Recreation Overview - Concepedia

Principles

Definition

Recreation is the study and practice of engaging in structured leisure or purposeful activities, often investigated within therapeutic and health-related contexts. As a concept and field of inquiry, it examines the role of diverse activities, such as adaptive sports and creative arts, in promoting and improving an individual's physical, emotional, social, and cognitive functioning.

Ontological type

Health and Therapeutic Outcomes

Core Activities

Theoretical Frameworks

Key developments

Key Figures

Motivation & Constraints era

Gary W. Evans [1] conducted work across Cornell University [3] and the University of Oregon [4] during the Motivation & Constraints era (1973–1994). A central contribution attributed to Evans [1] in this era is the analysis of the restorative effects of natural environment experiences, as articulated in the 1991 paper Restorative Effects of Natural Environment Experiences [7], which helped anchor measurement of nature-based motivation and perceived restorative value. Terry Hartig [2] was affiliated with University of California, Berkeley [5] and University of California, Irvine [6] during this era. His work, as reflected in the same 1991 paper Restorative Effects of Natural Environment Experiences [7], advanced theories of how restorative natural experiences influence motivation, intrapersonal constraints, and place attachment, informing policy-relevant evaluations of environmental management in the era.

Context and Built Environment era

Andrew J. Mowen [1] is a scholar whose work in this era is associated with Pennsylvania State University [3] and the University of Montana [4]. His contributions include The significance of parks to physical activity and public health [7], and Do Age and Gender Matter in the Constraint Negotiation of Physically Active Leisure? [8], which together illuminate how parks, environmental attributes, and demographic factors shape recreation behaviors and welfare in this era. Deborah A. Cohen [2] is a scholar whose work in this era is associated with University of Pennsylvania [5] and the University of California, Los Angeles [6]. Her key contribution centers on The significance of parks to physical activity and public health [7], illustrating the public health and equity implications of park access for physical activity, which informed contextual policy and planning in this era.

Geospatial Data Analytics era

Joachim Maes [1] is a scholar associated with the University of Padua [3] and the University of Bologna [4] in this era. His key contribution is the 2014 framework for mapping cultural ecosystem services to assess the potential for outdoor recreation across the EU [7], which advanced geospatial approaches to quantify recreation value and inform policy across diverse European contexts. Richard A. Fuller [2] is affiliated with The University of Queensland [5] and the University of Copenhagen [6] in this era. His notable contribution is the 2014 study Opportunity or Orientation? Who Uses Urban Parks and Why [8], which provided empirical insight into park usage patterns and implications for equitable access and urban recreation planning.