Laserfiche WebLink
0 MYTH <br />: Local government park and recreation services are just for poor people. <br />REALITY: Poor people are somewhat less likely to use local government recreation and park <br />services, as they are less likely to use almost every other local government service. <br />Suprisingly, however, the percentage of the public who are low income using local <br />government recreation and park services is substantial. In the US, 69% of those with <br />household incomes under $20,000 used both local parks and 25% used other recreation <br />services supplied by local government. <br />Recreation and park use in the US by income <br />use parks <br /><S20K 520-59K S60K= <br />[Frequently 25 23 33 <br />Occasionally 44 54 51 <br />Not at all 31 23 16 <br />% use recreation service <br /><S20K 520-59K S60K+ <br />Yes 25 42 50 <br />No 74 55 49 <br />N/R 1 3 1 <br />MYTH: Park and recreation services are just c frill, an "amenity," not very necessary <br />REALITY: The benefits that the public reports from use of local government recreation and park <br />services are very high. In North America, nine out of ten persons report significant benefits <br />to themselves, their household and ',he community. In fact, even non -users, 80 percent <br />report that there are many benefits trot result from recreation and park services. The <br />areas in which these benefits are received are among the most important issues of the <br />day: health benefits are not just for younger people. Preliminary findings from an NRPA <br />sponsored study have found that users of the Cleveland Metroparks age 50 and over <br />have lower blood pressure, drink less frequently and have better reported health than <br />non -users. (Godbey, Roy, Payne, Crsega-Smith). <br />MYTH: Recreation and park services are mainly organized activity <br />REALITY: Findings from both the US and Carcdicn study confirm that residents use parks and other <br />recreation facilities managed by load government "as" recreation as well as "for" <br />recreation. Much of such recreation experience is not "organized." <br />MYTH: These services are used mostly by Fecole who support big government <br />REALITY: People of all political persuasions use these services. In the US, Republicans and <br />Democrats were equally likely to use local parks but 44 percent of Republican households <br />used a local government sponsored recreation service, while 38 percent on Independents <br />and 30 percent of Democrats. <br />