December 2017 - Parks & Recreation - 15

Our goal with Park Pulse
The March poll also had political implications for Washington. It showed that
most Americans support proposals that
would allow them to use pre-tax money
from a health savings account (HSA) or
flexible spending account (FSA) to pay
for fitness programs or recreation. Potential eligible expenses could be fitness
club fees, sports equipment, youth sports
league fees and class registration costs.
Support for the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act crosses all generations, especially among parents.
The April poll celebrated Earth Day
by finding an overwhelming majority
(83 percent) of Americans agreeing that
it is important their local government -
including the local park and recreation
agency - prioritize environmental initiatives. These initiatives can include sustainable or green practices, such as water
quality monitoring, green space assessment, environmentally friendly buildings
and lawn upkeep.
May's poll looked at the pervasiveness
of hunger in our nation. More than 30
percent of poll respondents indicated that
either they have personally experienced,
know someone who has experienced or
both parties have experienced food insecurity. Food insecurity is defined as not
having regular access to enough food
because of financial difficulties. Millennials and Americans with children in the
household were at greatest risk.
In June, we learned how parks and
recreation plays a key role in what is likely Americans' favorite outdoor activity:
walking. Nine in 10 adults report walking
for leisure or pleasure, with favorite places to walk being local parks (49 percent),
a beach or along a river (49 percent) and
a local trail (39 percent). Millennials and
parents with children in the household
walk for leisure or pleasure at their local
park more than any other group.
However, walking is not the only way
adults stay active outdoors. The July poll
highlighted that the typical American

is to broaden Americans'
understanding of what
parks and recreation
means.
spends five hours per week - approximately 45 minutes a day - on outdoor
play (e.g., exercising, participating in
organized sports, playing with kids at a
playground, walking around the neighborhood or local park, or taking a swim).
More than two in five survey respondents
who are either a parent or baby boomer
report spending over an hour a day being
active in the outdoors.
August is a prime vacation month for
many families and that month's poll took
a closer look at how park and recreation
opportunities are a major determinant
on where people choose to vacation. Key
drivers for vacation destination choices include the availability of beaches/
waterfront, nature/scenery, areas that
are secluded and relaxing, museums/
aquariums/zoos, and trails for walking,
running and biking.
Violent protests at public spaces, including those in Charlottesville, Virginia,
necessitated the need to emphasize that
parks play a positive role in being a safe
place where people can gather and express themselves openly and freely. This
includes many types of events where
people gather and voice their support
or opposition to issues. The September
poll found that 9 in 10 Americans believe the right to assemble peacefully in
a constructive, respectful and safe manner in public spaces, like parks and town
squares, is important.
The October poll broadened the role
that most Americans have for their local recreation centers beyond their traditional offerings of fitness centers,
out-of-school time programming and

aquatic facilities. Among requested nontraditional recreation center services are
healthy living classes, programming for
older adults, nature-based activities and
access to computers and the internet.
With the support of the public, these
nontraditional offerings will continue
to grow as park and recreation agencies
look to fill the gaps of needed services in
their local communities.
Doctors often advise their patients to
increase their level of physical activity
to improve one's health and to manage
chronic conditions. The November poll
found that Americans turn to parks and
recreation when they receive this advice.
This includes 3 in 5 poll respondents
who indicate they would take up walking, jogging or biking through local parks
or trails. Other ways Americans would
increase physical activity with parks and
recreation include working out, taking
an exercise class or swimming.
As this column was going to press,
we were polling Americans on winter
and holiday season events they were
planning to attend. The December poll
results will show that the local park and
recreation agency sponsors many of
these favorite winter and holiday events,
including holiday commemorations and
parades, New Year's Eve celebrations,
holiday-themed races and walkathons.
We publish NRPA Park Pulse poll results at www.nrpa.org/park-pulse, where
we include an infographic, interactive
charts and key bullet points of the poll's
key findings. You can also find the infographic right here in Parks & Recreation
magazine and in periodic postings on
NRPA's Open Space blog. Moreover,
we want to hear your feedback and your
ideas for future poll questions. Please
send your poll question suggestions to
me at kroth@nrpa.org. I look forward to
hearing your suggestions.
Kevin Roth, Ph.D., is NRPA's Vice President of
Research (kroth@nrpa.org).

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December 2017 - Parks & Recreation

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