Chapter 13 Future Perspectives of Recreation and Leisure
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
81590_CH13_FINAL.qxd:McLean 1/4/11 10:05 AM Page 389 © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION CHAPTER 13 © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR FUTURESALE OR DISTRIBUTION PERSPECTIVESNOT FOR SALE OF OR DISTRIBUTION RECREATION AND LEISURE © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION ᭜᭜᭜ Definition of Future: The future has always had a very special place in philoso- phy and, in general, in the human mind. This is true largely because human ©beings Jones often & want Bartlett a forecast Learning, of events that LLC will occur. It is perhaps possible© Jones to & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOTargue FORthat the SALE evolution OR of theDISTRIBUTION human brain is in great part an evolutionNOT in cog- FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION nitive abilities necessary to forecast the future, i.e., abstract imagination, logic, and induction. Imagination permits us to “see” (i.e., predict) a plausible model of a given situation without observing it, therefore mitigating risks. Logical rea- soning allows one to predict inevitable consequences of actions and situations © Jones & Bartlettand therefore Learning, gives useful LLC information about future ©events. Jones Induction & Bartlett permits Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALEthe ORassociation DISTRIBUTION of a cause with consequences, a fundamentalNOT FOR notion SALE for every OR DISTRIBUTION forecast of future time.1 ᭜᭜᭜ © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION INTRODUCTIONNOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION The remarkable growth of organized recreation, parks, and leisure services is docu- mented throughout this text. Despite the impressive history of this social movement and field of professional activity, a number of continuing and emerging issues and con- cerns affect© Jones the regard & Bartlett for the role Learning, of recreation, LLC parks, and leisure in personal,© Jones commu- & Bartlett Learning, LLC nity, andNOT national FOR life. SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION The new century, now more than 10 years old, is already experiencing new challenges, opportunities, and approaches to the leisure mosaic. Former traditional models of leisure are changing in many communities; traditional approaches to the provision of recreation © Jonesservices & Bartlett are changing; Learning, opportunities LLC for leisure are more© abundant Jones &than Bartlett at any timeLearning, in LLC recorded history; governments and people are rethinking the role of parks, recreation, NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION and leisure in the national fabric; and nonprofits are expanding services while commer- cial enterprises are engaging in new leisure opportunities. As the United States and © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © 389Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION. 81590_CH13_FINAL.qxd:McLean 1/4/11 10:05 AM Page 390 © Jones & Bartlett390 Learning, Chapter LLC 13 Future Perspectives of Recreation© Jones and & LeisureBartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION the world experiences its most serious economic decline in 70 years, following almost 30 years of sustained economic growth, decisions about what government can do, should do, and what citizens are willing to pay for are in the forefront of discussions. © TheJones notion & ofBartlett parks, recreation, Learning, and LLC leisure as a social welfare model© Jones remains & viable,Bartlett Learning, LLC especiallyNOT FOR in consideration SALE OR ofDISTRIBUTION those who are underprivileged; but forNOT many FOR others, SALE the OR DISTRIBUTION social welfare model has become outdated and the public, politicians, and leisure practitioners are looking for new models. How do public parks, recreation, and leisure provide effective © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC recreation ©services Jones in an& eraBartlett of economic Learning, uncer- LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION tainty? WhatNOT is the FOR appropriate SALE roleOR and DISTRIBUTION respon- sibility of urban, suburban, and rural recreation agencies and of nonprofit organizations? This chapter discusses issues, challenges, and changes in the American fabric that affect parks, recre- © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jonesation, & and Bartlett leisure. Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FORHow SALE should OR the DISTRIBUTION major priorities of organ- ized recreation service in the United States be determined? In what ways can or should govern- Technology has changed the use of inner-city ment provide more effective and efficient ser- playgrounds. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLCvices in this field? What© Jonesare the & special Bartlett Learning, LLC responsibilities of organized recreation toward peopleNOT with FOR physical SALE and OR mental DISTRIBUTION disabilities, toward the new aging, orNOT toward FOR those SALE who OR DISTRIBUTION may have had inadequate opportunities in the past because of their gender or other demo- graphic factors? How has technology affected the planning, delivery, operation, and marketing of parks © Jones & Bartlettand recreation—in Learning, the LLCpublic, nonprofit, and commercial© Jones sectors? & Bartlett Social media, Learning, smart LLC NOT FOR SALEphones, OR netbooks, DISTRIBUTION and a whole host of hardware supportedNOT FOR by rapidly SALE emerging OR DISTRIBUTION software has changed the way people look at, use, and embrace technology. Long-held assumptions about how information is shared and exchanged are no longer valid. How will leisure-service professionals respond and anticipate such changes in the years ahead? How will the changing social and economic conditions in the coming decades affect © Jones & Bartlett Learning,the public’s LLC leisure values and patterns© Jonesof participation, & Bartlett and how Learning, can recreation, LLC park, and NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTIONleisure-service professionals and organizationsNOT FOR respond SALE effectively OR DISTRIBUTION to the challenges of the future? KEY RATIONALE© Jones GUIDING & Bartlett LEISURE-SERVICE Learning, LLC DELIVERY TODAY© Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION For recreation, parks, and leisure-service practitioners, it is possible to identify a num- ber of key principles that should be used to guide their professional operations today. First, it is assumed that such individuals—no matter what their fields of specialization— regard recreation and leisure as important to human growth and community develop- © Jones & Bartlettment. A contemporary Learning, LLCphilosophy of organized recreation© Jones service & Bartlett therefore Learning, should deal LLC NOT FOR SALEwith such OR important DISTRIBUTION issues as the place of recreationNOT and leisureFOR SALEin modern OR life, DISTRIBUTION the role of government, the development of programming based on significant social needs, and the place of leisure education. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION. 81590_CH13_FINAL.qxd:McLean 1/4/11 10:05 AM Page 391 © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC Key Rationale© Jones Guiding & Leisure-Service Bartlett Learning, Delivery Today LLC 391 NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION Place of Recreation in the Modern Community In U.S. society, our view of recreation as a social phenomenon and area of community involvement is influenced by our governmental systems. In our Constitution and in court decisions© Jones that & have Bartlett influenced Learning, government LLC policy through the years, ©we Jones have accepted & Bartlett the Learning, LLC viewNOT that, FOR on variousSALE levels,OR DISTRIBUTION government has the responsibility for providingNOT FOR certain SALE major OR DISTRIBUTION services to citizens. These include functions related to safety and protection, education, health, and other services that contribute to maintaining the quality of life of all citizens. Linked to this system of governmental responsibility is our general acceptance of the Judeo–Christian concepts of the worth and dignity of all human beings and the need to © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC help each person become the most fully realized individual that he or she is capable of NOT FOR SALEbeing. OR Through DISTRIBUTION government and through many voluntaryNOT FOR community SALE ORassociations, DISTRIBUTION we have accepted the responsibility for providing needed services and opportunities for people at each stage of life and for those who because of disability have been deprived in signifi- cant ways. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION Needs of Individual Citizens Recreation and leisure are important aspects of personal experience in modern life for the physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual benefits they provide. Posi- tive leisure experiences enhance the quality of a person’s life and help each person develop© Jones to the & fullestBartlett potential.