The history of parks and recreation is deeply rooted in child's play. From Joseph Lee's writings about the developmental benefits of child's play at the beginning of the 20th century to the establishment of the University of Illinois's Motor Performance and Play Research Laboratory in the 1960s and 1970s, child's play has been a central focus of…

Specific findings and recommendations of this study are tied to five categories which constitute the basis for community recreation services--(1) organization and administration, (2) facilities, (3) program, (4) personnel, and (5) finances. Appendices include a check list for recreation activities and a summary of laws relating to school and city…

INCREASED PRESSURES FOR PROVIDING VARIOUS PUBLIC RECREATION PROGRAMS HAVE LED COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SEARCH FOR INCREASED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN RECREATION SERVICES AT EXISTING LEVELS OR TO INITIATE NEW PROGRAMS. THIS BOOK IS A COLLECTION OF PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PLANNING AND FINANCING SCHOOL-COMMUNITY…

This report identifies the different settings in which summer programs for disadvantaged youth most commonly take place--schools, parks and recreation departments, community--and faith-based organizations, and child-care programs-- and examines the limitations and opportunities presented by each in building better programming. It reviews broadly…

The Outdoor Recreation Resources section of the Virginia Division of Parks and Recreation has compiled in this document a variety of information on fees and charges in Virginia's many public leisure services programs. This information was generated from three surveys conducted in 1981, 1984, and the summer of 1987. By combining the previous data…

This book is designed to serve as a basic text for those who seek to enter the field of operating recreation programs and park facilities. Emphasis is given to the administration of public departments, and guidelines are also provided for the management of voluntary agencies and therapeutic recreation programs. In addition to background…

A nature center is an outdoor education area; a parcel of natural land where people, particularly the young, and nature can meet. It can be an educational section of a state or national forest or park set aside specifically to serve the people of one or several nearby communities. These centers usually include an educational or interpretive…

The economic equivalency index (EEI) is a statistical construct used for quantifying the value of leisure experiences to the individual and is a potentially valuable tool in justifying leisure service expenditures in park and recreation systems. (MJB)

Describes the history of National Parks and the controversy over their use. Emphasizing the lack of definitive legislation, Frederick Law Olmsted's original philosophy for establishing national parks is proposed for defining the role of parks today. Concludes that activities not directly enhancing nature (e.g., ski runs) are not appropriate in the…

Advocates of parks and recreation must face the challenge of seeing beyond traditional boundaries, embracing new alliances, and translating hopes into actions. Vision, strategy, and grassroots strength and strong leadership skills are critical to the future of parks and recreation. (CJ)

Excerpts from speeches delivered at a Symposium on Outdoor Recreation and Education (Washington, D.C., February 26-28, 1969).

The document offers proceedings of the First National Conference on Special Recreation for the handicapped which coincided with the dedication of White Oak Village/Mountwood Park (West Virginia), a recreational facility designed to serve as a national model for meeting the recreational needs of the handicapped. An introductory paper by E. Lehew…

While the job market for park and recreation professionals is currently tight, it should be expanded by the need for such personnel in the areas of public services. (JD)

This paper states that there are two fundamental reasons for the comparative absence of computer use for parks and recreation at the present time. These are (1) lack of clear cut cost justification and (2) reluctance on the part of recreation professionals to accept their role as managers and, consequently, to utilize modern management tools. The…

A model is presented to demonstrate that systematic evaluation by design or planned, purposeful evaluation of recreational programs is possible. The evaluation model concepts of control group, randomization, and pretest and posttest are explained. (JN)