Recreation Trends in the WestchesterPutnam Area - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Title: Recreation Trends in the WestchesterPutnam Area


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• Recreation Trends in the Westchester/Putnam Area

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Trends Affecting Recreation

• Changing social and demographic composition.
• Energy costs and environmental issues.
• Technological innovations.
• Changes in governmental management.
• Other social changes.

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Changing Social and Demographic Composition
The total population will remain about the same.
However there are significant changes to the
various groups within this population. By 2030,
the population of the two county area will
increase by only 0.8. Westchester County
population will decrease by 1.3 but Putnam
County will increase 21.6.
Source Cornell Institute for Social and Economic
Research
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Changing Social and Demographic Composition
2030
2000
male
female
female
male
gt74
gt74
65-69
65-69
55-59
55-59
Increasing Age gt
40-44
40-44
25-29
25-29
lt10
lt10
By 2030, there will notable changes in the
demographics of the Westchester/Putnam county
area. There will be changes in the age
composition, ethnicity, and economic components
of the population. The above charts show
male/female components of the population in five
year increments for both 2000 and 2030.
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Changing Social and Demographic Composition
By 2015, the percent population aged 65 or over
in the Westchester/Putnam County area will be
approximately equal to the percent elderly in
Florida at the time of the 2000 Census.
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Changing Social and Demographic Composition

• Increased ethnic diversity
• Putnam County
• The Hispanic community will increase by 127
  between the 2000 Census and the projected figure
  for 2009.
• For the same time period, non-white residents of
  Putnam County will increase 21.
• Westchester County
• The Hispanic community will increase by 32
  between the 2000 Census and the projected figure
  for 2010.
• For the same time period, non-white residents of
  Westchester County will increase 12.

Sources Putnam County Putnam County Economic
Development Corp. Westchester County 2020
Foresight Population Projections for Westchester
County to the Year 2020. Prepared by the
Westchester County Department of Planning. July
1995.
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Changing Social and Demographic Composition
How do population changes affect recreation?
Aging

• Aging of the population will result in increased
  demand for seniors programming, physical fitness
  and wellness programs
• Seniors are expected to stay more active than
  previous generations, but eventually there will
  be increased demand for less physically demanding
  activities, e.g. golf, gardening, visiting
  historic sites, walking in the park, etc.
• A corresponding decrease in other activities,
  e.g. team sports, tennis, etc.

Ethnic Diversity

• Greater demand for family/church based activities
• Changes in types of activities and sports
  participated in.
• Possible need for bi-lingual signage on trails
  and in parks.

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Energy Costs and Environmental Issues
Increasing and/or uncertain energy costs

• The future of travel and tourism, dependant on
  the cost of gasoline will become more uncertain.
• Some recreation activities, also dependent on the
  cost of gasoline, e.g. snowmobiling, ATV usage,
  camping will also be affected.

Other related environmental issues

• If environmental concerns among the public remain
  high, improved air/water quality may make some
  activities available closer to home.
• Global warming will affect recreation.

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Technological Innovations
Technology will increase participation in some
activities, while decreasing it in others

• Increases in the types of activities available
  (e.g. geocacheing ).
• Improved technology will enable individuals with
  disabilities to experience more recreational
  activities.
• Online access to information on recreation
  resources.
• Increases in spectator sports.
• Technological advances will result in increased
  competition from recreation alternatives.
• Information overload.

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Changes in Governmental Management

• Maintenance costs continue to increase relative
  to revenues.
• Affordability accessibility will continue to be
  priorities, but will be affected by budget
  constraints, doing more with less.
• Need for partnerships with other providers will
  continue.
• Greater support for the protection of open space.
• Continued anti-taxation sentiment among the
  public.
• Distrust of large, central institutions.
• Greater involvement by individuals and
  communities in decision making.

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Other social changes

• Decreases in available leisure time. The length
  of the workweek is increasing as corporations
  require their employees to work longer hours
  rather than hire additional help.
• Increases in demand for recreation facilities
  closer to home.
• Decreases in the level of volunteerism.
• Decreases in average household size and increases
  in the number of single parent households.
• Decreases the amount of leisure time.
• Trend towards two-income households continues.
• Reinforces the lack of leisure time.
• Increases the demand on overloaded facilities at
  peak time.
• Increasing economic gap between the affluent and
  the poor.
• Activities with high entry costs will decrease in
  total participation. E.g. golf, downhill skiing,
  snowmobiling.

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Ten most popular activities 1998 and 2004
1998
2004

• Relaxing in the park.
• Walking for pleasure.
• Swimming
• Bicycling
• Visiting Historic Sites
• Boating
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Field Sports (Baseball, Soccer)
• Basketball

• Relaxing in the park.
• Walking for pleasure.
• Swimming
• Visiting Historic Sites
• Bicycling
• Boating
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Visiting Nature Areas/Gardens
• Field Sports (Baseball, Soccer)

Note Based on the New York State General Public
Recreation Surveys of 1998 and 2004. Results have
been adjusted to accommodate slight differences
in wording of the questions between the two
surveys.
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General Trail Issues
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Physical Trail Issues
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Social Trail Issues
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Basic Strategies

• Communication
• Listening
• Understanding
• Cooperation
• Education
• Enforcement LAST RESORT

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Social Issues - Strategies
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Overuse

• Design
• Monitoring
• Parking Capacity
• Access Points
• Group Size
• Permits
• Temporal Distribution
• Dispersion of Use

• Environmental Impact
• Education
• Signage

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Illegal Use

• Rules and Regulations
• Communication
• Signage
• Education
• Community Involvement
• Friends Groups
• Provide Alternatives
• Monitoring/Patrolling

• Encourage Use
• Coordination with Law Enforcement Officials
• Active Enforcement -Last Resort

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Conflicts Between User Groups
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Conflicts Between User Groups

• Assess Needs and Demands
• Listen and Understand
• Friends Groups
• Communication
• Trail Etiquette
• Alternatives
• Trail Design
• Common Interests

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Conflicts Between Landowners and Users

• Include All Stakeholders
• Signage
• Outreach
• Contact Person
• Closure of Social Trails
• Honesty

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Personal Safety

• Information
• Maintenance
• Visibility
• Monitoring
• Education

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Littering/Dumping

• Maintenance Plan
• Carry-in, Carry-out
• Trail Volunteers
• Controlled Access
• Community Ownership
• Boundary Survey
• Penalties/Enforcement

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Vandalism

• Trail Design
• Community Ownership
• Increased Use
• Maintenance

• Repair
• Monitoring
• Emergency Services
• Publicity

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Future Directions

• Revitalizing Parks and Historic Sites
• Natural Resource Stewardship
• Creating Connections
• Sustainability

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What If ?
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Sources

• 2020 Foresight Population Projections for
  Westchester County to the Year 2020. Prepared by
  the Westchester County Department of Planning.
  July 1995.
• Americans Outdoors The Legacy, The Challenge,
  1987, The Report of the Presidents Commission.
• Cornell Institute for Social and Economic
  Research www.ciser.cornell.edu
• Eden Prairie Park and Open Space System Plan, SRF
  Consulting Group.
• Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan
  2003 People, Resources, Recreation. (2003 New
  York State SCORP).
• Putnam County Economic Development Corp.
• Emerging Issues M. Sharpe, National Leadership
  Conference. 1999

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• ATV
• Bicycling
• Four-wheel drive vehicles
• Hiking
• Equine

• Snowmobiling
• Snowshoeing
• Nordic skiing
• Trail-bike (motorized)
• Running
• Water trails