4

Recreation and

Leisure in the Modern Era

Objectives Discuss the ways in which recreation and leisure

services expanded in the years immediately following World War II.

Discuss the social and demographic changes that initiated many changes in recreation and leisure services in the years following World War II.

Identify the ways in which the recreation and leisure movement participated in and aided many of the causes taken up by the youth counterculture of the 1960s and 1970s.

Objectives (cont’d)

Identify the social trends that brought a decline in the perceived value of leisure during the late 1970s and 1980s.

Discuss the prospects for the future of recreation and leisure, based upon the prevalent trends at the close of the twentieth century.

Introduction

Growing concern about the environment Government's role in preservation and

conservation

Stronger emphasis on recreation's role in combating poverty and discrimination

Programs designed to better serve girls and women, people with disabilities and older adults

Introduction (cont’d)

Emergence of specialized disciplines and professional groups serving Military Business Private membership groups

Economic austerity of the 80s and 90s, and the following upsurge in the national economy

Post-World War II Expectations

Expanding definition of leisure in the 1950s and 1960s

Focus on the future showed expansive leisure time Rand Corporation Hudson Institute National Commission on Technology

Post-World War II Expectations (cont’d)

Assumption that leisure would become

increasingly important to preserving value Agreement that work ethic was declining Work becoming more specialized Leisure seen as having great potential for

confronting social problems

Post-World War II Expectations (cont’d)

Widespread downsizing in the mid-1990s Economic pessimism Late 1990s recovery and growth improved

Expansion of Recreation and Leisure

Influence of National Affluence Rising GNP following WWII Americans were spending billions per year on

leisure pursuits Until the mid 1970s government increased:

Budgets Personnel

Facilities Programs

Growing professional curricula

Expansion of Recreation and Leisure (cont’d)

National Recreation and Park Association created from

• National Recreation Association

• American Recreation Society

• American Institute of Park Executives

Effect of Demographic Changes Move from cities to surrounding suburbs

following WWII

Expansion of Recreation and Leisure (cont’d)

Suburbs established their own recreation services and plans

Inner city population experienced immigrant influx

• Many accustomed to rural living with few job skills

• Posed problems of health, housing, welfare and social control

Trends in Program Sponsorship

Physical Fitness Emphasis Response to many draft rejections during

WWII Schools strengthened physical fitness programs Public recreation departments expanded fitness

offerings Canada establishes similar programs

Trends in Program Sponsorship (cont’d)

Environmental Concerns Critical need to preserve and rehabilitate

resources Pollution was invading the environment Outdoor Recreation Resources Review

Commission• Created under President Eisenhower

• Appointed to investigate environmental problems

Trends in Program Sponsorship (cont’d)

Government Acts• Federal Water Pollution Control Administration

• Water Quality Act of 1965

• Clean Water Restoration Act of 1966

• Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965

• Highway Beautification Act of 1965

• Mining Reclamation Act of 1968

• Wilderness Act 1964

Trends in Program Sponsorship (cont’d)

Nonprofit AgenciesAmerican Land TrustNature ConservancyTrust for Public Lands

Federal Agencies involved • National Park Service• Forest Service• Fish and Wildlife Service• Bureau of Land Management

Trends in Program Sponsorship (cont’d)

Budget cuts in the 1980s• Regulations relaxed under Secretary of the Interior,

James Watt• National outdoor recreation planning ends in 1981

Meeting Age-Group Needs Three changes in population

• Rise in birth rate• Longer life spans• Increasing divorce/single parent households

Trends in Program Sponsorship (cont’d)

Special Recreation for Persons with Disabilities Provision of services expanded and strengthened Federal government increased aid for special

education Therapeutic recreation emerges

• National Recreation Society 1960s

• American Therapeutic Recreation Association 1980s

Trends in Program Sponsorship (cont’d)

Increased Interest in the Arts Expansion of cultural centers following WWII

• Follow-up to attention given to arts during Great Depression

• Expanded interest and participation Community arts activities in the 1970s and

1980s National Endowment for the Arts Declining federal support in the 1980s

Trends in Program Sponsorship (cont’d)

Recreation's Antipoverty Role Recreation viewed as an important element in

President Johnson's "War on Poverty" Federal housing programs of 1930s and 1940s

provided support for small parks, playgrounds Assistance for locally directed recreation

programs

Trends in Program Sponsorship (cont’d)

Linkage of Antipoverty and Race-Related Programming Riots of 1960s caused by frustration over

• Continuing job and educational discrimination• Protests against justice system• Poor community services• Inadequate recreation and park programs and

facilities

Trends in Program Sponsorship (cont’d)

Antipoverty programs attempted to address concerns

• Emphasis on minority groups and urban slums

• Grants to local governments and organizations

• Community Action Programs emerged

Counterculture: Youth in Rebellion

Rejection of the Work Ethic Rejection of the notion of "making it" in

professional world Retreat from Protestant work ethic Emphasis on holistic values of leisure Leisure in the pursuit of self-actualization

Drives for Equality by Disadvantaged Groups

Racial and Ethnic Minorities Thrust for demanding fuller recreational

services in the 1960s and 1970s Gradual desegregation during 1970s and 1980s Membership efforts of YMCA, Boy Scouts and

Girl Scouts expanded to serve minorities Racial and ethnic minorities achieve success in

college and professional sports and entertainment

Drives for Equality by Disadvantaged Groups (cont’d)

Progress for Women In the 1970s women mobilized around two

issues in recreation and leisure:• Employment discrimination• Program involvement

Gays and Lesbians• 1960s and 1970s saw homosexuals growing in force

and influence• Fight for equal representation and participation

Drives for Equality by Disadvantaged Groups (cont’d)

Older Adults in Community Life Once treated as powerless and vulnerable AARP, Gray Panthers Administration on Aging Diversification of programs

Health care Housing and transportation Social services RecreationNutrition

Drives for Equality by Disadvantaged Groups (cont’d)

Programming for Persons with Disabilities People with disabilities began to mobilize

politically Promotion of positive legislation Therapeutic recreation specialists expand focus Expansion of services

• Theater arts• Skiing• Sports

Era of Austerity and Fiscal Cutbacks

Expanding Use of Revenue Sources Acceptance of Marketing Orientation

• Recognition of the necessity to be aggressive

• Recreation emerges as an industry

• To compete effectively, agencies had to adopt businesslike strategies

Era of Austerity and Fiscal Cutbacks (cont’d)

Privatization of Recreation and Park Operations Agencies resort to subcontracting or developing

concession arrangements Role of government challenged Public departments contract with private

companies

Era of Austerity and Fiscal Cutbacks (cont’d)

Impact of Funding Cuts National Urban Recreation Study of 1978

• Majority of urban park and recreation departments had been cut back

• Small towns survived better than major cities

Areas of greatest need often have the fewest recreation services

• Public and private recreation is equally scarce

Expansion of Other Recreation Programs

Commercial recreation is the largest component of leisure services

Other major sectors of leisure involvement Travel and tourism Fitness spas Professional sports and sports equipment Manufacture/sale of hobbies, toys and games Varied forms of popular entertainment

Expansion of Other Recreation Programs (cont’d)

Specialized recreation programming grows steadily Therapeutic recreation Employee services Campus recreation Private membership and residential leisure

services

Trends in the 1990sTrends in the 1990s

Continuing Diversification• Broader emphasis beyond the local public realm• Overall need to broaden public awareness of this

field

Economic Stratification Implications for Leisure

• "Conspicuous consumption"• Growing disparity between rich and poor• Rich have greater access to better services and

facilities

Trends in the 1990s (cont’d)

Growing Conservatism in Social Policy Withdrawal of assistance of welfare and inner

city programs in the early 90s Striking down of Affirmative Action policies Curbs on immigration from third world nations Bilingual language programs discarded Move to reduce environmental protections Assaults on the NEA

Trends in the 1990s (cont’d)

Number of those imprisoned rose as crime decreased

• Vindictive attitude toward justice• Few recreation services for the incarcerated

New mandates for public welfare• Child welfare• Long-term care for older adults• Health care• Environmental protection enforcement• Legal help for the urban poor• Youth programs

Trends in the 1990s (cont’d)

Commodification and Privatization of Leisure Services Commodification

• Process of commercialization through design and marketing

• Packaging leisure

• Conglomeration

Trends in the 1990s (cont’d)

Fee-based public recreation Annual or seasonal programs Classes, camps, tournaments, special events

Privatization Prison industry grows in the 90s Central Park Conservancy Marks withdrawal of major portions of the

population Brought decline of "social capital"

Trends in the 1990s (cont’d)

New Environmental Initiatives Decades of neglect and overcrowding left

nation's park and forest system in a precarious state

National Park Trust• Acquisition of new parks and wetlands

Reported Decline of Leisure• Disputed Findings

Trends in the 1990s (cont’d)

Technological Impacts on Leisure Travel

• Tourism planning and reservations• Electronic guidance and navigation systems

Home environments• Nanny cams• Home theater systems• Intelligent wallpaper• Virtual features• Automations• Electronics

Trends in the 1990s (cont’d)

Television, video games, children's toys• 80% of homes have cable or satellite

• 40% of free time is spent watching television

• Gaming content, Internet

Trends in the 1990s (cont’d)

Paradox of availability• Those who need it the least have the best access

• Few services for those who would most benefit

Critical challenge for recreation professionals• Gather evidence of social value and outcomes

• Incorporate evidence into benefit-based management

Leisure and Recreation in the Twenty-First Century

• Major influences– Changing demographics– Economic recession

Leisure and Recreation in the Twenty-First Century (cont’d)

• Sedentary lifestyles– Contributes to obesity epidemic– Particular concerns about obesity and lack of

physically activity for children– Parks and recreation services identified as

necessary for promotion of public health

Leisure and Recreation in the Twenty-First Century (cont’d)

• Economic Recession– Declining tax revenues increase demands for

financial accountability– New emphasis for evaluation and outcomes

assessment

Leisure and Recreation in the Twenty-First Century (cont’d)

• Changing demographics require new programs and services– Growth of older population– Changing family composition– Increase in ethnic diversity