Progress 10/01/99 to 09/30/04
Outputs
Researcher has left the University of Maine; project is terminated.
Impacts
It is expected that this research will influence other researchers to investigate the non-dconomic benefits of public parks. It is also expected that this research will encourage public agencies to begin reporting these non-economic benefits in their annual reports.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
Most of the data for this project is complete and has been transcribed. The only exception is one critical interview which has yet to be completed due to the subjects travelschedule. Three published reports have resulted to date, and a final report is currently being written.
Impacts
It is expected that this research will influence other researchers to investigate the non-dconomic benefits of public parks. It is also expected that this research will encourage public agencies to begin reporting these non-economic benefits in their annual reports.
Publications
- Nature Speaks. Part 2 -- Implications for Management, The Art of Park Management. Legacy, vol. 12, No. 6. 2001, National Association for Interpretation.
- (In process) Parks for Peace - Growing the National Parks Idea After 131 Years and 161 Countries. In submission to Legacy magazine. 2004.
- Interpretation and the Eureka Moment. Journal of Interpretation Research, Vol. 7, No. 1, Spring, 2003. National Assoc. For Interpretation. Fort Collins, CO
- Artists, Tourists, and The Elusive Sublime. Journal of Interpretation Research, Vol. 6 No. 1, Spring, 2002. National Assoc. For Interpretation. Fort Collins, CO
- Nature Speaks, Part 1 -- Exploring the Inspiration of Public Parklands. Conversations with Creative People. Legacy, vol. 12, No. 5. 2001, National Association for Interpretation.
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Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02
Outputs
Phase 1. Data collection is 90% complete. One or two follow-up interviews may be needed; and 1-2 new interviews may be conducted if the opportunities currently being explored develop in the next 6 months. The initial focus on the inspiration of public lands for creative works has evolved to inclue an examination of role of inspiration from nature in converting those lands to public ownership. Both Baxter State Park and Acadia National Park have histories of champions who were clearly inspired by the land to creatively force them into the public domain. In the case of Baxter and the north Maine woods, that kind of creative response is continuing today and needs to be included in this research. In May of this year, I interviewed Theodore Roosevelt IV in order to document his assessment of the the influence of the Maine woods on his great-grandfather's conservation philosophy. Within the next 2-3 months I expect to interview a major donor who is buying land within the
Maine woods to be donated toward the creatiion of a future national park.
Impacts
This research is expected to lead to a better understanding and appreciation of how the inspiration of nature is not only a product of parkland experiences but is the primary motivator in the creation of public parklands. The development of Best Management Practices for parks must reflect these values.
Publications
- Commentary: If Not Us, Who? -- If Not Now, When? Commentary on Best Management Practices For Parks. Legacy Magazine, Vol. 13. No. 1, January/February, 2002. Nat. Assoc. for Interpretation.
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Progress 10/01/00 to 09/30/01
Outputs
Phase 1. Approximately three-fourths of the data collec`tion is complete. Follow-up interviews with initial subjects may be conducted on a selective basis following publication of early findings and conclusions (see below). Some expansion of the sample has been necessary as the definition of public land inspiration has broadened. Phase 2. The initial concept of having a focus group follow-up to Phase 1 has been shelved, due to the difficulty of getting such a diverse group of artists together. The PI is exploring alternative Phase 2 settings and venues which would offer artists and other creative park users an opportunity to interact with administrators of these resources.
Impacts
Increased research into the relationships between inspiration and creativity as it occurs on public lands -- along with an expanded concept of creativity to include volunteerism, life-style, and life-changing experiences. Revision, or expansion, of the activity reporting pracdtices of public land managers to include indicators of the extent of use of these lands for re-creation in addition to the current recreation reports.
Publications
- Nature "Speaks" -- Exploring the Inspiration of Public Parklands, Part 1, Conversations with Creative People. Legacy, Volume 12, No, 3 September-October, 2001, The National Association for Interpretation. Ft. Collins, CO
- Nature "Speaks" -- Exploring the Inspiration of Public Parklands, Part 2, Implications for Management. Legacy, Volume 12, No, 4 November-December, 2001, The National Association for Interpretation. Ft. Collins, CO
- Artists, tourists, and the Elusive Sublime: The Artist as Tourist, Interpreter, and Promoter of Tourism. The Journal of Interpretation Research, Volume 6, No. 1, January 2002. The National Association for Interpretation. Ft. Collins, CO
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Progress 10/01/99 to 09/30/00
Outputs
Phase I. -- Approximately one-half of the data colection is complete. Lengthy interviews, and some re-interivews, have been conducted to assess the importance of two public parks (Baxter state park and Acadia National Park) as inspirational resources. Interview subjects, to date, include: administrators and managerial staff (4); landscape artists (2); composers (3); professional photographers/videographers (3) writers (2); performing artists (1); volunteers (2); and teachers (2). Transcription of the interivews is continuing, however, preliminary analysis has identified several commonalities among the subjects that are of use to park managers (see publications, below. Interview data is being supplemented by excerpts from the Acdia artist-in-residence journal to provide further insights into the nature of inspirational experiences. An additional 10-12 interviews are contemplated in Phase I. Phase II: Preliinary plans are underway to schedule the focus group session of
administrators and creative park users during the spring of 2001. All interview subjects have expressed strong interest in participating in this phase of the research. The focus group protocols will be submitted for human subjects review in the fall of 2001.
Impacts
Professional interest in this research has been very strong, with the PI being invited to speak in several venues even before the analysis is complete. The PI initiated and accepted two of these (Northeast Recreation Researchers Annual Meeting; and The National Association for Interpretation Annual Workshop) to use as opportunities to elicit potential interview subjects as well as to provide forums to discuss possible management implications of the research. Based on feedback from these two meetings, it seems highly likely that this research is likely to have significant impacts on: (1) annual reporting procedures at parks; (2) special use provisions for certain kinds of creative uses; and (3) volunteer management practices. (Volunteerism tends to be seen as a creative activity among volunteers, and as free labor by the parks.)
Publications
- Proceedings of the 2000 Northeast Recreation Research Symposium, April 1-4,2000. Bolton Landing, New York. USDAFS Gen. Tech. Report (in press)
- 2000 Interpretive Sourcebook -- Weaving The Future with Threads From the Past. Nature Speaks -- An Exploratory Study of Nature as Inspiration. pages 63-66. National Interpreters Workshop, Tucson, AZ
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