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0 MYTH: Parks and recreation services are just for kids L] Ll REALITY: Use of local government recreation cnd park services not only continues across the life cycle, but people between the ages of 66 and 75 are slightly more likely to use local park frequently than any other age group. In aging society, recreation and park services will become increasingly important. Even now, for the US and Canada combined, 35 is the best predictor year for use of services, slightly older than the average age of residents of both countries. US participation in Local Park and Recreation Services Age Group Use local parks Use recreation programs Frequent Occasional No Yes No 15-20 23 57 20 39 61 21-35 25 56 18 33 67 36-55 25 53 22 34 66 56-65 21 42 38 20 80 66-75 26 35 39 18 82 76-95 15 29 56 11 89 MYTH: Ethnic minorities get excluded REALITY: There was no statistical difference in the likelihood of participation in recreation programs based on one's ethnic status in the US. For park use, the percentage of Hispanics who make no use of local parks during the last twelve months was only 10 percent while for Blacks it was 29 percent and for whites 26 percent. For other ethnic groups, the figure was 18 percent. Hispanics and African -Americans were equally likely to use other recreation services provided at the local level. MYTH: Women get excluded from local covernment recreation and park services. REALITY: Women are as likely to use local parks as men and are as likely to participate in other recreation activities and services spcnscred by local government. This is true in both the US and Canada. MYTH: People who live in condominiums or luxury apartments are no less likely to use local parks than any other citizens. REALITY: People who live in condominiums or luxury apartments are no less likely to use parks than any other citizen.