Comparing the Preferences of Black, Asian, Hispanic, and White Fishermen at Moraine Hills State Park, Illinois

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of a study conducted at Moraine Hills State Park outside of Chicago, which is one of the few Illinois state parks that gets a high level of use by ethnic minorities. Personal interviews were conducted with 310 fishermen at two sites within the park: the McHenry Dam, a highly developed recreation area on the Fox River, and Wilderness Lake, a beautiful and very rustic lake in the park's interior. Results indicate that, despite the aesthetics and cleaner water of Wilderness Lake, Black, Hispanic, and Asian fishermen were more likely to fish at the dam, they preferred fishing at the dam, and they travelled farther to get to the park than White fishermen. Site and experience preferences were similar for fishermen of all cultural backgrounds, except that minority fishermen were especially interested in the availability of facilities, and Blacks and Hispanics were more interested in socializing. These results indicate McHenry Dam is an important regional resource for minority fishermen, that they prefer highly developed sites, and that they are willing to travel for preferred recreational experiences.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the Symposium on Social Aspects and Recreation Research, February 19-22, 1992, Ontario, California

Citation

Blahna, Dale J. 1992. Comparing the Preferences of Black, Asian, Hispanic, and White Fishermen at Moraine Hills State Park, Illinois. In: Chavez, Deborah J., technical coordinator. 1992. Proceedings of the Symposium on Social Aspects and Recreation Research, February 19-22, 1992, Ontario, California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-132. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 42-44