Visitor Perceptions of Benefits of Local Park

Recent research regarding the perceived benets of local parks has been limited, posing a problem for recreation and park directors who must promote the value of and gain support for aging park facilities. To collect evidence concerning the value of local parks and the impact of park upgrades, we conducted a study with one local park to (a) document behavioral changes that have occurred as a result of renovation, and (b) determine the perceived benets of having a community park. Two-thirds of respondents reported visiting the park more frequently since renovations were completed. When asked why they visit the park and what makes it an attractive or appealing place to visit, they indicated that the park has a great atmosphere, is a great place to play, is a “third place,” is a safe play space, reduces playground fatigue, and has meaning for individuals of all ages

Leisure Experiences and Social Support Systems of Latino Students With DACA Status

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the leisure experiences of undocumented Latino young adults with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status in order to note any potential links between leisure experience and success in reaching higher education. This population faces a unique set of challenges in their transition to adulthood and their pursuit of and access to higher education. Research suggests that 3 common factors among undocumented young adults who have been successful in reaching higher education are extra-familial mentors, positive social supports, and supplementary educational programming. This study used these 3 factors and the principles of contact theory to examine leisure experiences of undocumented young adults with DACA status. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7 young adults with DACA status who were enrolled in higher education. The data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Due to the difficulty accessing this population, snowball sampling was used beginning with a volunteer database from a local Hispanic Alliance. The results support previous literature that has identified constraints this population faces when striving for higher education, as well as the capacity of populations that experience disadvantages for leisure constraint negotiation. The findings show leisure and recreational pursuits support the development of the above mentioned 3-factor support system, helpful in reaching higher education, from previous literature and document a severe drop off of both leisure and recreation participation after high school graduation. Limitations of the study and implications for practice and future research are discussed

The relevance of Innovation Theory of Successful Aging for baby boomers transitioning to retirement

Several theories of aging (e.g., activity theory, continuity theory) have guided leisure and aging research over the past several decades. Most of these theories originated in the fields of psychology or sociology and have been applied by leisure scholars. Recently, Innovation Theory of Successful Aging was postulated to specifically explore leisure in retirement (Nimrod & Kleiber, 2007). Unlike previous theories which suggest that older adults either maintain similar leisure patterns or cease participation, innovation theory indicates that older adults seek out new leisure opportunities in later life in order to reinvent or preserve a sense of self (Nimrod, 2008). Similarly, it suggests that adopting new leisure activities in retirement can promote personal growth in later life. However, Nimrod and Kleiber suggest that because the theory is at “a formative stage,” (p. 18) additional research is necessary to refine it. Therefore, in this presentation, we will explore the relevance of Innovation Theory for Canadian baby boomers transitioning to retirement. We utilized a multi-author blog to understand baby boomers’ experiences of leisure as they transitioned to retirement. Participants included twenty-five adults who were planning to retire within five years or who had recently retired. Participants blogged about leisure and retirement for three two-week sessions over several months, followed by in-person focus groups, which were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. While participants were invited to write about topics of their choosing, guiding questions were provided as a starting point for discussion. Questions included: What did you do with your free time today? Were any of these activities new? What do these activities mean to you? Data were analyzed following Charmaz’s (2014) initial, focused, and selective coding. Participants valued leisure throughout the retirement transition as it helped them embrace the challenges and joys of this new life phase. Pre-retirement participants viewed leisure as an escape from work related stress and looked forward to increased free time to pursue both new and long-held interests. Retirees had more time to invest in pursuit of lifelong activities and discovering new activities that upheld lifelong values (e.g., a participant who valued physical activity took up crossfit). Along with pursuing new and former leisure, participants described both developing new social relationships and rekindling old ones. A minority of participants struggled to identify meaningful opportunities to replace feelings of accomplishment found in the workplace. The findings indicate that innovation theory may be relevant in explaining leisure engagement amongst baby boomers transitioning to retirement. Participants pursued activities that were meaningful and contributed to a sense of well-being in retirement such as personal growth, health and well-being, and time with loved ones. Thus, their leisure choices contributed to both self-reinvention innovation and self-preservation innovation (Nimrod & Hutchinson, 2010; Nimrod & Kleiber, 2007). Research suggests that baby boomers are markedly different from previous generations and may have more inclination to adopt new leisure activities in later life (Pruchno, 2012). Additional research is needed to explore leisure innovation beyond the initial transition as baby boomers begin to settle into retirement

Physically Active Leisure and the Transition to Retirement: The Value of Context

The purpose of this paper is to explore the everyday experiences of physically active leisure during the transition to retirement. Twenty-five adults aged 47–66 who were recently retired or nearing retirement blogged during three different two-week sessions over one year and participated in follow up focus groups. Data were analysed using initial, focused, and selective coding. Findings provided insights into participants’ experiences of physically active leisure in the context of their everyday lives. First, increased freedom in daily schedules led to both appreciation for spontaneity and a desire for structure. Second, participants experienced new constraints related to the loss of social networks and work-related physical activity. Finally, participants described physically active leisure as being connected to meaningful outcomes such as enjoying the outdoors, stress-relief, or socializing with family and friends. Physically active leisure was described as one health priority among many and one of several healthy leisure alternatives

Blogging into Retirement: Using Online Research Methods to Understand Leisure among Baby Boomers

Leisure scholars have argued that Internet research can be used to reach a broader audience, particularly as seniors use the Internet to have fun (e.g., playing games, sharing stories). In this paper, we explore the challenges and opportunities afforded by online qualitative data collection to study leisure among baby boomers who participated in a multi-author blog. We review insights gained regarding participants' positive and negative experiences with blogging as part of a research project, the process of negotiating the researchers' roles in terms of participating in and managing the blog, and strengths and limitations of the process in generating quality data (e.g., varying levels of engagement and reflection). Recommendations regarding online qualitative research with older adults are also discussed

“Proceed With Caution”: Public Perceptions of Corporate Sponsorship of Public Park and Recreation Services

Identifying and securing reliable funding has long been cited as a major challenge to growth by recreation and leisure professionals (Crompton, 1999; Walls, 2009). Whereas municipal park and recreation agencies have traditionally relied on tax-supported revenues, fiscal conservatism and recent economic conditions have necessitated entrepreneurial park funding strategies such as corporate sponsorship (Mowen, Kyle, Borrie, & Graefe, 2006; Walls, 2009). However, a greater understanding of constituent perspectives is needed for park and recreation agencies to effectively pursue, design, and manage sponsorships. This study seeks to add to the understanding of how park constituents perceive corporate sponsorship in public parks. Specifically, this study assesses how park constituents personally perceived advantages and disadvantages of corporate sponsorship of a public park agency. A qualitative method was utilized in order to allow constituents a chance to express their opinions in their own words. Data were collected through three open-ended questions attached to a larger online survey of park users about corporate sponsorship activities by the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA). Data were analyzed using a constant comparison method (Corbin & Strauss, 2007). Participants identified both potential positive and negative outcomes of corporate sponsorship activity, as well as reasons for support or nonsupport. Monetary benefits, and the resulting service, facility, community, and economic benefits were identified as positives. Negatives involved a perceived loss of public ownership, increased commercialization, poor sponsor/agency fit, and negative impacts on the park setting and experience. Respondents also provided advice for pursuing sponsorships, including pursuing other options first, creating a well-defined set of limits to sponsorship activity, emphasizing public benefits, and restricting where sponsorship activity could occur. Results from this study reinforce the notion that corporate sponsorship is a complex and potentially divisive issue. Sponsorship benefits often come with strings attached, and for many respondents the negative impact of sponsorship on these public spaces outweighed the potential positives. Park and recreation agencies wishing to pursue corporate sponsorship should tread carefully when initiating or expanding sponsorship programs. Soliciting public opinion, emphasizing public benefits to sponsorship, proceeding with caution, and establishing a set of guidelines is recommended. Certain areas within and services of the agency may be more suitable to sponsorship than others, and the location and context of the situation should be considered

Leisure innovation and the transition to retirement

Innovation theory posits that adopting new leisure activities contributes to well-being in later life. We explored the relevance of innovation theory among Canadian baby boomers transitioning to retirement. Using grounded theory and online qualitative methods, we recruited baby boomers who had recently retired or were planning to retire in the next five years. Twenty-five participants engaged in three two-week blogging sessions, followed by face-to-face focus groups/interview over about one year. Data, including blog posts from each session and focus group/interview transcripts, were analyzed using initial, focused, and theoretical coding. Two main themes, embracing retirement and pursuing new and former leisure, highlighted nuances of leisure and the transition to retirement as participants adjusted to increased free time along with shifting priorities and available resources. The findings supported innovation theory and suggested areas of refinement

Retirement Transitions among Baby Boomers: Findings from an Online Qualitative Study

Résumé En 2011, les baby-boomers canadiens ont commencé à franchir la barre des 65 ans, ou l’âge traditionnel de la retraite. Il est possible que la perception et l’expérience de la retraite s’avèrent différentes dans cette génération, comparativement aux générations précédentes. Le but de cet article est d’explorer les tendances dans la transition vers la retraite de baby-boomers en Saskatchewan, en lien avec les phases qu’ils ont traversées au cours de cette transition. Dans cette étude effectuée en ligne selon un modèle de théorie ancrée, 25 baby-boomers approchant de la retraite ou récemment retraités ont participé à un blogue multi-auteurs où ils ont partagé leurs expériences et les processus liés à leur retraite. Des données additionnelles ont été collectées dans le cadre d’entrevues et de groupes de discussion réunissant les participants après la fin de leur participation au blogue. Les participants ont adopté différents modèles dans leur processus de retraite, certains arrêtant de travailler, d’autres poursuivant leurs activités professionnelles dans le cadre de travaux occasionnels ou à temps partiel, ou en effectuant d’autres types de travaux. Les résultats ont mis en évidence 3 phases dans la transition vers la retraite : la préretraite, caractérisée à la fois par certaines craintes liées à la retraite et par l’idéalisation de la retraite parfaite, suivie de la transition initiale, au cours de laquelle les participants ont comparé la retraite à des vacances prolongées, au cours desquelles ils ont peiné à s’adapter à l’augmentation de leur temps libre, pour enfin arriver à une transition de moyen terme où ils ont appris à équilibrer structure et flexibilité. Les résultats suggèrent que bien que la transition vers la retraite présente plusieurs défis, plusieurs personnes rapportent des visions et des expériences positives de cette transition. Abstract Canadian baby boomers began turning 65 - traditional retirement age - in 2011. How this generation perceives and experiences retirement may differ from preceding generations. In this online, grounded-theory study, 25 baby boomers who were approaching retirement or had recently retired participated in a multi-author blog about their retirement experiences and processes. We collected additional data via subsequent focus groups and participant interviews. Participants retired in several ways, including ceasing work, adopting casual or part-time work, and adopting new types of work. Findings highlighted three phases of the retirement transition: pre-retirement, characterized by both apprehension about retirement and idealization of the perfect retirement; the initial transition, which participants compared to an extended vacation, but in which they also struggled to adjust to increased amounts of free time; and mid-transition, when participants learned to balance structure and flexibility. Findings suggest that despite retirement transition challenges, many people have positive experiences with this transition

Visitors\u27 Opinions of Who Should Provide Services and Amenities in State Parks

Public recreation and park agencies’ efforts to privatize have been hailed by many as an efficient way to deliver government services, but there is very little empirical evidence to support this claim. To date, most researchers have documented the public’s attitude toward privatization through polls regarding basic preferences, but few have afforded citizens the opportunity to discuss their own reasons for supporting or opposing recreation and park privatization practices. This is unfortunate, as understanding the public’s feelings about privatization will help managers decide the best option for delivery of their services and amenities. This study focused on visitors’ opinions of who (private sector vs. public sector) should operate various services/amenities within a state park system and, more importantly, why they hold these opinions. On-site interviews were conducted during the peak season at 13 different state parks in Pennsylvania. According to most state park visitors, Pennsylvania state parks should be primarily responsible for environmental education programs, park maintenance, campground operations, pool and beach staff, and outdoor recreation programs. In terms of why they felt this way, visitors suggested that it was because employees have the knowledge about and the ability to control services and amenities within state parks. They also indicated that operating these services and amenities is what agency employees should do, because they are the stewards of the parks, and that maintaining such operations will eliminate the possibility of over-commercialization. Alternatively, respondents generally felt that food and beverage services, watercraft rentals, and special events and festivals should be operated by private contractors. They perceived that private contractors would enhance the quality of and be more cost effective in providing these services and amenities within state parks. Respondents also suggested that state park employees should not be responsible for services and amenities that are not central to their job, and allowing private contractors to compete for the opportunity to manage these services and amenities may also result in more jobs in the area. Results of this study can help managers of public parks to consider whether or not privatization is an appropriate option for various elements of their systems. If they decide to privatize, they will need to write clearly delineated and enforceable contracts, which can be difficult in small rural areas where few competitors bid for contracts. Further, in situations where state park managers face intense scrutiny from the public, they may want to consider forming intergovernmental cooperative agreements (i.e., formal and informal agreements between governmental entities to lend support to each other). Such agreements may be easier to manage and may result in less animosity from the general public. Results also can assist non-profit and commercial organizations who provide contractual services at state parks by illustrating the reasons that visitors cite concerning the merits of outsourced services. Given that there will continue to be shifts in the public- vs. private-sector delivery of recreation and park services, particularly in the face of current budgetary crises faced by public agencies, managers are encouraged to continue to document how visitors feel about the operation of their park services and amenities