{"title":"Expectation-Perception Evaluation of Theme Park Service Quality in Zhengzhou Fantawild, China","authors":"Chung-Shing Chan, Yumeng Liu, Ching Li","doi":"10.18666/JPRA-2019-9157","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2019-9157","url":null,"abstract":"Theme park tourism is among the fastest-growing trends in the Asia-Pacific region, and specifically in China. Apart from physical attractions, service quality plays a pivotal role in affecting the performance of and visitor satisfaction with theme parks. Theme park service quality, therefore, still requires theoretical knowledge from the field of service and tourism marketing. An investigation of service quality combining SERVQUAL investigation and the expectation disconfirmation theory is key in advancing understanding of theme park tourism in China. This paper aims to understand the level of service quality in Zhengzhou Fantawild, which is one of the most popular theme park brands in China, using a modified SERVQUAL model and its expectation-perception gap. Secondly, the study identified key service quality determinants of visitors' overall satisfaction, and lastly evaluated the service quality of the park. Through an empirical study of visitors (n=192) to Zhengzhou Fantawild, this research reveals that expectation-perception gap appear in all service dimensions. Results confirmed that the service quality of the park does not meet visitor'expectations, especially in terms of reliability. Although results may reflect a publicized high standard of service reliability, such exaggerated expectations might have partly caused the undesirable large experiential gap held by visitors. Tangible quality, reliability, and staff responsibility all play a part to determine visitors' satisfaction with service quality. Thirdly, an expectation-perception analysis mapping of service quality indicates that reliability, assurance, and responsiveness are of service strengths that contribute positively to visitors' experiences. The dimension of empathy is a weakness with low levels of both expectation and perception. Compared with other relevant studies in Hong Kong and in Europe, this study provides a representative case study of one of China's large-scale theme parks, and suggests a divergent configuration of theme park service quality across territories. The study suggests the need for understanding regional and global characterization of service attributes across markets of visitors for long-term theme park development, which indeed matches the hierarchical assessment of service quality in different industries of the tourism sector. Subscribe to JPRA","PeriodicalId":223577,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":"29 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117164888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Designing and Staging High-Quality Park and Recreation Experiences Using Co-Creation","authors":"Andrew Lacanienta, Mat D. Duerden","doi":"10.18666/JPRA-2019-8818","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2019-8818","url":null,"abstract":"While the field of park and recreation has long been focused on designing and delivering quality leisure experiences, the concept of experiences has become increasingly salient across almost all industries over the last two decades. From the time that Pine and Gilmore initially proposed the concept of the experience economy in a 1998 Harvard Business Review article, experiences have become a primary driver of the economy (Pine & Gilmore, 1999; 2011). If an organization is not providing experiences perceived by consumers as high quality and desirable, the organization most likely will not survive. A core concept associated with the design of experiences is co-creation—a collaborative process of value creation between participants and providers (Payne, Storbacka, & Frow 2008; Prahalad & Ramaswamy, 2004a). This paper examines the concept of co-creation and its relevance for the field of park and recreation administration. This is accomplished by introducing a three-phased model of co-creation that spans over the three phases of leisure (i.e., anticipation, participation, and reflection) and discussing co-creation’s applicability to park and recreation settings through a descriptive case study. We define co-creation as active participation, dialogue, and collaboration between participants, producers, and a variety of other stakeholders throughout the process of designing, participating in, and reflecting on an experience (Prahalad & Ramaswamy, 2004b; Rossman & Schlatter, 2015). Based on the work of Duerden, Ward, and Freeman (2015), we propose a three-phased model of co-creation, which includes co-design during the anticipation phase of an experience, co-actualization during the participation phase of the experience, and co-curation during the reflection phase of the experience. This paper provides specific examples of the different forms of co-creation during each experience phase. This paper also introduces the DART (dialogue, access, risk assessment, and transparency) model of co-creation (Prahalad & Ramaswamy, 2002; 2004a; 2004c) and provides examples of its applicability for park and recreation professionals. This paper concludes with a case study exemplifying how co-creation and its associated concepts can be used to design a swim program experience. Although park and recreation professionals have a long history of designing and delivering experiences, they risk seeing their offerings become obsolete if they do not find ways to stay on the forefront of the experience economy. As more organizations come to view themselves as experience providers, the competition for people’s time and resources will increase. We hope the insights in this paper will help park and recreation professionals embrace and apply the concept of co-creation in their experience offerings. Subscribe to JPRA","PeriodicalId":223577,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":"20 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116688040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Matney, William S. Slocumb, Jordan W. Smith, P. Bonsall, Stacy Supak
{"title":"Implementation and Evaluation of a Geospatial Management Solution for the U.S. National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program","authors":"J. Matney, William S. Slocumb, Jordan W. Smith, P. Bonsall, Stacy Supak","doi":"10.18666/JPRA-2019-9250","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2019-9250","url":null,"abstract":"Many U.S. federal land management agencies experience difficulties modernizing the management of their geospatial data. These data are frequently administered using desktop-based geographic information systems (GIS) that require specialized skillsets to operate, potentially rendering insights derived from their usage inaccessible to large swaths of land managers. The increasing scale and complexity of geospatial data necessitates modern management tools. While many land managers regularly seek out novel strategies, there is limited discussion in the literature of applying contemporary web-based GIS techniques to land management problems. This research note presents a standardized geospatial approach in the form of a web GIS tool called a Geospatial Management Solution (GMS). Key components of a GMS are described, alongside its implementation within the U.S. National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program based on their identified needs. Our results include recommendations for land managers considering implementing a GMS, and suggestions for future research. Subscribe to JPRA","PeriodicalId":223577,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":"16 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121319142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amelia Romo, B. D. Taff, Ben Lawhon, D. VanderWoude, P. Newman, A. Graefe, Forrest Schwartz
{"title":"Dog Owners’ Perceptions and Behaviors Related to the Disposal of Pet Waste in City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks","authors":"Amelia Romo, B. D. Taff, Ben Lawhon, D. VanderWoude, P. Newman, A. Graefe, Forrest Schwartz","doi":"10.18666/JPRA-2019-9059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2019-9059","url":null,"abstract":"This study explored dog guardian behaviors and self-reported perceptions regarding the disposal of dog waste on Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) lands in Boulder, Colorado, in an effort to increase compliance with proper disposal practices. We utilized direct observations of dog owners and their behaviors regarding pet waste, and separate self-reported surveys to examine dog owners’ perceptions of waste disposal on OSMP lands. The Theory of Planned Behavior served as a framework to explore how dog owners’ attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control might influence behavioral intentions, as well as self-reported current behavior, regarding the disposal of pet waste on OSMP lands. Finally, this study explored potential management techniques that may influence dog owners to properly dispose of waste on OSMP lands in the future. Data were collected across 10 sites, for total of n =541 observations and n =386 surveys. Canine defecation and human behavioral response occurred n =102 times during the n =541 observations, and overall 73.5% of dog owners properly (i.e., bag waste and immediately take all bags) disposed of waste. Without considering immediate disposal in a trash or compost receptacle, owners with dogs on-leash were significantly more likely to bag their pets’ waste than owners with dogs off-leash. When both bagging waste and immediately disposing of waste in a waste or compost receptacle are considered, owners with dogs on-leash had a tendency (~11% more likely) to bag and immediately take pet waste for disposal. Perceived behavioral control was the construct that most significantly correlated with behavioral intent regarding proper disposal of dog waste. Many respondents reported that additional trash or compost receptacles and bag dispensers along trails would make them more likely to follow recommended practices related to the disposal of pet waste in the future. These results suggest that management should consider the following: designating more on-leash-only sites because compliance is substantially higher when dogs are on-leash; establishing on-leash segments along the first quarter of a mile from all trailheads; installing an additional trash and/or compost receptacle and bag dispenser, specifically one quarter of a mile from the trailheads. Pairing these with educational strategies that inform pet owners to not leave bagged pet waste for later disposal, while highlighting the ease of immediately bagging waste and carrying it to a trash or compost receptacle may further increase compliance. Subscribe to JPRA","PeriodicalId":223577,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":"14 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121800134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nate Furman, Jeff Rose, Nick Rushford, M. Brownlee
{"title":"Supporting Public Lands in an Uncertain Age: The Wasatch Front Urban Ranger Program","authors":"Nate Furman, Jeff Rose, Nick Rushford, M. Brownlee","doi":"10.18666/JPRA-2019-9011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2019-9011","url":null,"abstract":"Open space and parks in urban and urban-proximate areas provide vital social, economic, and health benefits to people and communities. Specific benefits include offering opportunities for people to connect with nature, improving air quality, supporting wildlife habitat, and improving community identity and attachment. Management and maintenance of these areas can be expensive and challenging, particularly when multiple agencies oversee different components of the same resource. In the Salt Lake Valley in Utah, the Jordan River Parkway (JRP) and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) provide recreation opportunities to local citizens. Multiple agencies and private land owners are charged with managing elements of each entity, resulting in inconsistent application of management plans including patrols and maintenance. Subsequently, there are aspects of these outdoor recreation spaces that need increased support, maintenance, and overall stewardship. In 2015, the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism at the University of Utah and the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA) created the Wasatch Front Urban Ranger Program (WFURP), a trail ambassador program featuring student volunteers from the University of Utah. Each Urban Ranger has three primary duties: public engagement, performing light maintenance, and collecting data on various aspects of trail use. During daily patrols, Rangers inform the public of land management issues and direct them to appropriate resources. They perform trail maintenance, including removing litter, cleaning dog waste, and plucking noxious weeds. They collect data about visitor use and conditions in each area, and regularly report the data to respective management agencies and/or law enforcement and health officials. Rangers recruit a student volunteer for each patrol, which helps increase engagement and enhance knowledge about public lands issues among University students. The program is funded through a number of small grants and the majority of the funding supports a graduate student to coordinate the program. Program partners include the National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Jordan River Commission (JRC), and Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Support from additional local and national agencies help train the Rangers, including personnel the Salt Lake City Open Space District, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the USDA Forest Service (USFS), and local law enforcement agencies. Subscribe to JPRA","PeriodicalId":223577,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":"13 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121272250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Study of Public Park and Recreation Professionals’ Career Bridge Employment Intentions","authors":"M. Mulvaney","doi":"10.18666/JPRA-2018-9110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2018-9110","url":null,"abstract":"The number of professionals retiring from public parks and recreation agencies is increasing. This growing number of retirees raises significant challenges (and potential opportunities) for these agencies as they manage this loss of institutional capital. Anecdotal evidence suggests that while some professionals elect to pursue a traditional retirement route by transitioning from full-time employment to full-time retirement, a growing number are choosing to return to the workforce after they retire from their career jobs. Referred to as “bridge” employment experiences, these post-retirement jobs act as transitions between long-term career positions and total retirement. These bridge employment experiences have been found to range from part-time work, self-employment, and temporary employment to full-time employment. Despite these trends, little work has been done to explore the bridge employment phenomenon within the recreation profession. The purpose of this study was to explore possible predictors of public park and recreation professionals’ career bridge employment intentions. Social Cognitive Theory was selected as the theoretical framework for the study to determine the impact of three individual factors (financial preparedness, job satisfaction, physical health) and three environmental factors (social retirement anxiety, career attachment, and professional development opportunities) on career bridge employment intentions. Two hundred and twenty-seven public park and recreation professionals who anticipated retiring within the next 10 years and were currently employed on a full-time basis completed an online survey that was used to measure the variables of interest. Analyses indicated career bridge employment intentions were influenced by professionals’ financial preparedness, social retirement anxiety, career attachment, and professional development opportunities. Interestingly, job satisfaction and physical health perceptions were not found to significantly impact career bridge employment intentions. Overall, the findings suggest that there is a career transition and socialization process that arises as professionals near the retirement phase of their career. The study’s findings identified a few areas of concern and/or opportunities for professionals and their agencies. First, professionals who perceived to be less financially prepared for retirement or who had anxieties about disrupting long-standing friendships and support networks within the workplace were more likely to pursue bridge employment. Secondly, the findings suggest that professionals with stronger career attachment and who were more pleased with the quality and quantity of professional development opportunities were more interested in bridge employment. Subscribe to JPRA","PeriodicalId":223577,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":"34 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128253396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. Dustin, C. Zajchowski, N. Q. Lackey, Deborah A. Tysor, T. Bennett, Katherine Pagano, Megan Taylor
{"title":"Libertarian Paternalism and the Park, Recreation, and Tourism Profession","authors":"D. Dustin, C. Zajchowski, N. Q. Lackey, Deborah A. Tysor, T. Bennett, Katherine Pagano, Megan Taylor","doi":"10.18666/JPRA-2019-8801","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2019-8801","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper we apply the concept of “libertarian paternalism” to the park, recreation, and tourism profession. Libertarian paternalism is a term coined in Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Thaler and Sunstein (2009). Nudges influence people’s choices without compromising or restricting their ability to choose, and therefore may be particularly appropriate in parks, recreation, and tourism. Nudges are proven ways for leaders, programmers, directors, administrators, planners, and policymakers to encourage recreational conduct that is good for recreationists, and that recreationists would likely choose for themselves if only they were privy to all the information about the consequences of their conduct. We begin by briefly discussing “self-paternalism,” a precursor to libertarian paternalism espoused by Sax (1980) in Mountains without Handrails . Then, after explaining what Thaler and Sunstein mean by libertarian paternalism, we describe park, recreation, and tourism professionals as “choice architects” who are responsible for managing the contexts within which recreational choices are made. Choice architects orchestrate nudges by taking advantage of what is known about human psychology, and, in particular, what is known about human psychological predispositions to behave in certain ways. We offer four examples of how choice architects currently influence human behavior, and then challenge readers to think of their own ways to nudge their constituencies in a manner that contributes to human and environmental health. Finally, we advocate for libertarian paternalism, choice architecture, and nudging as an appropriate orientation to service for the park, recreation, and tourism profession. Subscribe to JPRA","PeriodicalId":223577,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":"26 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114151756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jaehyun Kim, Michael D. Ferguson, Benjamin Hickerson, A. Mowen
{"title":"The Association of Constraints, Negotiation, and Social Influences with Recreation Specialization among Recreational Baseball Participants","authors":"Jaehyun Kim, Michael D. Ferguson, Benjamin Hickerson, A. Mowen","doi":"10.18666/JPRA-2019-8794","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2019-8794","url":null,"abstract":"Recreation specialization is a progressive process that describes how recreationists engage in and view an activity over time (Scott & Shafer, 2001). This progression may be influenced by a variety of psychosocial factors behind an individual’s choice to engage in an activity. There have been calls for further studies that identify the antecedents which predict the specialization process (Scott & Shafer, 2001). To date, constraints, negotiation efforts and social influences have been examined separately across a variety of leisure and recreation contexts. However, less is known about the collective contribution of these factors in relation to recreation specialization, particularly with regard to social influences. The social relationships that recreationists build during their recreation careers may be an important predictor of recreation specialization. This study addresses this issue and examines the relationship between constraints, negotiation efforts, positive and negative social influences, and recreation specialization among a sample of recreational baseball participants. The sample consisted of 299 adult recreational baseball players in three cities across Korea. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted using AMOS 22.0, and analysis indicated that negotiation efforts were the strongest predictor of recreation specialization. The more baseball players identified strategies to overcome constraints, the more specialized they were in their activity. We also revealed that negative social influences had direct negative effects on recreation specialization, whereas positive social influences were indirectly associated with recreation specialization through constraints and/or negotiation efforts. Both positive and negative social influences directly triggered baseball participants’ negotiation efforts. That is, increases in positive and negative social influences encouraged participants to use strategies to negotiate the constraints they encountered. Constraints had a negative effect on negotiation efforts, suggesting that perceptions of constraints inhibited people from engaging in efforts to negotiate constraints. On a practical level, results suggest that baseball clubs and program organizers who wish to promote increase specialization could provide club members with a variety of opportunities for minimizing negative social influences. Within each baseball team, role allocation among team members and regular team gatherings may help enhance group bonding and team cohesion and avoid conflicts between team members. Additionally, recreational baseball organizations should consider strategies to reduce the cost of equipment and clothing associated with the sport. To increase sport facility and field availability, we suggested allowing local recreational baseball clubs to use school grounds during non-school hours. Finally, local parks, recreation agencies, and participants should work together for more effective facility scheduling. Subsc","PeriodicalId":223577,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":"18 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128842337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Concussion Management in Summer Camps","authors":"R. L. Robinson, K. Arbogast, B. Garst, D. Corwin","doi":"10.18666/JPRA-2019-8967","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2019-8967","url":null,"abstract":"Children are exposed to head injury throughout the year, specifically during the active summer months. Protocols for managing concussions at summer camps are varied, and the management of concussions in this setting has yet to be evaluated. Our objective was to characterize the patterns of concussion management among summer camp providers via a cross-sectional survey of clinicians. Of the 108 participants, 46% reported a protocol was used to treat concussion in their camp setting, 49% reported comfort in treating concussion at camp, 44% reported they would either send a child home or to a hospital immediately following the injury, and 85% reported they would be likely to use a standardized guideline. The strategies used by surveyed providers may be unnecessarily conservative in the management of concussions, and may also result in an over-utilization of health care services. These results provide a catalyst to create a standardized guideline. Subscribe to JPRA","PeriodicalId":223577,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":"41 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129502869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Scholarship on Race and Ethnicity: Assessing Contributions to Leisure Theory and Practice","authors":"M. Floyd, M. Stodolska","doi":"10.18666/JPRA-2019-8339","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2019-8339","url":null,"abstract":"Increasing racial and ethnic diversity along with a recent surge in racial conflict highlight the need for leisure studies to reflect on its capacity to provide scientific understanding and inform practice related to these issues. As these events unfold, questions emerge about how such trends will shape leisure experiences and opportunities. There are also questions about how we prepare future professionals to manage leisure services in an increasingly multiracial and multiethnic society. These and related issues were addressed in the Butler Lecture at 2016 National Recreation and Park Association Research Symposium. Based on the lecture, this paper provides an assessment of the field’s positioning to provide theoretical perspective on contemporary challenges pertaining to race and ethnicity and explores how the academy can address racial disparities in leisure contexts and within the academy itself. Subscribe to JPRA","PeriodicalId":223577,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":"35 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123422794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}