Journal of Leisure Research · 2005 · 214 citations · 55 references
Social SciencesUrban StudiesPark DesignParks PlanningPublic Space StudiesPark ManagementRecreation GeographyResident AttitudesVisitor ManagementPark Access DisparitiesPark Benefits AssessmentPark GeographyPark SatisfactionUrban Open SpacesUrban Park ManagementUrban Park Planning
The study examined how gender and ethnicity influence preferences for park characteristics, visitation patterns, and perceived benefits among residents of two eastern U.S. metropolitan areas. The authors surveyed 1,570 residents, excluding 65 incomplete responses, achieving an approximate 27 % response rate. Women rated certain park attributes as more important, yet gender did not affect visitation or perceived benefits, whereas ethnicity significantly influenced preferred attributes, visit frequency and type, and perceptions of park effects, with no interaction between ethnicity and gender.
AbstractThis paper examined how gender and ethnicity are related to preferences for various park characteristics, visitation to urban parks and open spaces, and perception of park benefits as reported by participants in a mail survey of residents in two metropolitan areas in the eastern United States. In total, 1570 questionnaires were completed, but 65 cases were deleted because they failed to identify their ethnicity or gender. The overall response rate for the survey was approximately 27%. Although women were more likely than men to evaluate some park characteristics as "important," there were no significant gender differences/variation in the types of visits or the perceived benefits of parks. There was significant ethnic variation in preferred park attributes, frequency and type of visits, and perceptions of the positive and negative effects of parks. However, the effects of ethnicity were not found to differ for men and women.KEYWORDS: Genderethnicitypark visitationrecreation preferences and benefits
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