Outdoor recreation participation and preferences by Black and White Chicago households
| Authors: | John F. Dwyer, Ray Hutchison |
| Year: | 1990 |
| Type: | Book Chapter |
| Station: | Northern Research Station |
| Source: | Vining, J., ed., Social science and natural resource recreation management. Boulder, CO: Westview Press |
Abstract
The President's Commission on Americans Outdoors (1987) reports that our greatest recreation needs are in urban areas close to home and that many urban residents have special needs. However, in many instances planners and managers have difficulty serving these special urban needs because they lack information about them. A review of the recreation literature suggests that little is known about the recreation preferences and patterns of the urban black population, which is the largest minority group in Chicago and in many other large cities (Wendling 1981). Consequently, planners and managers do not know what approaches should be taken to provide recreation opportunities for this group. As a step toward filling this void, this chapter reports on an effort to more precisely delineate the outdoor recreation patterns and preferences of black and white Chicago households, compare these patterns, and explore explanations for similarities and differences. It also discusses recommendations for recreation resource management and research.