fewer international travellers are expected to visit the
U.S. in 1995. Compared to 1994 numbers, international arrivals are
projected to drop 4.2% to 43.8 million, while international tourism
revenues are expected to slip 1.4% to $56.4 billion.
-- The 1995 summer travel season was the busiest ever. The
Travel Industry Association estimated that more than 230 million
person-trips were taken between Memorial Day and Labor Day, beating the
previous record of 226 million trips set last year. Labor Day travel was
up 2% from 1994.
-- Travel and tourism contributed nearly $300 million to the
economies of Mammoth Lakes and Mono County (CA) in 1993, according to
the California Office of Tourism. Visitors to the area helped provide
jobs for 4,116 workers with a payroll of almost $55 million and
contributed over $17 million in state and local taxes.
-- As 1995 drew to a close, the United States found itself
falling from second to third on the list of the world's top tourism
destinations. According to the World Tourism Organization, just over
44.7 million people visited the U.S. last year, a 1.7% drop from 1994.
With that decrease, the U.S. now ranks third behind France (60.6 million
visitors) and Spain (45.1 million arrivals).
-- Since the inception of the National River Clean-Up Week
program in 1992, 100,000 volunteers have participated in 1,600 clean-ups
covering 30,000 miles of waterways.
-- The fourth annual National River Cleanup Week will take
place May 13-21. An estimated 36,000 volunteers participated in over 440
cleanups of shorelines and rivers during the 1994 event -- The
fifth annual National River Cleanup Week is scheduled for May 11-18,
1996. During the 1995 effort, an estimated 27,000 volunteers
participated in 359 projects to clean up 6,000 total miles of shoreline.
-- According to a recent survey, 32 states, the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico have active scenic byways programs in place,
and eight additional states plan to launch scenic byways programs in the
near future.
-- More than 150,000 people each year are treated to the
majesty of Alaska's Glacier Bay aboard cruise ships.
-- Over the next 10 years, a big jump is expected in consumer
interest in acquiring some form of recreational property, including
second homes, beach condos, mountain cabins, time shares and campground
sites. The percentage of American households believing they have a 50%
chance or better of acquiring such real estate has more than doubled
since 1991, from 15.5% to 35%.
-- Americans will take a record 232 million person-trips of
100 miles away from home this summer (1996), predicts a joint Travel
Industry Association-American Automobile Association report. More than
half of pleasure travelers (54%) will take their children with them, and
most will head for a beach or lake. Traveler expenses will average
$1,076 per trip.
-- According to the 1996 Recreation Quality Index (RQI), there
has been a significant climb in participation among the most active
recreationists -- those who participate once per month or even more
frequently. At the same time, however, the study revealed declines in
participation among 25 of the 30 individual activities tracked. A
possible explanation for the drop is that people appear to be
"streamlining" their recreation menus -- participating more in fewer
activities.
-- Eagles and deer pay no taxes but can still contribute to
local economies. According to the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources, nearly $479 million is spent in the state each year on
purchases related to recreational wildlife observation. This "nonconsumptive"
form of outdoor recreation includes such activities as birdwatching and
wildlife photography.
-- Of 30 recreational activities measured, off-road/mountain
biking scored the highest overall RQI (163) in this year’s Recreation
Roundtable research of outdoor recreation in America. Other top
activities included horseback riding (162), canoeing/kayaking (159),
campground camping (158), RV camping (157), hiking (157), wilderness
camping (157) and downhill skiing (157).
II. FEDERAL LANDS
-- National parks, forests, refuges and other public lands
cover some one in every three acres of the nation’s surface area and
attract some 2 billion visits annually.
-- Recreation visits to units of the national park system
increased 30% between 1977 and 1994, while the U.S. population increased
only 18.7%.
-- Attendance at national parks is expected to reach record
levels in 1996. Overall visitation in 1995 was up 2% to 259 million,
just below the all-time record of 259.4 million set in 1992. However,
visitors are learning to time their visits for less-crowded periods of
the year
-- over 400,000 overnight stays a month are provided by the
Park Service from November through February.
-- Yellowstone National Park, the nation's first national
park, covers 2.2 million acres
.-- 202,795 visitors entered Virginia's Shenandoah National
Park in June of 1995, an 11% increase over the monthly total for June of
1994.
-- Sequoia National Park in California hosted 844,582
recreational visits in 1995 -- resulting in a total of 2.37 million
recreational visitor days, spending of $377.5 million and support for
9,437 jobs.
-- The National Forest System includes 2 million acres of
lakes and reservoirs; 200,000 stream miles; 16,500 miles of coast and
shoreline and 7 million acres of wetlands.
-- The Forest Service’s trail system is larger than all the
other trail systems in the U.S. combined, with over 125,000 miles. 30
million recreation visitor days are spent each year on national forest
trails, and over 50% of the 2,800 outfitters and guides that operate in
national forests are dependent upon trails.
-- The 191 million acres of public land under the jurisdiction
of the USDA Forest Service contain 125 alpine ski areas and 100 Nordic
ski areas
.-- In Colorado, national forests attract 11 million skier
visits alone. Nationally, the forests host 50 million skier visits each
year.
-- The national forests are the largest provider of outdoor
recreation opportunities in the country, hosting 835 million
recreational visitors in 1994 alone. By the year 2000, U.S. Forest
Service programs will contribute an estimated $130.7 billion toward the
gross domestic product (GDP) -- about $97.8 billion, or 74.8%, of which
would be generated by recreation. By the year 2045, Forest Service
programs will contribute an estimated $196.3 billion to GDP -- about
$153.7 billion, or 78.3%, of which would be generated by recreation.
-- The Bureau of Reclamation (BoR) is a big host to
recreationists. BoR has water projects in 17 Western states -- projects
that cover 1.7 million surface acres of water and 13,000 miles of
shoreline. BoR projects contain 30,000 campsites and host approximately
27 million angler days per year. The agency's Hoover Dam visitor center
receives more than one million visitors per year.
-- In 1991, recreation visitors to Corps of Engineers lakes
spent over $10 billion. The direct and indirect effects of this economic
activity resulted in $12.4 billion in employee income and 617,000 full
and part-time jobs with an average salary of $18,300. Over 25 million
people -- 10% of the national population -- visit Corps of Engineers
sites at least once each year.
-- The BLM's Back Country Byways program now includes more
than 70 routes across the West ranging from rugged routes across the
rugged San Juans in Colorado to the famed Route 66 in Arizona. The
Forest Service has designated more than 120 routes through its lands as
national forest scenic byways.
-- The Smokey Bear hot air balloon-- which is used by the
Forest Service to promote fire and conservation ethics -- is 85 feet
high and 75 feet across and has made nearly 100 flights since its maiden
voyage on October 2, 1993.
-- The National Park Service (NPS) reports that the number of
tour bus trips to sites administered by the NPS -- national parks,
historical sites and national memorials -- increased by nearly 80% over
the past decade. The numbers grew from 162,086 in 1985 to 291,342 last
year.
-- The Bureau of Land Management’s 270 million-acre domain
includes 2,500 miles of National Historic Trails, 500 miles of National
Scenic Trails, 350 miles of National Recreation Trails, 6,000 miles of
hiking trails and 5,200 miles of equestrian trails. The Interior
Department agency is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
III. RECREATION VEHICLES
-- An estimated 9 million recreation vehicles (RVs) are on the
road today, with one in ten households with a vehicle owning an RV. An
estimated 25 million Americans annually travel in the nation's RVs.
-- Sales of towable RVs and motorhomes rose nearly 15% in
1994, with the industry posting its highest unit sales since 1978. The
dollar volume of recreational vehicles produced in 1994 was the highest
in history, totaling $10.3 billion. Since 1991, the value of RV
wholesale shipments have increased by 50%.
-- According to the "Campfire Canvass," half of all RV owners
will travel 20 days or more between Labor Day and the first day of
spring 1996, and 25% will spend eight weeks or more on the road in that
time. Four of every ten owners will use their RVs more this fall and
winter than last.
-- Between Memorial Day and Labor Day 1995, RV owners say
they'll be on the road an average of 39 days and expect to travel an
average total of 2,000 miles.
-- Favorite activities during fall RV travel, and the
percentage of RV owners who say they plan to enjoy them, are: camping,
63%; foliage tours, 57%; flea markets, 30%; harvest festivals, 29%; and
hunting/fishing with an RV as base camp, 27%.
-- One in four RV owners is a "snowbird" -- someone who
escapes winter via RV travel and retreats to warmer climes for extended
stays. Among owners 55 and older, the ratio climbs to 36%. Florida is
far and away the top choice of destinations for snowbirds, followed by
Arizona and Texas. 41% of snowbirds spend eight weeks or more away from
their primary residences, while nearly 30% spend at least 12 weeks
away.-
- There are over 64 million campers in the U.S. Bringing the
family closer together was cited by over 60% of RV owners in a recent
survey as the most important benefit of taking children camping.
-- In 1994, the total dollar value of recreation vehicle loans
topped the $10 billion mark for the first time, according to a new
survey of RV lenders released by RVIA. The $10.29 billion figure
represents a 21% increase over 1993's lending level.
-- RVIA research has shown that RV owners are twice as likely
as the average American to ski, both downhill and cross country. Better
than one in six respondents to an RVIA "Campfire Canvass" said they
would like to take an RV ski trip.
-- Low interest rates, stable consumer confidence and other
factors are expected to contribute to an increase in RV travel and
camping over the coming months (1996). Research by the Travel Industry
Association of America found that 22% of respondents plan to travel in
an RV this spring, up from 15% last year. The seven-point gain is the
largest increase among the pleasure/vacation activities covered by the
survey.
--98% of RV owners say they practice at least one method of
"green RV'ing." Nine out of 10 say they clean up litter left by others,
three out of four say they recycle when campgrounds provide the bins to
do so, and half even bring their recyclables home if campgrounds do not
provide bins.
-- RV owners save significantly on family travel, concludes a
new vacation cost comparison study. The study shows that a family can
get 30-80% more vacation for its money when travelling and camping in an
RV.
-- RV ownership is addictive: some 68% of current owners plan
to purchase another RV at some point in their lives. Among those who
have never owned an RV, nearly one in five intend to purchase in the
future.
-- The total value of RV loans topped the $11 billion mark in
1995, a 9% increase over the previous year. The majority of motorhome
buyers/borrowers have a family gross income of more than $50,000 (76%),
have lived in their home for more than 10 years (58%) and are between
the ages of 35 and 54 (63%).
IV. BOATING/SAILING/PADDLING/WATERSKIING
-- Nearly 17 million boats are in use across the United States
today -- enjoyed by an estimated 76 million people.
-- Sales of new boats climbed 15% in 1994 from the previous
year and estimated retail expenditures on boating (new and used boat
sales plus accessories and services) totalled $14 billion, up 25% over
1993.
-- The U.S. boating industry experienced its third consecutive
year of growth in 1995. Overall sales for purveyors of on-water fun rose
to $17.2 billion, about a half-billion dollars short of boating’s
all-time dollar record set in 1988 and a robust 22% gain over 1994 sales
-- which had already risen a dramatic 25% over 1993.
-- The marine industry will continue to show sales growth
toward recovery in 1995, according to The Marine Industry Outlook,
recently released by The CIT Group. By 1998, CIT forecasts that overall
marine retail sales will reach a near record $6.75 billion -- just 5%
shy of the all-time high of $7.1 billion achieved in 1988.
-- The top states for retail expenditures on recreational
boats and boating services in 1994 were Florida ($599 million) Michigan
($361 M), Texas ($357 M), and California ($305 M). The top ten states
for recreational boat registrations remain as they have throughout the
decade: Michigan, California, Minnesota, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, New
York, Ohio, Illinois and South Carolina. -- With 83,000 mile of coastal
shoreline and more than 88 million acres of inland lakes and rivers,
more than half of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of navigable
waters. Last year, over 76 million Americans -- about one in every four
-- enjoyed the nation’s waterways, using more than 16 million boats.
-- According to an annual survey by the National Sporting
Goods Association, 1994 participation levels were up for power boating
(+28%), canoeing (+31%) and sailing (+8%).
-- Recreational boating is continuing to grow in popularity,
as evidenced by the latest boat registration statistics compiled by the
U.S. Coast Guard. Registered boats nationwide total 11,429,585, an
increase of 1.3% from the previous year.
-- Sales of personal watercraft soared in 1994 to 142,000
units, up 32% from 1993. The nation's fleet of personal watercraft (PWC)
now numbers over 750,000.
-- 200,000 personal watercraft were sold in the United States
in 1995 -- an increase of approximately 41% over the 142,000 sold in
1994 and an increase of approximately 590% over the 29,000 sold in 1987.
The total retail value of units sold in 1995 was $1,144,400,000.
-- Personal watercraft, the fastest growing segment of the
boating industry, accounted for over 25% of new boat unit sales in 1994.
-- In 1995, personal watercraft manufacturers will donate
over 750 new boats -- worth over $4 million total -- to federal, state
and local law enforcement agencies to be used in search and rescue
operations and to educational institutions to be used for oceanography
research.
-- Using 3:1 matching federal grants, Wallop/Breaux program
partners accomplished the following between 1986 and 1993: 1,600 new
public boat launching ramps and related facilities built; 9,700 public
boat ramps improved; 600 roads built to provide access to public waters;
1,500 new fishing access sites developed; and at least 170 properties
and over 50,000 acres acquired to improve access to public waters.
-- Outfitters and guides provide an estimated $50-60 million
in annual revenue to Western states.
-- According to a survey conducted by the National Association
of Canoe Liveries and Outfitters, the average river trip covers 10.8
miles and takes 4 hours and 15 minutes; the average charge per guest is
$13.00; and 85% of guests are between 25-50 years of age.
-- 70% of all boats sold are used in fishing.
-- The number of people in the U.S. who paddle a canoe, kayak
or raft is now at 24.2 million. Of that total, 13.2 million individuals
canoe, 1.4 million kayak and 15.2 million raft. Paddlers represent
approximately 40% of all recreational boaters in the U.S.
-- The Finlandia Vodka Clean Water Challenge is the world's
longest endurance kayak race and the biggest purse in paddlesports. The
1995 race, which kicks off in Chicago on July 11 and finishes in New
York City on August 10, will cover approximately 800 miles of waterways.
The total purse is $75,000.
-- The Miami Olympic Classes Sailing Regatta will be held
January 24-28, 1996. Traditionally one of the most hotly contested
international regattas in the world, the Miami event hosted a record 663
sailors from 37 nations in 1995. With the Olympics slated for 1996, many
more sailors are expected to compete this year.
-- The city of Ventura, California has been coordinating the
Ventura Community Sailing Program since 1972 and has introduced more
than 5,000 youths and adults to the sport.
-- According to the Community Sailing Council of the U.S.
Sailing Association, an estimated 200,000 people -- adults and
youngsters both -- will learn to sail this year in sailing schools and
community programs. Another 95,000 kids will be sailing in summer camps.
-- 62,955 commercial passengers went whitewater rafting in
Maine in 1994, a 4.3% increase over the previous year.
-- While boating injuries have declined substantially in
recent years, additional progress is possible. Some 300 people die
annually in accidents involving small, open boats 12-16 feet in length,
and nearly 90% of the victims aren't wearing life jackets.
-- "Obsession" is the most popular name for a boat, according
to an annual survey conducted by BOAT/U.S. Rounding out the top ten most
popular boat names are "Odyssey," "Osprey," "Escape," "Liquid Asset,"
"Wet Dream," "Serenity," "Hakuna Matata" (meaning "No Worries" and
recently made popular by the Walt Disney film "The Lion King"), "Fantasea"
and "Therapy." (1995)
-- "Serenity" tops this year’s BOAT/U.S. list of most popular
boat names. Filling out the top ten list are: "Obsession" (last year’s
#1), "Osprey," "Escape," "Therapy," "Liquid Asset," "Wet Dream,"
"Diversion," "Sundancer," and "Predator." (1996)
-- There are an estimated 13-16 million water skiers in the
United States, with approximately 1.7 million new participants being
attracted to the sport each year. Some 85% of these participants ski two
or more times each week.
-- Over 34% of all motorized boats sold in 1995 were personal
watercraft. These jet-powered craft now number nearly 700,000 on the
nation’s waterways.
-- Paddlers -- canoe, kayak and raft enthusiasts -- make up
13.7% of Midwesterners, 12.1% of those in the Northeast, 11.9% of
Southerners and 10.7% of Westerners. The South has the most total
paddlers with 8.12 million.
-- The average boat owner started boating at 12-14 years of
age, while the average personal watercraft enthusiast took up the
activity at the age of 10, according to a recent marine industry report.
About one-half of boat owners were first brought into the sport by
parents, another one-third by friends or friends’ families.
-- Recreational boating provides not only a tremendous
economic impact but also a wide range of social and psychological
benefits. Some 66% of recent new boat buyers cite "being outdoors/
seeing nature" as a benefit of boat ownership. Another 65% cite
"relaxation/stress relief," and 50% say "socializing with family and
friends" is a prime benefit.
V. FISHING AND HUNTING
-- 49 states and 4 territories now have Aquatic Resource Education
(ARE) programs. In 1994, nearly 7 million people were reached with
fishing and environmental education messages through the state ARE
programs. Since the programs began 10 years ago, over 26 million people
have been reached.
-- The total number of U.S. anglers is about 60 million. Fishing is the
cited by almost 20% of all men as their favorite activity. Of the
nation’s anglers, some 40 million are male and 20 million are female
-- Over 2.6 million anglers go ice fishing every year, representing
approximately 7% of the total number of American anglers. These winter
adventurers spend a total of 16.9 million days ice fishing annually.
-- Sportfishing generates $561 million annually for the Arizona economy
alone.
-- The total number of U.S. anglers fell to 59.6 million in 1993, a 2.1%
drop from 60.3 million in 1992 and a 13.6% decline from 69 million in
1989. Of the major reasons for dropping out, 34% of those surveyed by
the American Sportfishing Association cited time constraints and work,
while 22% said they simply lost interest in the sport.
-- More than 18% of all recreational saltwater fishing trips in the
north and mid-Atlantic regions target striped bass. There were 3.9
million such expeditions in 1994, worth over $270 million to the
economies of coastal communities from Maine to North Carolina.
-- More than 500,000 Americans are expected to participate in the
nation’s 17th annual celebration of sportfishing and aquatic resources
during National Fishing Week, June 3-9. Forty-five states and the
District of Columbia will offer free fishing days in 1996 to introduce
citizens to angling.
-- The number of licensed hunters decreased from 15.63 million in 1993
to 15.34 million in 1994. They bought nearly the same number of
licenses, tags, permits and stamps as they did in 1993 (31.6 million)
but paid $525.8 million for them in 1994, compared to $492.4 million in
1993.
-- Deer hunting in the western United States, the majority of which
occurs on public land, generates $729 million in retail sales,
contributes $411 million in salaries and wages and provides 21,000 jobs
annually.
VI. TRAILS AND TRAIL ACTIVITIES
-- June 3, 1995 is the third annual National Trails Day. The first
National Trails Day, held in 1993, saw more than 750,000 people
participate in over 2,000 events. Last year, nearly one million people
participated in 2,500 events.
-- Bikeways and greenways are very desirable amenities to today’s
homebuyers, and now surpass golf courses-- the 80's favorite -- in
popularity among buyers, according to a major study for the real estate
industry by American Lives, Inc.
-- There are now almost 3,000 miles of greenways in the U.S. hosting 27
million users per year, according to the Department of Transportation.
-- Trail use is growing at a rapid rate: 93 million bicyclists, compared
to 7.8 million in 1960; 41 million hikers; 26 million horseback riders,
compared with 7.8 million in 1960; and 10 million cross country skiers.
-- 800 national recreation trails have been designated and 19
long-distance trails have been established since the enactment of the
National Trails System Act in 1968.
-- According to a Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management
survey of businesses along the Cape Cod Rail Trail, 75% of owners
believe the trail's proximity to their business will make it easier for
them to sell in the years ahead, and 60% say they have expanded their
business since opening and cite the trail as a prominent factor in their
expansion decision.
-- 762 trails covering 7,830 miles have been created under the
Rails-to-Trails program, which converts abandoned railroad corridors
into recreational trails. When completely developed, these trails will
cover over 8,000 miles. 48 states have rail-trails. Rail-trails were
used a total of 90.5 million times in 1995.
-- Bicycling is big business in Colorado. Total industry sales and
service exceed $700 million annually and employ more than 2,000 people.
The state ranks second (behind California) in bicycle-related sales.
-- Fat Tire Bike Week in Crested Butte, Colorado is mountain biking's
oldest festival. It began in 1976 when a band of locals went for a ride
to Aspen via the 12,700-foot Pearl Pass -- on one-speed bikes!
-- The Appalachian Trail covers 2,158 miles across 14 states and hosts
approximately 3 million hikers per year.
-- The most heavily used rail-trails in the U.S. are the Minuteman
Bikeway in Massachusetts and the W&OD Railroad Trail in Virginia, each
of which attracts some 2 million users per year. The longest rail-trail
in the country, at 145 miles, is the Milwaukee Road Corridor in
Washington state. Michigan has the most rail-trails (88) of any state,
but Wisconsin has the greatest total mileage (1064.6 miles).
-- Mountain biking is the fastest growing outdoor recreational activity
in the U.S. In 1983, 200,000 Americans owned mountain bikes. Today that
figure is 26 million. Mountain biking makes its debut as an Olympic
sport at this year’s summer games in Atlanta.
-- A survey of mountain biking enthusiasts reveals that 88% of
International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) members are males. The
average age of IMBA members is 38, and 84% have personal income above
$30,000. All the survey respondents owned one mountain bike, while over
half owned at least two bikes.
VII. HIKING/CAMPING/BACKPACKING
-- More than 34 million people say they enjoy tent camping, according to
a new study by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. -- Since
1987, there has been a significant increase in the number of people who
go hiking/backpacking 52 days or more per year, from 381,000 in 1987 to
799,000 in 1993, an increase of nearly 110%.
-- While the 18-54 year-old age group contains the most hikers, the
highest rate of participation, 65%, can be found among 12-17 year olds.
-- Utah and Idaho have the highest rate of participation for
hiking/backpacking, while California and Washington have the largest
overall number of hikers and backpackers.
-- A growth of 15% in wholesale sales of camping equipment is
anticipated for 1996, due largely to the "back to nature" movement among
the nation’s 78 million baby boomers. The first 3.4 million boomers will
be turning 50 this year.
-- The number of commercial campground campsites declined 9.9% between
1987 and 1993, while the number of campsites operated by the U.S. Forest
Service increased by 9.2% during the same period.
VIII. SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING
-- A recent survey of 1,000 Skiing readers revealed that the average
amount spent on all ski trips per season is $2,636 per skier. That
figure includes transport, lodging, food and drink, lifts, lessons and
rentals. Each skier spends another $600 buying gear -- for a grand total
of $3,236 a year.
-- The United States has 645 cross country ski areas in total. The top
states for cross country areas are: Colorado, with 66 areas within its
borders, Vermont (64), Michigan (52), New York (50), Wisconsin (43),
Pennsylvania (40) and Minnesota (39).
-- Four million cross country skiers take to the snow each year. 52% of
them are women; 55% are between the ages of 25 and 54; 41% are college
educated; and 43% have household incomes in excess of $50,000.
-- American snowboarding participants have quadrupled in the past four
years from 500,000 to two million and currently account for 12.7% of all
lift ticket sales.
-- Snowboarders provide an estimated 40% of the business at Canada's
Blackcomb resort, and French ski manufacturer Rossignol-Dynastar has
seen its snowboard production increase 100% in the past three years.
-- The median age of alpine skiers is close to that of the U.S.
population at large, 33.7 vs. 32.9, but is weighted more heavily toward
the 18-34 crowd, which includes 50% of skiers but only 28% of the
general U.S. population. Older skiers gravitate toward cross-country:
30% of cross-country skiers are 45 and over, compared to 11.4% of alpine
skiers. Only 3.2% of snowboarders are over 45.
-- Skiing is safer than most high-school sports -- but more dangerous
than golf. The chances (in percent) that you'll visit an emergency room
this year if you participate in: ice hockey, 3.7; basketball, 2.7;
softball, 1.4; skiing, 1.2; bicycling, 1.2; in-line skating, .5;
tennis/golf, .2. The chance that you'll be admitted to the hospital on
any given ski day is only one in 7,949; if you ski 100 days a year, you
can count on checking into the hospital about once in 19.5 winters.
IX. SNOWMOBILING
-- There are 1.4 million registered snowmobiles in the U.S. There were
134,000 new snowmobiles sold in the U.S. in 1995, an increase of 28%
from the previous year.
-- The value of new snowmobiles bought in 1995 is $715 million; annual
expenditures on clothing and accessories total $455 million; annual
spending on lodging and dining totals $639 million; and total gas
expenditures, for both the machines and their tow vehicles, is
approximately $250.8 million. Total annual expenditures on the sport are
over $2 billion.
-- Approximately 78% of all snowmobilers, when travelling on a
snowmobile trip or vacation, travel with family and friends in groups
averaging 5.5 people. Snowmobilers spend, on the average, 7.2 nights per
season in a motel/resort while on snowmobile trips. 30% of all
snowmobilers travel to other states or provinces to enjoy the sport.
-- The average snowmobile owner is 41 years old, has an annual household
income of $61,600 and users his/her snowmobile 21 days per year. 90% of
snowmobile owners own their own residence, 49% have a college degree,
71% are married and 42% own more than one snowmobile. Approximately 60%
of snowmobilers are men and 40% are women.
-- As many as 95,000 Montanans (approximately one in eight) participate
in snowmobiling each winter. Nonresident snowmobilers spend about $40
million per year for food, lodging and snowmobile rental; resident
snowmobilers spend about $60 million per year. Montana snowmobilers buy
about 5 million gallons of gasoline per season, in the process
contributing $1.3 million in revenue to the state highway fund.
-- Colorado registered 24,135 snowmobiles in 1994-95, up from 22,115 the
previous year. Registration fees generated $362,000 in revenue for trail
maintenance and signing, safety education and certification, law
enforcement and an avalanche warning program. A study by Colorado State
University indicates that Colorado residents spend $26.5 million on
snowmobiling annually.
-- The state of Wyoming opened four new snowmobile trails this winter,
meaning enthusiasts can now enjoy some 1,800 miles of trails in The
Cowboy State. Covering all those trails would be the equivalent of
snowmobiling from Denver to New York City.
X. MOTORCYCLING AND OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE USE
-- Wyoming became the 44th state to establish a legislated motorcycle
safety training program. The program is entirely self-funded through a
$7 increase on motorcycle registrations and a new $3 motorcycle operator
license fee, which together are expected to generate approximately
$126,000 annually for the program.
-- Harley Davidson produced over 100,000 motorcycles in 1995. The
Wisconsin-based company's goal is 107,000 machines produced in 1996 and
115,000 in 1997. In 2003, Harley Davidson's 100th anniversary, the
company expects to produce over 200,000 motorcycles.
-- An estimated 31 million people operated a motorcycle, scooter or ATV
in the past year. There are currently about 5.8 million motorcycles,
scooters and ATVs in the U.S.
-- A study commissioned by the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Division of the
California Department of Parks & Recreation shows that OHV recreation
generates $3 billion in economic activity for the state of California
annually. Over 14% of Californians participate in OHV recreation, and
the sport supports 43,000 jobs statewide. On average, each OHV-owning
household in the Golden State spends $3,516 per year on OHV pursuits --
not including the cost of vehicle purchases.
-- In 1994, estimated retail sales of new motorcycles totaled 306,000
units, valued at $2 billion.
-- California has more than 100,000 miles of unpaved roads and trails
for off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation at 200 sites on county, state
and federal land. Since its founding in 1971, the California Off-Highway
Motor Vehicle Recreation Program has invested $275 million of
user-generated funds in OHV recreation facilities, programs and
management.
XI. SPORTING GOODS
-- Athletic shoe industry leader Nike spent an estimated $120 million on
advertising alone in 1994, while Reebok spent $70 million.
-- Manufacturer sales of sports equipment in 1994 were up 11.6% over the
previous year. Among the largest categories were golf ($1.8 billion),
fishing ($1.4 billion) and camping ($1.38 billion). Retail sales of
athletic equipment and apparel are expected to reach $32.1 billion this
year, up 3% over 1994.
-- The total declared value of U.S. sporting goods imports totaled $6.52
billion in 1994, down 5.3% from the previous year. In the meantime, the
value of U.S. sporting goods exports reached an all-time high of $1.78
billion last year, a 15.5% increase over 1993. Among the largest
increases in exported products were golf clubs (up 26% to $262 million),
athletic shoes (up 54% to $208.2 million), snow skis (up 30% to $75
million), bowling balls (up 24% to $33.9 million), and roller skates (up
75% to $22.8 million).
-- Texas is the only state with a sporting goods sales tax that is
directly used to support parks and historic sites.
-- Americans now own over 6.6 million pools and 3.3 million spas. --
According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, there has
been explosive growth in the sport of inline skating. In 1994, 18.8
million people over the age of six tried the sport at least once -- up
500% from 1990. No other sport or recreational activity has experienced
such growth in the 1990s.
-- Some 24.3 million Americans enjoyed in-line skating in 1995, while
3.2 million participated in in-line hockey. The sport’s popularity is
also reaching around the globe: the Academy of the Hebrew Language in
Israel recently coined new words for certain modern products, including
in-line skates, which are known in Hebrew as galgilot lahav.
XII. KIDS AND RECREATION
-- The city of Cincinnati, Ohio initiated the Late-Evening Recreation
Programs in 1993; during the initial 13-week period, the number of
juvenile criminal incidents dropped 24%, from 645 to 491.
-- During the summer, when Phoenix basketball courts and other
recreation facilities are kept open until 2 a.m., police calls reporting
juvenile crime drop by as much as 55%. With over 170,000 participants,
the cost of this late-night recreation program comes to only $.60 per
youth.
-- Since project HYDRA (Hart Youth Development Resource Association) in
Hart County, Georgia began putting young first offenders into a
recreation and mentor program, juvenile complaint calls fell by 14% and
incarcerations decreased by 23%.
Key Findings from "Outdoor
Recreation in America"
A 1994 Roper Survey for the Recreation
Roundtable
- A landmark 1994 survey of the American public
showed that active outdoor recreators are more completely satisfied with
the quality of their lives than is the general public. Similarly, those
who grew up in families in which outdoor recreation played an important
role are among the most satisfied Americans.
- American men and women have significant
differences regarding their "favorite" recreation. Fishing is the top
choice of men (19% report it as their favorite, versus 7% of women),
while swimming is the top choice of women (12% versus 6% of men).
Picnicking is three times more popular with women (10% versus 3%) while
men are three times more enthusiastic about golf (9% versus 3%).
- 40% of all Americans report that they have
driven for pleasure in the last twelve months. Other leading activities
are swimming (35%), picnicking (33%), fishing and camping (both 25%),
bicycling (21%), running or jogging (19%), boating and hiking and
wildlife viewing (18% each) and photography (15%). On average, each
American has participated in nearly four outdoor recreation activities!
The evidence strongly suggests that participation in outdoor recreation
at any time of life -- and particularly as a child -- leads people to
have more satisfying and fulfilling lives. All these findings strongly
suggest that outdoor recreation is a decisive factor in creating a
satisfied and contented society.
- This study shows that outdoor recreation is not
just enjoyable -- Americans also believe it leads to important social
benefits. Overwhelming majorities (about 90%) agree that recreation is
healthy, increases appreciation for nature and the environment, and
helps parents teach good values to their children.
- Outdoor recreation also is perceived to be
widely available -- not just a luxury for the affluent.
- The top motivations of the public for
participating in outdoor recreation are "fun," "relaxation," "health and
exercise," "family togetherness," "stress reduction," "to experience
nature" and "to be with friends."
- One quarter of adult Americans today report that
they grew up in a family in which recreation was a very important part
of family life, down substantially from the level reported in 1986.
- Two-thirds of all Americans report that they
began their favorite activity as a child, and 53% say they began their
activity with a parent or other close relative.
- Two-third of all Americans participate in
outdoor recreation every year -- and half do so at least monthly.
- About 6% of all Americans have volunteered for
the outdoors in the last year, but more than three times this number are
interested in doing so.
- A vacation spot at an ocean, lake, reservoir or
river is the top choice for Americans, followed by federal and state
parks.
- While most Americans expect to invest about the
same amount of time in recreation next year, 22% expect to do more
versus only 6% who expect to do less.
- Regional differences loom large when it comes to
recreation customer satisfaction. Midwesterners are most content, while
those from the Northeast are least satisfied.
- 56% of all Americans report time is the key
limitation on recreation activities.
- Word of mouth is the most powerful form of
information on recreational opportunities. 54% of Americans say that
friends are a major source of information, while 45% list relatives as a
key source.
- While obtaining information on places to go is
not a major problem to most Americans the public is relatively
unsatisfied with the amount of instructional, interpretive and
environmental information available during the outdoor recreation
experience itself.
More Key Findings from "Outdoor
Recreation in America"
A 1994 Roper Survey for the Recreation
Roundtable
- 64% of those who went motorboating last year
also went fishing. 26% of those who went fishing last year also went
motorboating.
- Those who are participate in outdoor recreation
are more likely to be either active environmentalists or sympathetic to
environmental causes:
| |
General
Public |
Canoe/
Kayak |
Wilder.
Camper |
Horse
Rider |
Wildlife/Bird
watcher |
Camper |
On/Off Road
Bicyclist |
| Active Enviros |
13% |
27% |
24% |
22% |
21% |
20% |
20% |
| Sympathetic |
51% |
54% |
59% |
56% |
62% |
60% |
61% |
Total: Active/
Sympathetic |
64% |
81% |
83% |
78% |
83% |
80% |
81% |
- Those who participated in outdoor recreation
during the past twelve months are more completely satisfied with the
quality of their family lives than the general public -- in most cases,
significantly so
| |
General
Public |
Boaters/
Downhill
Skiers |
Horseriders
Pleasure
Drivers/Hunting
Shooting |
Widlife/
Birdwatchers/
Golf/
Swimmers |
Fishing |
RV'ing |
Completely
Satisfied |
37% |
47% |
46% |
45% |
44% |
43% |
- Downhill skiers are three times as likely to be
golfers as the public at large.
- RV'ers also like boating. 43% of those who went
RV'ing last year also went boating (30%motorboating). And motorboaters
enjoy camping: 45% camped in tents at campgrounds, 34% went
backpacking/wilderness camping and 24% spent time in an RV.
- Those who canoe and kayak participate, on
average, in 11 different outdoor recreation activities -- the highest
number of any group of enthusiasts. They are followed closely by those
who bicycle off-road and those who backpack.
- 52% of those who report fishing is their
favorite activity began fishing before the age of 8.
- Golf stands out among all outdoor recreation
activities with the highest percentage of participants who began the
activity after the age of 18: 45% In contrast, only 21% of those who
went horseback riding last year began the activity after the age of 18.
Golf also ranks next to last in the percentage of participants
introduced to the activity by relatives: 49%. Only off-road bicycling
ranked lower (43%) -- not surprising, considering the recent advent of
the activity.
- Horseback riders are the most frequent
participants in their activity: 30% report riding several times per
week. They are followed closely by bicyclists (both on and off-road,
with 28% and 29%, respectively) and kayakers/canoeists (28%). RV'ers
place family togetherness at the top of their list of goals -- rating
this goal higher than participants in any other outdoor recreation
activity (74%). Only 47% of all downhill skiers rated family
togetherness as very important. Relaxation was also top-rated by RV'ers
(69% saying it was very important), contrasting with a much lower
importance placed on relaxation by downhill skiers (47%).
- Excitement was rated as very important to
horseback riders (46%), higher than the rating assigned by all other
recreationists, including off-road bicyclists (43%).
- Hikers, hunters, RV'ers and backpackers place
the greatest importance on experiencing nature during recreation times,
with between 60% and 64% of each group reporting this as very important.
- Being with friends was reported to be very
important to most recreationists, and especially to RV'ers, off-road
bicyclists and canoeists/kayakers (52%).
- "Being alone" is rated as a very important part
of a recreation experience by about 30% of the participants in all of
the surveyed activities -- except for skiing and golfing, where only
about 20% rate this as very important.
- Relatively few persons rate competition as very
important to their recreation experiences -- generally 10-15%. But about
one in five motorboaters, golfers, hunters and equestrians rate
competition as very important.
- Equestrians are the most eager learners when it
comes to recreation. Nearly half of all horseriders place "learning new
skills" as a very important reason for participation -- twice the
percentage of the general population and well above the levels reported
by other recreationists.
- Hunters and fishermen who regard fishing as
their favorite recreation are least satisfied with the availability of
local recreation opportunities; off-road bicyclists, equestrians and
hikers are most satisfied (one in three report availability is
excellent).
- Overall, most Americans see recreation
opportunities close to home staying about the same, with 22% reporting
improvements and 14% believing opportunities are becoming worse. That
pattern is repeated among the participants in each outdoor recreation
activity, although frequent participants are more likely to report a
perception of change -- with the ratio of good to bad remaining similar
except for those who report that fishing is their favorite activity,
where larger numbers believe that opportunities are worsening than
improving.
- Backpackers, tent campers, canoeists/kayakers
and off-road bicyclists report the highest levels of expectation that
they will increase their recreation participation next year (40%+).
- Off-road bicyclists and backpackers, are most
likely to add to their outdoor recreation vacations next year, with one
half of all participants reporting that chances for an outdoor
recreation vacation are higher next year than this year.
- There is a substantial difference in the
enthusiasm of different recreationists about the quality and
availability of outdoor recreation destinations available to them. While
overall one third of the public rates these opportunities as excellent,
several groups, including nearly half of all off-road bicyclists,
equestrians and canoeists/kayakers give it this rating versus only one
in four motorboaters.
- One in four Americans perceives the value
received for recreation fees as excellent; another 50% rate the value as
good. The least enthusiasm for value received comes from motorboaters
(16% provide a rating of excellent); the highest rating comes from
equestrians.
- Boaters are lowest on the list of satisfaction
with activities and instruction available at recreation destinations
(16% providing an excellent rating versus 21% overall and 29% from
equestrians) and also rate access to public waters for boating and
fishing lower than either the public or participants in other activities
(23% rate access as excellent versus 25% of the public at large and 33%
of the nation's birdwatchers).
- Lack of a place to go rates higher as a reason
for not participating more in outdoor recreation for off-road
motorcyclists, snowmobilers and equestrians than other recreational
participants (12% versus 6% who report that lack of places deters them
from golfing, hiking or fishing).
- Cost of outdoor recreation is least likely to be
cited as a deterrent to more participation by golfers and RV'ers (11%,
versus 19% of canoeists/kayakers).
- There were more persons identifying themselves
as Republicans than Democrats among those who participated in skiing,
golfing and RV'ing over the past twelve months -- although slightly more
skiers labeled themselves as Independents than as Republicans. All the
rest of the activities showed participants more likely to describe
themselves as Democrats. On the ideological spectrum, 53% of all RV'ers
and half of all hunters described themselves as conservatives. 34% of
all off-road bicyclists identified themselves as liberals versus 18% of
the public overall -- and off-road bicyclists were the only activity
group reporting a majority of homes equipped with a personal computer
(51% versus 26% of anglers' homes and 27% of hunters' homes).
OUTDOOR RECREATION PROVEN KEY REMEDY TO
SOCIETAL ILLS
People who recreate outdoors on a regular basis,
or for whom outdoor recreation was important while growing up, are more
likely than all others to be completely satisfied with their lives,
according to a new Recreation Roundtable/Roper Starch Worldwide survey.
Those who recreate most often are most likely to be completely satisfied
with their choice of careers, friends, and their perceived success in
life. However, the "Outdoor Recreation in America" report suggests that
the connection between recreation and family may be at risk. Comparisons
with a 1986 study show that the proportion of the public who say
recreation was very important while growing up is down 7 points to 25%.
The door-to-door survey of 2,000 adults was
conducted from April 15 to 22, 1994. In addition to linking outdoor
recreation participation with quality of life, the study also looked at
motivations for and barriers to recreation as well as satisfaction
levels with recreational opportunities. The study shows that two-thirds
of Americans participate in outdoor recreation every year and half do so
at least every month.
"The conclusions Roper has drawn from its survey
are very encouraging," said Francis Pandolfi, Chairman of the Recreation
Roundtable and President of Times Mirror Magazines, "We now know
conclusively that the American public associates recreation with three
great issues of the 1990's: family, the environment and health. Second,
we know that people who participate in recreation often, and those who
were raised in families where recreation was an important element, are
happier with their lives than the public at large." The correlation
between satisfaction and recreation participation was found at four
different educational levels.
Reasons for participating in outdoor recreation
reflect a commitment to family life and personal fitness. The number one
purpose for participating is "to have fun" (76%) and other key
recreational motivators include "relaxation" (71%), "health and
exercise" (70%), "family togetherness" (68%) and "stress reduction"
(66%). Over the last year, the top recreational activity has been
pleasure driving, done by 40% of the public. The survey shows other
leading activities are swimming (35%), fishing (25%), camping (25%) and
bicycling (21%).
The most avid recreationists are a group called
the "Influentials." This is a trendsetting segment of the population
that Roper has monitored for 50 years. This group tends to be
politically vocal and community active. The "Influentials" participation
rate in outdoor recreation is double that of other Americans.
Additionally, nearly 4 in 10 of these outdoor enthusiasts expect to
increase their future participation. The "Outdoor Recreation in America"
report also reveals gender differences in favorite recreational choices.
Fishing was the overwhelming favorite activity for men (19% versus 7% of
women). When women were asked for their favorite activity, swimming came
out on top (12% versus 6% of men). However, men and women do share a
similar enthusiasm for pleasure driving and camping. Recreation often
starts with the family. Parents introduced 43% of the respondents to
their favorite activity and 16% found it through another relative. Clubs
such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts do not appear to play a major
role, as only 2% found their favorite activity through these
organizations. The report says that "the single most consistent
predictor of outdoor recreation attitudes, participation and
satisfaction is the value placed on recreation while growing up. A
family that heavily emphasizes and participates in outdoor recreation
raises children who turn into recreation supporters, participators and
enthusiasts as adults."
According to the survey, one in three Americans
took an outdoor recreation vacation last year. Water destinations such
as oceans, lakes and rivers, drew 40% of the vacationing public. Federal
and state parks account for another 38% of recreation vacation spots. A
large majority (77%) of the public believe that the availability of
local parks is either "excellent" or "good." While receiving information
in advance of recreation is not a major problem, the public is
relatively unsatisfied with the amount of information available during
an outdoor recreation experience. 7 in 10 Americans feel that displays
and other programs teaching about history and resources are important.
Yet only 12% are satisfied with the interpretive resources currently
available.
The study shows regional differences in
recreational patterns. Westerners are the most likely to utilize their
nation's natural resources and southerners are the most apt to go
fishing. Although people in the Northeast are most willing to volunteer
their time in the future to recreation facilities, they show the least
enthusiasm for outdoor recreation. People in the Midwest are the most
satisfied with the recreational opportunities that currently exist. 91%
of the public agrees that "outdoor recreation is a very healthy type of
leisure activity."
The survey discovered that time constraints are
the principle obstacle to recreation. Nearly 60% say that time is a
limiting factor. Less than half cite the expense of recreation as a
reason. The idea that only the wealthy can afford to recreate was
rejected by three quarters of the public. Predictions for future
recreation indicate that most people (63%) will continue to participate
at the same level. One fifth (22%) think they will become more active
while 6% believe they will be less active in recreational activities
next year.
In his executive summary of the report, Mr.
Pandolfi stated, "The data clearly demonstrates that providing
appropriate opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation
contributes importantly to other societal goals, including a sound
environment, healthy rural economies, strengthened families and better
personal health."
The Recreation Roundtable, sponsor of the study,
is comprised of 25 leading recreation company executives. The Roundtable
seeks to promote high quality and readily available recreation
opportunities for all Americans. Copies of the study summary are
available through:
THE RECREATION ROUNDTABLE
1225 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW SUITE 450
WASHINGTON, DC 20005
(202) 682-9530
FAX (202) 682-9529
Last updated on 09/13/2005 12:37:34. Last updated on
11/13/2002 14:00:53.
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