Power, Promise, Potential, C H A P T E R 1 Power, Promise, Potential, and Possibilities of Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Ellen O’Sullivan Chapter 1 Power, Promise, Potential, and Possibilities of Parks, Recreation, and Leisure

Welcome to Exploring Play, Parks, Recreation, and Leisure And how it might relate to you personally or professionally

Depth and Breadth of the Parks and Recreation Field Activities and pursuits are everywhere, touching the lives of everyone: 24 hours a day 7 days a week 52 weeks a year Inclusive of all people At all points on the globe An ever growing economic force An aspect of life that is central to human existence

Parks, Recreation, and Leisure: Everywhere, Everyone, All the Time Leisure takes place in cities and towns, small villages, the countryside, and large urban centers. Leisure experiences occur both inside buildings and outdoors or sometimes both. Leisure can be found in all the places and spaces in which people gather to play, enjoy, and relax.

It’s for Everyone Leisure touches the lives of everyone: all ages, life stages, cultures, social classes, and genders. Recall personal experiences or observations of others and identify the people participating. What is your memory of those involved?

Examples of All the Time Ski areas open at first light. Health clubs open at 4:30 a.m. Heavily industrialized communities offer adult leagues and activities to accommodate the traditional three shifts of factory work. The city of Las Vegas offers unusual times for programs and activities because many residents work shifts in the casinos, which operate 24/7. YMCAs and community centers offer sleepovers for children while providing respite for parents. Midnight basketball puts recreation on the 24- hour timetable.

Parks and Recreation: It Makes Up Most of Our Time Consider the following: Approximately eight hours of every day is spent sleeping. Work, school, and related activities such as chores and errands or homework might consume eight hours per day. Taking into account individual variations, leisure time could amount to more than one- third of a person’s life.

Play, Recreation, Leisure, and Flow Interchangeable terms or not?

Terms Are Related but Differ From One Another Play is a spontaneous experience undertaken voluntarily in which the rewards are intrinsic. Recreation refers to activity undertaken for amusement, enjoyment, distraction, or restoration. Leisure can be defined as any of the following: unobligated time, state of being, or consumption patterns. Flow is a state of being in which the person is fully engaged in an activity that results in feelings of energy, focus, and success that often turn out to be the optimal life experiences for that person.

Values and Benefits of Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Three Types of Benefits Improved condition Prevention of a worse condition Realization of a psychological experience (Driver, 1998)

Benefits Described Improved condition. In the case that a human, natural, or economic factor is not functioning at full capacity or is functioning in a deleterious manner, the benefit of recreation is to ameliorate this condition. Prevention of a worse condition. Not every instance of poor performance or threatening conditions can be improved. The value of parks and recreation is to stem further erosion or deterioration of a human, natural, or economic condition. (continued)

Benefits Described (continued) Realization of a psychological experience. Leisure pursuits that people select for the intrinsic values afforded through the experience. Benefits such as stress reduction, sense of control, and spirituality are examples.

Four Categories of Benefits Benefits can be segmented into four categories: Individual—opportunities for living, learning, and leading full and productive lives as well as avenues for people to experience purpose, pleasure, health, and well-being Social—opportunities to live and interact with friends, families, work or school groups, neighbors, communities, and the world (continued)

Four Categories of Benefits (continued) 3. Environmental—sustaining human life and protecting the ecosystem through the preservation and protection of open space 4. Economic—enhancing the viability of people and places by serving as an investment in the future, rather than a mere expenditure in the present

Trends in Play, Parks, and Recreation Trend is a general change or changes that are general in nature and have overriding implications.

Changes Leading to Trends Patterns and shifts related to economic, sociodemographic, technological, and other societal changes

Potential Trend Example More people working at home or unemployed (economic) More people living longer and living alone in isolation (science and sociodemographics) Growing reliance and preference for use of technology to communicate (technology) Overarching trend: the need for more incentives and activities to encourage physical activity and social interaction

Why Parks and Recreation as a Professional Career Choice? Personal growth Empowerment Sense of purpose Resourcefulness on the part of the professionals in that field

Qualities and Characteristics of the Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Profession Variety of settings Avoidance of burnout Less formal settings Creativity in approaches Continual changes Early career responsibilities Resourcefulness

Making a Difference In the life of one person or even a group of people By contributing to the vitality and viability of a community By protecting nature and preserving cultural and historic sites

Unique Qualities of Parks and Recreation People are empowered to choose voluntarily how they will use their own unobligated time. Fun is fundamental to attracting people to activities and options that are intrinsically valuable to individuals, friends, families, neighborhoods, communities, and society.

Focus of Remaining Chapters To provide a comprehensive view of recreation and leisure and its history, concepts, and delivery systems To offer information about career choices in recreation and leisure To introduce students to professors and professionals in U.S. and Canadian recreation and leisure whose careers and passions are in various areas of the profession