{"title":"Passive Mobile Data Analysis of Visitor Use in Parks and Protected Areas: Prospects and Challenges","authors":"S. Lawson, C. Monz, Abigail M. Larkin","doi":"10.18666/jpra-2023-11892","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jpra-2023-11892","url":null,"abstract":"With the ever-increasing availability of passive mobile data products and services, parks and protected areas (PPA) professionals have a growing interest in accessing them to analyze visitor use in PPA. There is substantial potential to use passive mobile data for studies of visitor use in PPA, but there is still much to learn about the suitability of them for this purpose. In this paper we provide an assessment of the current state of passive mobile data, including suggestions about how to evaluate the suitability of these data for PPA applications. Our research note is informed by our experience working with PPA professionals over several decades combined, and by our recent work using passive mobile data for PPA applications. We emphasize that this is a rapidly changing field with new data and approaches emerging on a continual basis. Nonetheless, in this discussion we provide our current perspective.","PeriodicalId":46684,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46675613","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}
R. Burns, L. Janowicz, J. Moreira, C. Pierskalla, Ross G. Andrew, D. Smaldone
{"title":"Adventure Recreation Camp: An Informal Education Methodology Used to Educate Youth","authors":"R. Burns, L. Janowicz, J. Moreira, C. Pierskalla, Ross G. Andrew, D. Smaldone","doi":"10.18666/jpra-2023-11581","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jpra-2023-11581","url":null,"abstract":"This study focuses on the informal learning methods that take place in an 8-day structured summer camp. The Appalachian GeoSTEMCamp infused outdoor adventure recreation with geology using an informal-formal learning methodology. The camp was designed to instruct middle school/high school students on earth and environmental sciences in a way that is challenging and interesting, promoting critical and creative thinking. The data adds to a growing body of literature suggesting informal education has an established place in STEM education.","PeriodicalId":46684,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42874898","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}
Steven L. Powers, Seth Carswell, Shannon Barker, Renee Lavin Powers
{"title":"Impacts of Leaf Removal from Trails on Trail Condition and Erosion","authors":"Steven L. Powers, Seth Carswell, Shannon Barker, Renee Lavin Powers","doi":"10.18666/jpra-2023-11544","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jpra-2023-11544","url":null,"abstract":"Deciduous tree leaves on recreational trails alter user experience generally making for less enjoyable and possibly more dangerous conditions. Web searches reveal extensive debate regarding the management of leaves on trails with some trail users adamant leaves should be removed and others equally adamant they should not. Despite this debate, there is a dearth of published guidance and empirical research for decisions regarding leaf management on recreational trails. In this study, we experimentally removed leaves from treatment trail segments at Carvins Cove near Roanoke, Virginia, during late fall in 2019 and 2020 and did not remove leaves from control segments. Physical characteristics of treatment and control segments were statistically indistinguishable. Over the following 2-year period, leaf cover on trails, qualitative trail conditions, compressive soil strength, and soil moisture content were measured in winter, spring, and fall. In fall 2021, erosion of trail was also measured. All measured variables were compared between treatment and control segments. Differences in leaf cover of treatment and control segments were detectable through spring, but were undetectable by early fall. During winter, compressive soil strength was lower in leafless segments. Analyses of qualitative data revealed leafless segments as softer and muddier than leaf-covered segments during winter likely due to increased freeze-thaw cycles on trails lacking the insulating layer of leaves. During spring, soil moisture content was lower in leafless segments likely due to the evaporative barrier provided by the leaves on control segments. During spring, compressive soil strength and qualitative condition did not vary among treatment and control segments. No differences in trail conditions were detectable among treatment and control segments during fall. After 2 years, erosion did not vary among treatment and control segments suggesting there is little impact of widespread leaf removal on long-term sustainability of trails. Thus, we recommend decisions regarding leaf removal focus not on efforts to make trails more sustainable, but rather to maximize maintenance resources for desired user experiences. Specifically, trails regularly plagued with mud during freeze-thaw cycles likely benefit from not removing leaves prior to winter as mud is generally among the least desirable of conditions for trail users.","PeriodicalId":46684,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49356151","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":"Evaluation of Interpretation and Experiencescape Strategies for Mitigating Risk","authors":"Kelli K. McMahan, G. Ellis, Christopher J Wynveen","doi":"10.18666/jpra-2023-11740","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jpra-2023-11740","url":null,"abstract":"Managers of parks and protected areas use numerous strategies to mitigate risk. We investigated two of those in the context of an actual risk mitigation challenge at the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Big 4 Mountain Ice Caves trail: signage strategy and a broadened range of activity options along the trail (i.e., an expanded experiencescape). Signage is a very widely used strategy (Mason, 2005) for managing risk and visitor behavior. The expanded experiencescape strategy was recommended by USDA Forest Service professionals who managed the trail and was intended to redirect visitors’ attention and behavior away from the high-risk feature of the trail (ice caves) by attracting them to other features and activity options (e.g., a beaver pond, varying ecological zones). We created simulated hikes under different interpretation and experiencescape scenarios to evaluate effects of five specific strategies a) new terminus design (experiencescape strategy), b) signage telling the story of the formation of an ice cave (signage strategy), c) a new loop trail (experiencescape strategy), d) death and injury statistics posted at the trailhead (signage strategy), and e) interpretation of trail features other than the ice caves (signage strategy). We evaluated the five strategies by systematically varying the presence or absence of each strategy across simulation videos. After viewing the simulated hike video to which they were randomly assigned, participants (two samples of adult outdoor recreationists, N=406) reported their probability of approaching, entering, or climbing on the ice caves. Effects of new terminus design, posting injury death statistics at the trailhead, and expanded interpretation were significant. Findings suggest that interpretation and experiencescape strategies may promote visitor safety. Recommendations to managers of the Big Four Mountain Ice Caves trail may generalize to other risk-prone sites.","PeriodicalId":46684,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47607961","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":"Long-Distance Cycling Routes: Economic Impacts and Best Practices","authors":"","doi":"10.18666/jpra-2023-11696","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jpra-2023-11696","url":null,"abstract":"Outdoor recreation managers as well as municipal and county economic development specialists can help diversify local, regional, and state economies by developing long-distance cycling routes and supporting bicycle tourism. In this research note, we outline 10 best practices focused on route planning and maintenance and four best practices focused on marketing bicycle tourism. The best practices are grounded in the experiences of practitioners who have developed long-distance cycling routes and academics who have studied their economic impacts. Outdoor recreation managers as well as municipal and county economic development specialists can apply the best practices in their own programs and partnership efforts and amplify the economic benefits of bicycle tourism.","PeriodicalId":46684,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45007057","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}
Kristen Sikorsky, R. Sharp, Jessica Wilkes, Jessica P. Fefer, K. Nelson
{"title":"The Use of Drones for Recreational Impact Monitoring of Public Lands","authors":"Kristen Sikorsky, R. Sharp, Jessica Wilkes, Jessica P. Fefer, K. Nelson","doi":"10.18666/jpra-2022-11429","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jpra-2022-11429","url":null,"abstract":"As visitation to park and protected areas increases globally, public land managers seek to increase the implementation of simple and cost-effective methods to collect indicator and threshold data to address environmental and visitor experience concerns. Unmanned aerial vehicles, also referred to as drones, may be a logical addition to monitoring regimes. This study examined the outcome of using overhead drone imagery to monitor two management-selected indicators, visitor-created trails, and vegetation loss, in a newly established Kansas state park, Little Jerusalem Badlands. Images were analyzed by SamplePoint software in 10x10 meter grids with 100 sample points each. Within the first five months of the park opening, vegetation loss was observed in key areas of Little Jerusalem at rates varying from 2.7% to 42.3%. The formation of one visitor-created trail also occurred during this time. These results confirm the benefit of using drones for long term monitoring of environmental indicators that will aid land management agencies in decision-making to reduce recreational impacts associated with visitor use.","PeriodicalId":46684,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43946576","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}
Michel T.R.N. de Omena T.R.N. de Omena, Rafael de Oliveira Dura Escrich, N. Hanazaki
{"title":"Information Technology for Participatory, Dynamic Administration of Brazilian National Parks","authors":"Michel T.R.N. de Omena T.R.N. de Omena, Rafael de Oliveira Dura Escrich, N. Hanazaki","doi":"10.18666/jpra-2023-11528","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jpra-2023-11528","url":null,"abstract":"Information Technology tools have evolved and can be useful in bringing society closer to the administration of Protected Areas through Citizen Science-type initiatives. This study developed and tested two tools for National Parks (NPs)(Beta versions): 1) a cellphone app (Parceir@s Parques Nacionais), and 2) a website (Conserva Parques) that we hope will enable users to interact with NP managers who can gain more direct access to visitors’ perceptions. The app’s goal is to establish user-manager interactions through the registration of occurrences in the NPs, and through the website, thus providing society with a prediction of the degree of nature conservation in NPs by making hypothetical alterations to public use variables. The perceptions of those “beta-testers” were registered in an online form. Both tools achieved approval ratings of over 75%. The conclusion is that the testing of both tools developed in this study can progress to a phase directly with NP users.","PeriodicalId":46684,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42791970","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":"Should I Stay, or Should I Go Now? The Impact of Psychological Contract Breach in Volunteerism","authors":"Pam Kappelides, R. Hoye, G. Cuskelly","doi":"10.18666/jpra-2023-10566","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jpra-2023-10566","url":null,"abstract":"Given the extent of the contribution of volunteers to nonprofit organizations, one aspect of managing volunteers effectively is the potential importance of understanding the nature of psychological contract breaches and how they impact the volunteering experience and future intentions of volunteers. Three elements are considered to comprise the PC of a volunteer: (1) a transactional element that covers whether an organization provides adequate nonmonetary benefits, training, and preparation in exchange for a volunteer’s time, skills, and effort; (2) a relational element where organizations provide support for volunteers via supervisors or managers in return for volunteer’s loyalty or commitment to the organization; and (3) an ideological element or connection to the organization based on an alignment between an individual’s beliefs and values and those espoused by the organization or the cause that is supported by the organization (Hoye & Kappelides, 2021). We explore these concepts in the context of therapeutic camps in Australia where volunteer camp leaders are central to the experience of campers, leading program activities, providing guidance and support or even personal care. We conducted 32 in-depth interviews with volunteers from nonprofit therapeutic camping organizations to examine the degree to which psychological contract breach(es) may impact volunteers' intention to continue volunteering. The purpose of the study was to establish the main forms of PC breach in therapeutic camping organizations, and determine the association of the ideological element of a PC held by volunteers toward mitigating the impact these breaches might have on future program contribution and retention of therapeutic camping volunteers. Evidence from this study indicated that the ideological element of a volunteer’s psychological contract may play a central role in the decision to continue volunteering in the face of violations of the relational or transactional elements of their psychological contract with their organization. In this context, the concept of the ideological element of PCs can provide organizations with a deeper understanding of volunteers’ expectations and behaviors from the start of a relationship by setting clear standards and roles surrounding how to best support a valued cause from the start of a relationship that may be key to reducing the risk of PC breaches. Organizations may improve volunteer retention by providing support and opportunities that are specific to the ideological components of the PC that volunteers are seeking.","PeriodicalId":46684,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48062613","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":"Changing Interpretations of the Nexus and Developer Credit Elements in Parkland Dedication Ordinances","authors":"J. Crompton","doi":"10.18666/jpra-2023-11679","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jpra-2023-11679","url":null,"abstract":"Parkland dedication is receiving increasing attention from cities because it provides capital funding without raising taxes on existing residents. Its parameters are dependent on interpretation of court rulings and in the past decade these have changed in ways that substantially enhance the potential of these revenues for local governments. The changes invariably become the focus of controversies between developers who resist paying the dedication fees and elected officials who are charged with safeguarding the interest of taxpayers. This paper addresses two central areas of controversy: Changes in interpretations of what constitutes a “nexus”; and the magnitude and characteristics of credits given to developers who provide park amenities in their projects. The “essential nexus” principle requires there to be a reasonably proximate connection between facilities developed with the resources derived from a dedication and the residents who will reside in the development providing those resources. A recent census of the 73 cities in Texas that have parkland dedication ordinances was analyzed and the relative merits of five different approaches they have used for defining service areas is discussed: a single city-wide zone, pre-determined zones; reasonable proximity; specified distance; and a hybrid model of distance/pre-established zones. Among the 73 ordinances reviewed, approximately half believed the most equitable ratio for crediting developers for park amenities they provided within subdivisions was 50%. Among the others, maximum credit varied from 0% to 100%. The relative merits are evaluated, together with the extent to which floodplain land and retention ponds are acceptable to meet a dedication requirement.","PeriodicalId":46684,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42684536","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":"Content and Area Income Disparities in Recreation Center Website Promotion of Physical Activity","authors":"David Kahan, T. McKenzie, Olivia Kallai","doi":"10.18666/jpra-2022-11332","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jpra-2022-11332","url":null,"abstract":"Physical activity (PA) is associated with numerous health benefits; however, both children and adults in the U.S. fall short of national PA recommendations. Diverse agencies have identified the importance of recreation professionals playing an ac-tive role in providing and promoting PA, including via recreation centers. Few studies have examined the contributions public recreation centers make in pro-viding residents with opportunities for PA, and those that exist offer mixed results concerning the influence of neighborhood family income levels.Recreation center websites are a popular, cost-efficient, and flexible me-dium for providing information about PA and center programs. We completed a line-by-line analysis of the content of the websites of all public recreation centers (N = 58) in the city of San Diego, California. We extracted the days and hours the centers operated as well as PA facil-ity types and programs they provided. Program details were identified, includ-ing content, frequency/duration for classes, participants targeted, and enrollment costs. Additionally, we generated information about local neighborhoods, includ-ing family median income levels. Diverse statistical analyses were conducted, overall, and by a median split for neighborhood income status. On average, centers had 4.5 PA facilities and were open 59 hours/week, with no differences by neighborhood income. Meanwhile, centers in higher-income areas provided significantly more programs (5.3 vs 2.3). Overall, 33 distinct facility types were identified, but only gymnasia and outdoor basketball courts were listed by over 50% of centers. Fifty distinct programs were identified, with dance, teen center, basketball, and volleyball mentioned most frequently.","PeriodicalId":46684,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Park and Recreation Administration","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41538162","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}