Recreation non-participation and barriers to participation: Concepts, and models

Recent literature has suggested that managers in recreation are being confronted with numerous problems and issues, making their job increasingly complex. Chief among the issues facing recreation managers are those associated with the economy and fiscal restraint. In this era of cutbacks, facilitation, and reduced service, some individuals are being excluded either by design or by accident. The results from the 1981 Public Opinion Survey on Recreation conducted by Alberta Recreation and Parks susbtantiated this concern in the interrelated areas of recreation non-participation and barriers to participation. Based on the results of this research, considerations for managing recreation services are presented. Implications for philosophy, policy, program planning and marketing are the specific areas to be addressed. These implications are reviewed in the context of the current economy and the future. This is a parallel paper to Jackson and Searle which reports the concepts, research results and a model for further research on recreation non-participation and barriers to participation.