Understanding Regional Park Visitation Habits of a Culturally Diverse Community Ed Souza, CPRP Santa Clara County Parks Graduate Student- SJSU Dr. Gonzaga da Gama San Jose State University

Presentation Goals The benefits of outdoor recreation

Presentation Goals The benefits of outdoor recreation A changing culturally diverse community

Presentation Goals The benefits of outdoor recreation A changing culturally diverse community Current research on the topic

Presentation Goals The benefits of outdoor recreation A changing culturally diverse community Current research on the topic Gaps in the research and possible future research

Presentation Goals The benefits of outdoor recreation A changing culturally diverse community Current research on the topic Gaps in the research and possible future research studies What can P&R Professionals do?

Presentation Goals The benefits of outdoor recreation A changing culturally diverse community Current research on the topic Gaps in the research and possible future research studies What can P&R Professionals do? What’s next for P&R Professionals?

Benefits of Outdoor Recreation Outdoor Recreation has been linked to: General well-being of the community

Benefits of Outdoor Recreation Outdoor Recreation has been linked to: General well-being of the community Individuals learn new skills

Benefits of Outdoor Recreation Outdoor Recreation has been linked to: General well-being of the community Individuals learn new skills Development of new relationships

Benefits of Outdoor Recreation Outdoor Recreation has been linked to: General well-being of the community Individuals learn new skills Development of new relationships Builds family and community

Benefits of Outdoor Recreation Outdoor Recreation has been linked to: General well-being of the community Individuals learn new skills Development of new relationships Builds family and community Exposes people to natural resources

Benefits of Outdoor Recreation Outdoor Recreation has been linked to: General well-being of the community Individuals learn new skills Development of new relationships Builds family and community Exposes people to natural resources Bolsters local economies Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (2000)

Ethnic Trends in Santa Clara County

A Changing Ethnic Landscape Population changes in California by the year 2020: 58% increase in Hispanics 55% increase in Asians/ Pacific Islanders 29% increase in Native Americans 20% increase in African Americans 4% decrease in persons of European descent California State Parks (2006)

A Changing Ethnic Landscape “More than a third of all Asians and nearly a third of all Hispanics will live in California. By 2030, the Hispanic population will reach 43% and Spanish has the potential of being spoken in nearly half of California households.” California State Parks (2006)

Racial and Ethnic Groups Underrepresented as Visitors to Parks … “although the ethnic and racial make-up of the American population is fast growing, African-American and Latino visitors are “effectively absent from major parks” (p. 20). Goldsmith (1994)

Constraints to Visitation Marginality- the lack of socio-economic resources and historical discrimination limit park visitation Subcultural- visitation patterns reflect differences in values, norms and socialization patterns Assimilation- park use reflects an acquisition of the dominant culture Discrimination- park visitation is affected by perceived, actual, or institutional discrimination Floyd (1999)

Studied Groups Early research focused on outdoor recreational behavior differences between African-Americans and whites. More recently, researchers have studied a greater racial, ethnic and culturally diverse sampling of communities.

What’s the NPS finding out? Rodriguez, Bright & Roberts (2004) Constraints facing Latinos and African- Americans go beyond ethnicity- social and economic considerations need to be made.

What’s the NPS finding out? Rodriguez, Bright & Roberts (2004) Constraints facing Latinos and African- Americans go beyond ethnicity- social and economic considerations need to be made. Need to understand the residual affects of discrimination as it relates to perceptions and experiences of discrimination in the outdoors.

What’s the NPS finding out? Rodriguez, Bright & Roberts (2004) Constraints facing Latinos and African- Americans go beyond ethnicity- social and economic considerations need to be made. Need to understand the residual affects of discrimination as it relates to perceptions and experiences of discrimination in the outdoors. There is a perception that national parks are an “exclusive club” for middle-upper class white people and not “welcoming” to minorities.

What’s the NPS finding out? Rodriguez, Bright & Roberts (2004) Constraints facing Latinos and African- Americans go beyond ethnicity- social and economic considerations need to be made. Need to understand the residual affects of discrimination as it relates to perceptions and experiences of discrimination in the outdoors. There is a perception that national parks are an “exclusive club” for middle-upper class white people and not “welcoming” to minorities. Perception of “institutional” discrimination.

What’s SCCO Parks Finding?

Communicating About Parks Asian groups studied relied heavily upon ethnic media sources, both print and broadcast, to receive information about recreational opportunities Winters, Jeong and Godbey (2004)

Park Preferences Within Racial Groups Use patterns and preferences varied within racial groups as well as between them. Gobster (2002)

Challenges to Studying Racial Groups Some groups may experience entirely different types of constraints and the normal assumptions of constraints believed to hold for one racial or ethnic population may require modifications before they can be successfully applied to other minority populations. Rodriguez, Bright & Roberts (2004)

Gaps in the Research/future Study Understanding of immigrants and their convergence into the mainstream with cultural assimilation

Gaps in the Research/future Study Understanding of immigrants and their convergence into the mainstream with cultural assimilation Study of groups within groups

Gaps in the Research/future Study Understanding of immigrants and their convergence into the mainstream with cultural assimilation Study of groups within groups Park use preferences as it relates to age and gender differences of ethnic and racial communities

What can P&R Professionals do? Ask your community

What can P&R Professionals do? Ask your community 1. Surveys

What can P&R Professionals do? Ask your community 1. Surveys 2. Focus Groups

What can P&R Professionals do? Ask your community 1. Surveys 2. Focus Groups 3. Customer Comment Cards

What can P&R Professionals do? Ask your community 1. Surveys 2. Focus Groups 3. Customer Comment Cards Diversity training for your staff

What can P&R Professionals do? Ask your community 1. Surveys 2. Focus Groups 3. Customer Comment Cards Diversity training for your staff Recruit a diverse workforce

What can P&R Professionals do? Ask your community 1. Surveys 2. Focus Groups 3. Customer Comment Cards Diversity training for your staff Recruit a divers workforce Communicate to your customers in their native language

What can P&R Professionals do? Learn about your community’s attitudes, perceptions and experiences of discrimination regarding your parks

What’s Next for P&R Professionals? Parks and recreation professionals will be increasingly challenged to meet the needs of diverse communities

What’s Next for P&R Professionals? Parks and recreation professionals will be increasingly challenged to meet the needs of diverse communities How will parks and recreation professionals use the data gathered by researchers regarding the behavior and habits of a racially and culturally diverse community?

What’s Next for P&R Professionals? Parks and recreation professionals will be increasingly challenged to meet the needs of diverse communities How will parks and recreation professionals use the data gathered by researchers regarding the behavior and habits of a racially and culturally diverse community? What actions, strategies, policies and plans will park and recreation professional employ for the inclusion and incorporation of a rich racially and culturally diverse community into parks?

Conclusion “Park professionals need to better understand why the parks do not appeal to ethnic minorities as much as they do to the traditional white user. What are the participation patterns and trends? What perceptions exist? What barriers continue to impede visitation and enjoyment? Why do national parks appeal to internationally diverse people, yet have seemingly limited appeal among ethnically diverse domestic audiences?” Roberts and Rodriguez (2001)

Questions?

Thank You! Ed Souza Gonzaga da Gama