chapter 1 Power Promise Potential and Possibilities of

chapter 1 Power, Promise, Potential, and Possibilities of Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Ellen O’Sullivan

Depth and Breadth of the Parks and Recreation Field Activities and pursuits are everywhere, touching the lives of everyone • • 24 hours a day 7 days a week 52 weeks a year Inclusive of all people In all points of the globe An ever growing economic force Aspect of life that is central to human existence

Benefits Derived • Adequate clean air and water to sustain life • Opportunities to live purposeful and pleasurable lives • Memories of happy times with friends and family • Options and opportunities for health and well-being over the life span

Parks, Recreation, and Leisure: Everywhere, Everyone, All the Time • Leisure takes place in cities and towns, small villages, the countryside, and megaurban centers. • Leisure experiences occur both inside buildings and outdoors or sometimes both. • Leisure can be found in all the places and spaces in which people gather to play, enjoy, and relax.

It’s for Everyone • Leisure touches the lives of everyone: all ages, life stages, cultures, social classes, and genders. • Recall personal experiences or observations of others and identify the people participating. What is your memory of those involved?

Examples of ALL the Time • Ski areas open at first light. • Health clubs open at 4: 30 a. m. • Heavily industrialized communities offer adult leagues and activities to accommodate the traditional 3 shifts of factory work. • City of Las Vegas offers unusual times for programs and activities because many residents work shifts in the casinos, which operate 24/7. • YMCAs and community centers offer sleepovers for children while providing respite for parents. • Midnight basketball puts recreation on the 24 hour timetable.

Parks and Recreation: It Makes Up Most of Our Time Consider this. . . • Approximately 8 hours of every day is spent sleeping. • Work, school, and related activities such as chores and errands or homework might consume 8 hours per day. Taking into account individual variations, leisure time could amount to more than onethird of a person’s life.

Values and Benefits of Parks, Recreation, and Leisure General category— 3 types of benefits • Improved condition • Prevention of a worse condition • Realization of a psychological experience (Bev Driver, 1998)

Benefits Described • Improved condition. In the case that a human, natural, or economic factor is not functioning at full capacity or is functioning in a deleterious manner, the benefit of recreation is to ameliorate this condition. • Prevention of a worse condition. Not every instance of poor performance or threatening conditions can be improved. The value of parks and recreation is to stem further erosion or deterioration of a human, natural, or economic condition. (continued)

Benefits Described (continued) • Realization of a psychological experience. Leisure pursuits that people select for the intrinsic values afforded through the experience. Benefits such as stress reduction, sense of control, and spirituality are examples.

Segmentation of Benefits segmented into 4 categories: 1. Individual. Opportunities for living, learning, and leading full and productive lives as well as avenues for people to experience purpose, pleasure, health, and well-being 2. Social. Opportunities to live and interact with friends, families, work or school groups, neighbors, communities, and the world (continued)

Segmentation of Benefits (continued) 3. Environmental. Sustaining human life and protecting the ecosystem through the preservation and protection of open space. 4. Economic. Enhancing the viability of people and places by serving as an investment in the future, rather than a mere expenditure in the present

Why Parks and Recreation As a Professional Career Choice? A variety of career opportunities are associated with an essential aspect of human behavior and are a major component of the economy. They create opportunities for the following: • • Personal growth Empowerment Sense of purpose Resourcefulness on the part of the professionals in that field!

Qualities and Characteristics of the Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Profession Variety of settings Avoidance of burnout Less formal settings Creativity in approaches Continual changes Early career responsibilities Resourcefulness

Making a Difference. . . • In the life of one person or even a group of people • By contributing to the vitality and viability of a community • By protecting nature and preserving cultural and historic sites

Unique Qualities of Parks and Recreation • People are empowered to voluntarily choose how they will use their own un-obligated time. • Fun is fundamental to attracting people to activities and options that are intrinsically valuable to individuals, friends, families, neighborhoods, communities, and society.

Focus of Remaining Chapters 1. To provide a comprehensive view of recreation and leisure and its history, concepts, and delivery systems. 2. To offer information about different career choices in recreation and leisure. 3. To introduce students to professors and professionals in U. S. and Canadian recreation and leisure whose careers and passions are in different areas of the profession.