09/07/1994 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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among Arizona youth.We then hoped facilities such as swimming pools, One of the most corporate this information into a parks,and rec centers,we need to con- s ,ewide needs list, a ranked list of sider the importance of hanging out to interesting recreation activities used partly to de- the kids who will be using these facili- termine outdoor recreation grant fund- ties. Additionally, in developing pro- ing priorities. We also hoped to deter- grams and activities,we need to think of discoveries was mine differences in participation and in- constructive,safe ways for kids to hang terests between adults and children and out,such as ice cream socials,dances, adjust our programming accordingly. and record(or,in this age,C.D.)swaps. that the youth Beginning in February 1993, onsite It is important to realize that while visits by state parks planning staff to adults may not consider hanging out to public schools in 31 communities be a viable or useful activity, we must perceive hanging throughout Arizona enabled us to talk not dismiss this activity when planning to and see firsthand the kinds of activi- youth programming.After all,they are out t0 b e a ties kids preferred. Additionally, ap- the ones who will participate; so pro- proximately 100 written surveys were grams should address their interests. distributed and collected in each com- To have their opinions respected and munity to a sample of students in grades needs considered gives kids self-es- recreation activity 4-12.The result was a response rate of teem and increased confidence,which nearly 84 percent,or 2,591 useable sur- are essential for a healthy outlook on veys_ life.As park and recreation personnel, and actually ranked Hanging Out and Basketball we need to encourage kids to have good Top List self-esteem and believe in themselves. it highly. Basketball is tops on the youth par- Survey results showed the 10 favorite ticipation list,and low cost and minimal and 1 00 most common pastimes of the required equipment make this activity yf people participating(see Tables nearly barrier-free for students. Fa- y aua 2). One of the most interesting vored equally in both urban and rural discoveries was that the youth perceive areas,basketball is the school sport in hanging out to be a recreation activity which youth report the highest per- and actually ranked it highly.By hang- centage of participation.Additionally,it ing out,the kids mean socializing in an is popular among all ethnic groups in unstructured setting, preferably with- the youth population.These factors un- out obvious adult interference. Most derscore the importance of including survey respondents reported that they basketball courts when agencies con- hang out and enjoy it immensely. sider investments in recreation for Ari- What this tells us is that in developing zona youth.In addition,the value of bas- TABLE 1. YOUTH PARTICIPATION RATES Room P A R J U N E 1 9 9 4 * 5 9