Describes the concept behind the rail-to-trails movement; the history, process and problems of converting abandoned railroad beds to bike and walking paths. Introduces the concept and trend of ergo, or linear parks, corridors, and greenways to meet the increasing need for public access to land for recreational purposes. (MCO)

The growth of the recreation and park profession is shown through a review of the literature. (RC)

Presents a sample itemized chart for a field survey of park and recreational facilities such as has been used in the recreation resources class at the University of New Hampshire. (JA)

One faces several challenges when designing an education abroad program. These include engaging non-traditional majors in study abroad experiences; facilitating learning activities that directly align with the learning goals of the courses; assessing specific learning outcomes; and finding ways to close the circle after the study abroad programs…

To utilize park facilities to their fullest, visitors must be well-oriented to the park's physical layout. The results of a study undertaken at Rocky Mountain National Park indicate that information should be readily accessible and easy to use. (DF)

GeoJourney is an interdisciplinary field trip in geology, Native American studies, and environmental studies designed for introductory-level undergraduates. The program travels 23,345 kilometers by van to national parks, industrial sites, museums, and Indian reservations in 24 of the United States. During the day, students carry out hands-on…

The manual provides information on accessibility of facilities, services, and interpretive programs in approximately 300 areas of the U.S. National Park System. Details are arranged alphabetically within each state and usually include a brief historical description, parking, entrance and restroom accessibility, and special adaptations for the…

Recognizing the need for a nationally coordinated effort to reduce playground injuries, the National Program for Playground Safety was created in 1995. This package of materials contains a booklet describing the national action plan for the prevention of playground injuries and accompanying supporting materials. The program booklet, designed for…

Considers (1) how judicious planning and administration of public parks in urban areas can act to bridge racial divisions; and (2) how park administrators can, by creating neighborhood parks, give new focus to neighborhoods and prevent their further deterioration. (Author/GC)

Presented are the results of a study testing the hypothesis that an environmental discontinuity is associated with a reduction in rate of travel along an interpretive trail. (BT)

Cultural change is reflected in the decreasing use and funding of municipal recreation parks and the growing popularity of "Theme Parks" such as Disneyland. (JD)

A microcomputer can generate reports which allow park managers to better schedule crews, equipment and budget. Historical information on spending trends, man-hour distribution, and equipment useage are useful for reports and for justification of requested funds. Various potential uses of the computer data are described. (MT)