09/07/1994 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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A YOUTH iscovering what outdoor activities people most enjoy is key in plan- P SPE IVE ping and providing outdoor recre- ation opportunities. Therefore, surveys that assess public de- ON OUTDOOR mand are vital components of any suc- cessful program. In the past, needs assessments and participation studies used in outdoor RECREATION recreation plans and, in particular, the. Arizona Statewide Comprehensive Out- door Recreation Plan (SCORP) have not incorporated the needs and desires of young people. "Ihis generally is be- cause survey methods such as tele- phone surveys have been more geared toward adults. However, young people represent a sizable segment of our population that places it heavy demand on our re- sources. 11tc Arizona Outdoor Recre ation Coordinatingcommission and the Arizona State Parks Board recognized this oversight in our planning and,as it result, proposed a study to gather the needed recreation data from Arizona youth. The information gathered in this study helped us target young people with our programs,thereby increasing their participation in and enjoyment of these activities. In a day and age when young people often feel alienated from and ignored by the adult world,park and recreation programs that address young peoples interests likely will be more effective in keeping kids in sports and recreation f programs and away from the dangers of the streets. Study Background Our study began in the fall of 1992 and addressed three basic questions: • Are parks and recreation areas in the state adequate and are they meeting current needs? •What outdoor recreation activities are children participating in and are any ac- tivities that they would enjoy unavail- able to them? •What barriers discourage young peo- ple from recreation participation? The study's primary goal was to in- vestigate the demand for recreation