Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration Commons^™

From Reviews To Value: Harnessing Crowdsourced Data To Capture Visitor Perceptions And Economic Benefits Of Recreation, Laura Costadone, Shan Zhang

ODU Articles

Quantifying the recreational value of protected natural areas is essential for sustainable management, conservation financing, and informed decision-making. Traditional approaches, such as on-site surveys, are often costly, spatially limited, and constrained by regulatory barriers. This study evaluates the potential of crowdsourced user-generated data to jointly assess visitor perceptions and the economic value of nature-based recreation, using Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Virginia, USA) as a case study. We integrated georeferenced photographs and textual content from four platforms (Flickr, TripAdvisor, Yelp, and AllTrails) with supplementary survey data to analyze visitation patterns, visitor sentiment, cultural ecosystem services, and recreational value using the …

Understanding Motivations And Health Outcomes Of College-Aged Triathletes During Covid-19: A Mixed-Methods Study, Patrick Wilson, Eddie Hill, Justin Haegele, Xihe Zhu

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

A triathlon is a multi-sport event that consists of three simultaneous events: swimming, biking, and running. This sport has experienced significant growth in the past few decades, with colleges and universities now participating. This exploratory mixed-methods study examined the motivations and perceived health benefits of college triathletes during the COVID-19 pandemic, using the Means-Ends of Recreation Scale and the Perceived Health Outcomes of Recreation Scale (N = 29), as well as semi-structured interviews (N = 4). Results indicate no difference in motives or health outcomes between male and female survey respondents. The thematic analysis of open-ended interview questions highlighted lived …

The Purpose And Value Of A Summer Camp For Visually Impaired Young People, Anthony J. Maher, Justin A. Haegele, David Swanston

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Empirical research documents the benefits of summer camps for young people, including disability-specific or medical-speciality residential camps. Using an ethnographic approach which utilized observation and individual and group discussions with the visually impaired young people who attended a summer camp, their parents, and school teachers who staffed the summer camp, we build on the extant research here by exploring, for the first time, the purpose and value of a summer camp for visually impaired young people. The qualitative data generated from our research were subjected to thematic analysis. We discuss the summer camp in relation to the following themes: (1) …

A Design Concept For A Tourism Recommender System For Regional Development, Leyla Gamidullaeva, Alexey Finogeev, Mikhail Kataev, Larisa Bulysheva

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

Despite of tourism infrastructure and software, the development of tourism is hampered due to the lack of information support, which encapsulates various aspects of travel implementation. This paper highlights a demand for integrating various approaches and methods to develop a universal tourism information recommender system when building individual tourist routes. The study objective is proposing a concept of a universal information recommender system for building a personalized tourist route. The developed design concept for such a system involves a procedure for data collection and preparation for tourism product synthesis; a methodology for tourism product formation according to user preferences; the …

Coastal Science For Resilience And Management At The Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Nc, Usa, Michael J. Flynn, Thomas R. Allen, Meaghan E. Johnson, David E. Hallac

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

National seashores are cherished public lands with rich environmental, cultural, and historic resources. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore is one such coastal asset that is both bountiful yet vulnerable, with historic lighthouses, critical habitats, and recreational amenities alike facing threats of sea-level rise and continual storm and climate change impacts. Over 3 million visitors to the Seashore in 2021 set an annual visitation record. Historic resources such as the Bodie Island Lighthouse and Ocracoke Lighthouse are among the most visited sites, yet these assets are also among those most vulnerable to flooding, compromised structural integrity, and reduced accessibility. Future challenges …

Making The Case For The Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area: A Scoping Review, Madelyn Newton, Chandler J. Berry, Bethany Arrington, Nick Wilson, Colin Mccormack, Michael Wilcox, Alexis Barmoh, Chris A. B. Zajchowski

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are nationally distinct landscapes that represent unique cultural, historical, and/or natural attributes significant to the legacy of the United States of America (U.S.). The Great Dismal Swamp, located in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, is a prime candidate for NHA designation with diverse qualifications, among which was its antebellum role as a refuge for formerly enslaved people. The goal of our research, conducted in 2022 during the period of the U.S. Congressional debate on designation, was to investigate and expound upon the rationale for NHA designation of the Swamp. To do so, we used a …

An Exploration Of Different Motivations Between Stakeholders And Visitors Of The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, Colin Mccormack

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Visitors have different motivations associated with parks and protected areas, and the people who run those areas are also different from visitors due to their unique positions. This is especially true for the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (POHE), where stakeholders – ranging from park managers and Department of Transportation planners to volunteers of nonprofits and historical societies collaborate to manage sections along the 822-mile extent of the trail. Building on previous work itemizing the diversity of motivations for visitation to parks and protected areas, this study investigates similarities and differences in stakeholder and manager Recreation Experience Preferences by clustering …

An Importance-Performance Analysis Of Local And Destination Visitors To Monocacy National Battlefield, Colin Mccormack, Mckenzie Mosher, Caleb Scruggs, Chris Zajchowski, Jessica Fefer

College of Education & Professional Studies (Darden) Posters

The purpose of this study was to understand the evolving visitor experience at Monocacy National Battlefield (MONO) in Fredrick, Maryland and, specifically, the way this National Park Service site serves both its’ tourist and local visitors. MONO has two main demographics who utilize it: individuals seeking to learn about historical importance of the site in the Civil War and local recreational visitors from Frederick and surrounding communities. Due to MONO’s proximity to the more densely populated area of Fredrick and Civil War roots, it appeals to both of these populations, who find different uses in the park. Accordingly, we were …

Environmental And Social Determinants Of Leisure-Time Physical Activity In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jihyun Lee, Sean Healy, Justin A. Haegele

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Background: It is increasingly recognized that children's physical activity behaviors are shaped by neighborhood environment factors and their parent's support. However, these factors have been scarcely studied among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a population at risk of inactivity.

Objective: This cross-sectional survey study was designed to examine how neighborhood environmental factors and parental support are related to physical activity levels of children with ASD. Also, this study examined if the relationship between the environment and physical activity is modified by demographic factors and COVID-19 related concerns.

Methods: An online survey was completed by parents of children with ASD …

Green Inequities: Examining The Dimensions Of Socioenvironmental Injustice In Marginalized Communities, Akiebia S. Hicks, Zachary Malone, Megan A. Moore, Roslynn Powell, Austin Thompson, Patricia A. Whitener, Rowan Williams

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

In the realm of socioenvironmental justice, much discourse centers on equal access to green areas and on climate injustice in the United States. Marginalized communities, including Indigenous populations, are being excluded from current narratives surrounding the natural spaces that in many cases are historically tied to under-represented groups. This article aims to explore some of the many dimensions of environmental racism, green inequities, climate injustice, and access. The dimensions include but are not limited to racial gatekeeping, nature deprivation in low-income communities, green gentrification, light pollution, and access to clean water. The recommendations section serves as a guide during decisionmaking …

Air Pollution And Outdoor Recreation On Urban Trails: A Case Study Of The Elizabeth River Trail, Norfolk, James E. Mccann, Chris A.B. Zajchowski, Eddie L. Hill, Xihe Zhu

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Poor air quality represents a significant health risk for individuals engaging in recreation activities outdoors in urban parks and trails. This study investigated temporal variability in particulate matter (PM) exposure along an urban waterfront trail. We also used recreation choice frameworks to examine the effects of visitors’ perceptions of air quality (AQ) and health benefits on trail use. Average air quality during the collection period was “good” (PM₁₀) to “moderate” (PM_2.5). We found that PM density was significantly higher (p < 0.001), though still in the “moderate” range, at 7–9 a.m., 11 a.m.–1 p.m., and 3–5 p.m., and on weekends. Visitors’ self-reported perceptions of health outcomes, but not air quality, significantly predicted trail use. Results suggest that these experiential factors may affect recreational choices depending on other factors, such as salience. Further research is merited to determine how experiential factors can be integrated with other theories of motivation to understand recreational decision-making.

Air Pollution And Outdoor Recreation On Urban Trails: A Case Study Of The Elizabeth River Trail, Norfolk, Va, James E. Mccann

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Poor air quality represents a significant health risk, especially when recreating outdoors in urban parks and trails. It is important for managers of urban parks and trail to understand how potential visitors’ perceptions of air quality and health risks and benefits may affect visitation. The goal of this study was to investigate temporal variance in air quality along the Elizabeth River Trail, an urban trail located in Norfolk, Virginia, as well as trail users’ perceptions of air quality and of health benefits in relation to trail use. The researcher rode a bicycle with a Dylos DC1700-PM mobile air quality monitor …

Hampton Roads Residents’ Preferences For Dune And Beach Management, Seth Parker, Donta Council, Makayla Brown

School of Public Service Faculty Publications

The management of dunes and beaches in Hampton Roads is critical to the region’s tourism industry and to provide protection from storms and flooding. During the summer of 2017, we surveyed over 675 residents of Hampton Roads to gauge their preferences for the management of dunes and beaches. An overwhelming majority felt that all taxpayers should have a say in maintenance practices along with government regulations to assist with the protection of beaches and dunes. Residents leaned towards localized input from citizens as preferred methods of management and understood the importance their tax dollars play in funding those methods. While …

More Than A One-Trick Pony: Exploring The Contours Of A Multi-Sector Covener, Madeleine W. Mcnamara, John C. Morris

School of Public Service Faculty Publications

Today's managers must find ways to identify and sustain productive relationships within multi-sector collaborative arrangements. This paper explores empirically the activities of a convener based on tasks identified by Agranoff and McGuire (2001) and applies this framework to the case of Virginia's Coastal Zone Management Program (VCZMP). We find that the convener displays characteristics described by Agranoff and McGuire, as well as characteristics of traditional hierarchical managers. This research suggests that both sets of skills are necessary for effective multi-sector collaborative governance.

Public Recreation And Neighborhood Sense Of Community: An Exploration Of A Hypothesized Relationship, Svetoslav D. Gueorguiev, Edwin Gómez, Eddie Hill

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

This study explores the relationship between park attributes (perceived safety and perceived benefits) and their relationship to sense of community in urban neighborhoods. The study finds that the perception of benefits derived from park use has a direct relationship with sense of community, and that park safety is indirectly related to sense of community, with the perception of park benefits mediating the relationship between park safety and sense of community. Theoretical and practical considerations are discussed.

Leisure Constraints Ethnic Factors And Recreation Participation: A Case Study Of The Latino Population In Manassas Park, Virginia, Gregory T. Jones

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to study the leisure constraints and ethnic factors that affect recreational use among Latinos in the City of Manassas Park. Respondents were mailed a questionnaire to the City of Manassas Park. The questionnaires were composed of questions pertaining to acculturation, values, discrimination, subcultural identity, perceived recreation benefits, constraints to park use, constraints to desired leisure activities, socio-economic status, program usage, and park usage. Confirmatory factor analyses identified six factors for recreational use: acculturation, discrimination, subcultural identity, derived benefits, park use constraints, and individual activity constraints. A t-test confirmed that there was no difference …

An Exploration Of The Influence Of Recreation Benefits And Use Of Public Parks: The Impact On Sense Of Community In Neighborhoods, Svetoslav Dimov Gueorguiev

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to explore what influence public parks have on the sense of community of the residents living near parks. Respondents were chosen from within the service area (0.5 miles) of five parks in Norfolk, VA They rated their park experiences and answered sense of community and demographic questions. Confirmatory factor analysis identified five different dimensions in measuring the SOC levels. Correlation and regression analyses identified the extent of the influence that recreation participation had on sense of community of residents. Results confirmed that recreation use of parks positively influences SOC. Due to the existence …

Nature And Norfolk: The History Of The Norfolk Botanical Garden, Cheryl S. White

Institute for the Humanities Theses

If what they say is true, that first impressions are always the most important, then the city of Norfolk, Virginia could impress anyone. The Norfolk Botanical Garden began as approximately 30 acres surrounding Mirror Lake, adjacent to the proposed Norfolk Municipal Airport in 1938. Today the Garden consists of 158 acres that include a variety of garden styles, manmade canals, and extensive educational facilities. It serves as the first and last view visitors have of Norfolk. The Norfolk Botanical Garden is an example of interdisciplinary co-operation. Biology, urban planning, landscape architecture, and various political involvements are all expressed within the …