understanding regional park visitation habits of a culturally diverse community ed souza, cprp santa...

Understanding Regional Park Understanding Regional Park Visitation Habits of a Culturally Visitation Habits of a Culturally Diverse Community Diverse Community

Ed Souza, CPRPSanta Clara County Parks

Graduate Student- SJSU

Dr. Gonzaga da GamaSan Jose State University

Presentation GoalsPresentation Goals

The benefits of outdoor recreation

Presentation GoalsPresentation Goals

The benefits of outdoor recreationA changing culturally diverse

community

Presentation GoalsPresentation Goals

The benefits of outdoor recreationA changing culturally diverse

communityCurrent research on the topic

Presentation GoalsPresentation Goals

The benefits of outdoor recreationA changing culturally diverse

communityCurrent research on the topicGaps in the research and possible

future research

Presentation GoalsPresentation Goals

The benefits of outdoor recreationA changing culturally diverse

communityCurrent research on the topicGaps in the research and possible

future research studiesWhat can P&R Professionals do?

Presentation GoalsPresentation Goals

The benefits of outdoor recreationA changing culturally diverse

communityCurrent research on the topicGaps in the research and possible

future research studiesWhat can P&R Professionals do?What’s next for P&R Professionals?

Benefits of Outdoor RecreationBenefits of Outdoor Recreation

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

Benefits of Outdoor RecreationBenefits of Outdoor Recreation

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

Benefits of Outdoor RecreationBenefits 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 RecreationBenefits 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 RecreationBenefits 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 RecreationBenefits 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 CountyEthnic Trends in Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County Ethnic Diversity

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

Whites Afro-Am. Hispanics Am-Indian Asian Haw.-Pac.Is.

Other

1980

1990

2000

A Changing Ethnic LandscapeA 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 LandscapeA 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 Racial and Ethnic Groups Underrepresented as Visitors to Parksas 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 VisitationConstraints 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 GroupsStudied 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?What’s the NPS finding out? Rodriguez, Bright & Roberts (2004) 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?What’s the NPS finding out? Rodriguez, Bright & Roberts (2004) 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?What’s the NPS finding out? Rodriguez, Bright & Roberts (2004) 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?What’s the NPS finding out? Rodriguez, Bright & Roberts (2004) 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?What’s SCCO Parks Finding?

For what specific activity are you likely to use a Santa Clara County Park?

5.94

40.6

9

21.9

10.66.4

26.7

5.3

28.7

1317.4 16.9

6.2

20.1

3

7.4

16.6

6.1

34.4

0

1020

3040

50

Bring kids toplay

Family outing Hike/Walk Bike Picnic

Caucasian/White

Asian

Hispanic/Latino(a)

Other

What’s SCCO Parks Finding?What’s SCCO Parks Finding?

Why are you unlikely to use a Santa Clara County Park?

10

5.1

23.6

5.1

10.27.6 7.7 7.7

0

23.1

26.123.8

7.1

11.9

00

18.5 18.5

0

31.7

0

10

20

30

40

Disabled/limitedmovement

Inconvenientlocation

Not interestedin outdoorrercreation

Poorlymaintained

Unaware of theirexistence

Caucasian/WhiteAsianHispanic/Latino(a)Other

What’s SCCO Parks Finding?What’s SCCO Parks Finding?

Are you aware there is overnight camping in Santa Clara County?

41.1

57.9

18.9

78.4

24.9

74.3

21.3

78.7

020406080

100

Yes No

Caucasian/White

Asian

Hispanic/Latino(a)

Other

What’s SCCO Parks Finding?What’s SCCO Parks Finding?

If you received information about County Parks in your native language would you

be more likely to use the information?

27

62

12

58

36

60

20

40

60

80

Yes No DK

Voters

Non-Voters

Communicating About ParksCommunicating 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 GroupsPark Preferences Within Racial Groups

Use patterns and preferences varied within racial groups as well as between them.

Gobster (2002)

Challenges to Studying Racial GroupsChallenges 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 StudyGaps in the Research/future Study

Understanding of immigrants and their convergence into the mainstream with cultural assimilation

Gaps in the Research/future StudyGaps 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 StudyGaps 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? What can P&R Professionals do?

Ask your community

What can P&R Professionals do? What can P&R Professionals do?

Ask your community1. Surveys

What can P&R Professionals do? What can P&R Professionals do?

Ask your community1. Surveys2. Focus Groups

What can P&R Professionals do? What can P&R Professionals do?

Ask your community1. Surveys2. Focus Groups3. Customer Comment Cards

What can P&R Professionals do? What can P&R Professionals do?

Ask your community1. Surveys2. Focus Groups3. Customer Comment Cards

Diversity training for your staff

What can P&R Professionals do? What can P&R Professionals do?

Ask your community1. Surveys2. Focus Groups3. Customer Comment Cards

Diversity training for your staff

Recruit a diverse workforce

What can P&R Professionals do? What can P&R Professionals do?

Ask your community1. Surveys2. Focus Groups3. 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? 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?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?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?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?

ConclusionConclusion

“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 Souzaed.souza@prk.sccgov.org

Gonzaga da Gamagonzaga@casa.sjsu.edu