August 2016 - Parks & Recreation - 14

Research

respondents said that they would likely
alter their outdoor plans this summer because of concerns about Zika. Specifically, 6 percent of surveyed Americans said
that they " definitely will " change their
summer plans, 7 percent say that they
" very likely " will alter plans and 12 percent indicate they are " somewhat likely "
to adjust plans this summer. At the same
time, two-thirds of Americans do not
anticipate a significant change in their
summer outdoor activities as a result of
the Zika virus. Perhaps more shocking
is that 10 percent of survey respondents
indicated that they are not familiar with
Zika and its potential health effects.
The percentage of respondents indicating a likelihood of altering their
summer plans because of Zika concerns rises among certain segments of

the population. For example, 40 percent of Millennials were altering their
outdoor plans versus just 16 percent of
Baby Boomers. Similarly, 76 percent of
Boomers do not plan to change their
summer plans this year compared to
just 46 percent of Millennials. People
with children also are more likely to
alter summer plans than those without
(36 percent versus 21 percent).
In June, we turned our attention to the
warm weather and the beginning of summer. The poll focused on Americans' favorite outdoor activities. Almost every
activity cited happens at local parks. Specifically, the top five favorite outdoor activities are:Having a picnic/barbeque (55
percent of survey respondents)
1. Going for a walk/hike (49 percent)
2. Going to the beach (40 percent)

Most Popular Community-Based,
Summertime Events in America
A recent survey conducted by the National Recreation and Park Association asked
1,017 Americans ages 18+ to weigh in on the types of community-based events
they plan to attend this summer.
Many of the events listed are offered by local park and
recreation departments nationwide.

56%

46%

34%

4th of July

Farmers
Markets

Outdoor Concerts
and Movies

or Other Holiday Celebration

Carnival/Fair

Food Festival

Arts/Crafts Fair

33%

31%

25%

Cultural Festival

Running/Bike Race

16%

www.nrpa.org
©2016 National Recreation and Park Association
Based upon a survey conducted for the National Recreation and Park Association by Wakefield Research among 1,017 nationally representative
Americans, ages 18+, between June 16th and June 23rd, 2016, using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas have been set to ensure reliable
and accurate representation of the U.S. adult population ages 18+. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the
variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews
conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points
from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

12 Parks & Recreation

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3. Exploring nature (36 percent)
4. Attending festivals (30 percent)
Favorite activities differ by generation.
For example, the summer outdoor plans
of Millennials are more likely than Baby
Boomers to include going to the pool,
going camping, working out (e.g., running) and playing sports. On the other
hand, Boomers are more likely to make
outdoor summer plans that include having a picnic/barbeque, going for a walk/
hike and exploring nature.
Similarly, adults living with children
are more likely than those without children to plan trips to the pool, schedule
camping outings, get in some boating/
other water activities and participate in
sports. At the same time, households
without children are more likely than
those with children to be looking for-

August 2016 - Parks & Recreation

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