Source: UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA submitted to NRP
OUTDOOR RECREATION, PARKS AND OTHER GREEN ENVIRONMENTS: UNDERSTANDING HUMAN AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND MECHANISMS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1002159
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jan 16, 2014
Project End Date
Jan 15, 2019
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
(N/A)
FAIRBANKS,AK 99775
Performing Department
Natural Resources Management
Non Technical Summary
Public lands in the United States provide an opportunity for Americans to realize the benefits from outdoor recreation. This research will provide a framework to link beneficial outcomes to management.Measuring beneficial outcomes associated with recreation is important for policy decisions relating to public health. A large body of evidence is emerging regarding physiological benefits of physical activity and the positive impacts on longevity and mitigation of the onset of health conditions such cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and colon and breast cancer. Specific to outdoor recreation, documented benefits include reduced systolic blood pressure and increased immune function. Psychological benefits, such as increased self-efficacy; social benefits, such as family bonding and strengthening communities as well as positive economic contributions to communities have also been documented.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1340599303033%
1340599307033%
1340599310034%
Knowledge Area
134 - Outdoor Recreation;

Subject Of Investigation
0599 - Recreational resources, general/other;

Field Of Science
3070 - Psychology; 3030 - Information and communication; 3100 - Management;
Goals / Objectives
This research has three objects:Refine methods for assessing beneficial outcomes of onsite users.Build on, and refine, efforts to assess community benefits associated with recreation.Contribute to both generalizable knowledge regarding the relationship between recreation and positive health benefits and demonstrate how such information can be incorporated into management.To achieve these objectives, this research will:Conduct studies gathering primary data from onsite users of recreation areas in Alaska.Conduct focus groups with various affected communities regarding benefits that can be realized from recreation on public lands.Collaborate with local recreation managers to incorporate information from 1 & 2 above.Work with a larger network of researchers on research projects to improve measures of the relationship between recreation and community benefits.
Project Methods
5.1. Onsite studiesStudies will be conducted with onsite visitors to local recreation areas. A goal of the onsite studies is an assessment of the construct validity (i.e., is there evidence we measured what we intended (Vaske, 2008)) of the community benefit measures.5.1.1 Research questionsHow do visitors interpret the quantitative questions that have been used in past assessments to measure community benefits?What revisions could produce a more valid quantitative measure of benefits?5.1.2 MethodsSurveys will be administered to visitors to various recreation areas. A series of questions will replicate previous assessments in Alaska and other western US states. Surveys will contain a series of follow-up questions related to the respondent's perceived strength of relationship between the visit to the recreation area and the realization of the benefits, their level of certainty of the realization of the benefits, and open-ended questions asking for examples of the benefits. A subset of individuals will be asked to participate in an interview to explore how they interpreted the questions and what they felt their responses indicated.5.2. Community-based studiesFocus groups will be conducted with residents of Fairbanks and communities along the Dalton Highway.5.2.1 Research questionsWhat benefits do local community members, both individuals and organized groups, realize/desire as a result of recreation on public lands near their communities?What benefits do non-users (e.g., local businesses, local government, health care providers, and social services) recognize as a result of the presence of public lands near their communities?5.2.2 MethodsData will be gathered through focus groups, with both qualitative and quantitative methodology utilized. Qualitative data will result from responses to open-ended questions regarding why these areas are important to the focus group participants and a series of closed-ended questions regarding the desired outcomes will provide quantitative data.5.2.2.1 Focus group participants/structureThe focus groups will be organized by theme of the topic areas discussed, for example:Individual, dispersed recreation, and organized recreation groups. Discussion focuses on outcomes provided by recreation.Conservation groups and individuals. Discuss focuses on conservation and other non-use values.Local business providing recreation services to individuals (e.g., retail stores, air taxi services), guiding businesses, and the hotel/service industry. Discussion focuses on positive outcomes to local businesses and how they can assist in service delivery.Local/other government: for example, Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) Mayor, Parks and Recreation Director, Trails Advisory Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission; State Parks, Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Discussion focuses on net benefits to communities (note, "net benefits" implies negative outcomes will also be considered) and the facilitation of the management objectives of other government agencies.5.2.2.2 Information gathered in focus groupFocus groups will start by being asked general questions about participant's preferred recreation pursuits including outcomes they hope to achieve from recreation. The moderator of the focus groups will then direct the conversation to more specific examples of the role of recreation and non-use values in addressing problems associated with the community and/or providing benefits to the community. Finally, the discussion will narrow to how the public land can address community problems and provide benefits to the community.The above will be achieved through a series of semi-structured questions (i.e., a list of questions will guide the focus groups, but the questions will be flexible), with results recorded. To serve as a source of data to assess convergent validity of the results of the semi-structured questions and to provide quantifiable documentation of the potential benefits, a series of questions with fixed response scales (i.e., the extent of agreement-disagreement) regarding the degree to which different benefits could be realized as a result of the public lands will be asked. Questions will be posed to all participants simultaneously, with electronic audience response system technology (i.e., "clickers") utilized to record participants' responses.5.2.2.3 Data analysisThe audio files from the semi-structured interviews will be transcribed into a text document and then imported into the qualitative data analysis program Atlas.ti (Altas.ti, nd). Data will follow a team-based coding procedure (Auerback & Silverstein, 2003). First transcripts will be read by study team members to gain an initial understanding of the content. Then a code book will be developed to capture themes that emerge from the data. Study team members will then independently code the same section of a transcript, with the Kappa statistic calculated to assess intercoder reliability (Carey, Morgan & Oxtoby, 1996). Modifications will be made to the codebook and the process repeated until there is adequate intercoder reliability (Landis & Koch, 1977). Focus group transcripts will then be coded by team members. The codes that emerge, including their frequency, will be placed into the context of management of the NLCS Units. The quantitative data will result in interval level data, allowing the use of parametric statistics (e.g., means, t-tests, etc.) (Vaske, 2008). The first step of the data analysis will test the reliability of questions intended to measure the same benefit. If adequate reliability is demonstrated, responses will be averaged into one value, i.e., a "scale" (Morgan, Gliner, & Harmon, 2006). The mean level of agreement-disagreement for each scale will be calculated, and differences among groups will be noted and statistical tests (e.g., t-test, Analysis of Variance, correlation) conducted when appropriate.The qualitative and quantitative results will be compared to assess whether the two different methods provide the same conclusions. This will serve as a measure of convergent validity of the study findings (Vaske, 2008).

Progress 10/01/18 to 01/15/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Recreation managers in the Bureau of Land Management, including the Washington, DC office and the Oklahoma Field Office. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?BLM staff were included in discussions related to issues involved with combining existing datasets. This expanded their knowledge of data management. Information from this project was incorporated into recreation management training sessions conducted by the BLM. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A database of issues related to combining previously gathered data was distributed to key BLM staff. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?New recreation projects will be initatiated to gather primary data. The project at the Matunuska Green Belt Trails will progress. Analysis on the merged datasets will begin.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Regarding 1) Refine methods for assessing beneficial outcomes of onsite users, 2) Build on, and refine, efforts to assess community benefits associated with recreation, and 3) Contribute to both generalizable knowledge regarding the relationship between recreation and positive health benefits and demonstrate how such information can be incorporated into management, progress was made on a the development of a database that combines over 20 studies that included community and other health-related benefits. During the reporting period, datasets were examined to identify common variables, as well as issues that need to be addressed prior to combining data. Regarding 1) Conduct studies gathering primary data from onsite users of recreation areas in Alaska, a project was initiated to assess characteristics of users of the Matanuska Greenbelt Trails, located in Palmer, Alaska, part of which are on Matunuska Experiment Farm property. Regarding 2) Conduct focus groups with various affected communities regarding benefits that can be realized from recreation on public lands and 3) Work with a larger network of researchers on research projects to improve measures of the relationship between recreation and community benefits, data from the focus groups conducted at the Cross-Bar Ranch, outside of Amarillo, TX were analyzed. These focus groups we conducted by my colleague at Colorado Mesa University.

Publications


    Progress 01/16/14 to 01/15/19

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Recreation managers in the Bureau of Land Management, including the Washington, DC office, the Oklahoma Field Office, Las Cruces BLM District Office; and the following BLM Field Offices: Amarillo, Challis, Colorado River Valley, Missoula, and Shoshone Falls were major beneficiaries of the products and outcomes of the project. Researchers at the University of Idaho and researchers throughout the U.S who participated in and attended the USDA Forest Service "Igniting the Science of Outdoor Recreation" working group, and attended presentations at the USDA Forest Service Sustainable Recreation workshop, and the NE1962 Annual meeting and International Symposium on Society and Resource Management conference, both held in June 2018. We also worked with representatives from agencies in the Fairbanks North Star Borough that provide recreation opportunities to the public. This included Alaska State Parks, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation Department, Fairbanks North Star Borough Lands Department, along with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (recreation trails), and the US Army (Fort Wainwright). Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided professional development regarding survey research methodology to BLM staff in the Washington DC office; Las Cruces, NM District Office; and the Missoula Field Office. Professional development regarding recreation research was provided to researchers at New Mexico State University and University of Montana. Material was provided for BLM staff training regarding recreation management. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project reports, presentation of results, conference presentations, and a journal article. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue to conduct new recreation studies on BLM-managed lands. Continue to analysis existing data and produce professional conference presentations and journal articles. Conduct a study that explores the potential role of the Matanuska Greenbelt trails with regard topublic health.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Issue or problem this project addresses. It has long been acknowledged that recreation produces beneficial outcomes to participants. Yet there is a lack of a standardized, efficient approach to measure these beneficial outcomes. Likewise, recreation management frameworks to explicitly manage for beneficial outcomes have been developed, but are in early stages of adoption by federal agencies. This project addresses the need to develop efficient measures of beneficial outcomes and the advancement of refining and applying methods to manage for beneficial outcomes. 2. Target audiences. The primary target audience is recreation managers and other academic researchers. However, as methods to manage for beneficial outcomes are improved, the general public will benefit. 3. This research has three objects: Refine methods for assessing beneficial outcomes of onsite users. Build on, and refine, efforts to assess community benefits associated with recreation. Contribute to both generalizable knowledge regarding the relationship between recreation and positive health benefits and demonstrate how such information can be incorporated into management. Major activities Developed a survey and focus group script that can be administered across all Bureau of Land Management sites. This included developing standardized protocols that recreation planners in the National BLM Office can distribute to BLM Field Offices. Conducted a pilot test of the "standardized survey" concept, and refined protocols. Initiated projects to gather data at three additional BLM sites. Provided material for BLM recreation planning workshops. Delivered presentations at professional conferences. Developed a novel method to asses recreation demand. Initiated the compilation of existing recreation studies, allowing meta-analysis of the outcomes associated with recreation. Initiated a study at the Matunuska Greenbelt Trail system, located in Palmer, AK. Data collected Two-hundred and twenty six responses to the web-based Fairbanks Community Study, which developed a novel approach to assessing recreation demand. Over 800 onsite survey participants in survey of visitors to the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. Over 100 participants in focus groups regarding the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. Over 200 participants in a survey of visitors to BLM-managed lands in the Missoula, MT area. Thirty five participants in focus groups related to BLM-managed lands in the Missoula, MT area. Twenty-six participants in a focus group related to the BLM-managed Cross Bar Ranch near Amarillo, TX. Data from 21 different recreation studies were gathered, to be combined into one dataset for analysis. 4. Narrative. This project focused on improving efficiency in measuring beneficial outcomes of recreation. This was accomplished by creating a large-scale project that 1) lowered financial costs through economies of scale and 2) ensured consist data to allow for analysis of trends across multiple sites. Efficiency was also accomplished by compiling and gathering existing data to analyze trends and add to the understanding of the relationship between recreation settings and beneficial outcomes. Finally, new methods were developed to measure the types of experiences demanded by the public, to allow for improved allocation of recreation resources.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Fix, P. J., Brooks, J. J., & Harrington, A. M. (2018). Achieving goals and making meanings: Toward a unified model of recreational experience. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 23, 16-25.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Fix, P. J., Covelli Metcalf, E., Virden, R. J., Casey, T. T., & Garcia, R. A. (2018). Blackfoot and Marcum-Kershaw Mountains Block Management Areas Outcomes-Focused Management (OFM) Recreation Study, Fall 2017. Project report for the BLM Missoula Field Office. BLM PLRRP Report #8. Fairbanks, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Natural Resources and Extension, Department of Natural Resources Management.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: R. Bryant Wright, Ethun, M., & Fix, P. J. (2014). Applying a community-based approach to recreation planning. Presentation at the Alaska Recreation and Park Association annual meeting. September 25, 2014, Fairbanks, Alaska.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: T. T. Casey, Virden, R. J., Fix, P. J., & Garcia, R. A. (2018). Missoula, MT BLM Field Office Outcomes-Focused Management (OFM) Recreation Focus Group Study, 2017 - 2018. Project report for the BLM Missoula Field Office. BLM PLRRP Report #7. Grand Junction, Colorado: Colorado Mesa University, Natural Resource Center, Department of Social and Behavioral Science.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Fix, P. J., Covelli Metcalf, E., Virden, R. J., Casey, T. T., & Garcia, R. A. (2018). Garnet Ghost Town Outcomes-Focused Management (OFM) Recreation Study, Summer 2017. Project report for the BLM Missoula Field Office. BLM PLRRP Report #6. Fairbanks, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Natural Resources and Extension, Department of Natural Resources Management.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Fix, P. J., Garcia, R., Brown, C., Virden, R. J., & Casey, T. T. (2018). Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument Outcomes-Focused Management (OFM) Recreation Study, Fall 2017. Project report for the BLM Las Cruces District Office. BLM PLRRP Report #5. Fairbanks, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Natural Resources and Extension, Department of Natural Resources Management.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Fix, P. J., Covelli Metcalf, E., Virden, R. J., & Casey, T. T. (2018). Garnet Winter Recreation Area Winter 2017 OFM Study. Project report for the BLM Missoula Field Office. BLM PLRRP Report #4. Fairbanks, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Natural Resources and Extension, Department of Natural Resources Management.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Fix, P. J., Brown, C., Virden, R. J., & Casey, T. T. (2018). Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument Outcomes-Focused Management (OFM) Recreation Study, Spring 2017. Project report for the BLM Las Cruces District Office. BLM PLRRP Report #3. Fairbanks, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Natural Resources and Extension, Department of Natural Resources Management.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Casey, T. T., Virden, R. J., Fix, P. J., & Garcia, R. A. (2018). Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument Outcomes-Focused Management (OFM) Recreation Focus Group Study, 2016 - 2017. Project report for the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument. BLM PLRRP Report #2. Grand Junction, Colorado: Colorado Mesa University, Natural Resource Center, Department of Social and Behavioral Science.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Fix, P. J., Covelli Metcalf, E., Virden, R. J., Casey, T. T., & Garcia, R. A. (2017). Blackfoot and Marcum-Kershaw Mountains Block Management Areas Outcomes-Focused Management (OFM) Recreation Study, Fall 2016. Project report for the BLM Missoula Field Office. BLM PLRRP Report #1. Fairbanks, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Natural Resources and Extension, Department of Natural Resources Management.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Wright, R. B. & Fix, P. J. (2016). Interior Alaska Community Recreation Study: Assessing Characteristics of Recreation Trips. Project report for the US Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management. Fairbanks, AK: Department of Natural Resources Management, School of Natural Resources and Extension, University of Alaska Fairbanks.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Fix, P. J., Morgan, D., Casey, T. T., & Virden, R. J. (2017). A process for the systematic application of outcomes focused management across the Bureau of Land Management. Presentation at the Northeast Recreation Research Symposium, Annapolis, MD, April 2-4.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Wright, R. B., & Fix, P. J. (2015). Applying a community-based approach to recreation planning: assessing local supply and demand for outdoor recreation. Presentation at the National Outdoor Recreation Conference. Annapolis, MD, April 12-16.


    Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The target audience reached during this reporting period included recreation managers within the BLM Washington Office; Las Cruces BLM District Office; the following BLM Field Offices: Amarillo, Challis, Colorado River Valley, Missoula, Shoshone Falls; researchers at the University of Idaho, individuals in the Las Cruces, NM area; organizers of the USDA Forest Services' "Igniting the Science of Outdoor Recreation working group; and researchers throughout the U.S. through presentations and attendance at the USDA Forest Service Sustainable Recreation workshop, NE1962 Annual meeting, International Symposium on Society and Resource Management conference. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project has provided BLM staff the opportunity to learn more about Outcomes Focused Management and survey and focus group protocol to gather data. Researchers at partnering universities (University of Montana, New Mexico State University) gained a better understanding of the BLM's recreation management procedures and their data needs. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?During this reporting period the dissemination of results took place mostly reports distribution to BLM offices and follow-up meetings to discuss results. Interested members of the general public were also provided copies of the report. Outreach to a wider agency and university researcher audience took place at the Sustainable Recreation Research workshop, held in Golden Colorado April 2018, and the NE 1962 annual meeting and International Symposium on Society and Resources Management, both held in June 2018. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Finalize the Cross Bar focus group report. Continue to work with BLM to refine their data collection processes.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The overall impact of this research was a change in condition related to recreation management on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) managed lands. These changes were realized through increased efficiency in the BLM's data collection efforts to support recreation management. This research also allowed the BLM to be more responsive to the public's demand for recreational opportunities. That responsiveness should ultimately increase the benefits received by the public. In addition, the partnering entities (University of Montana, New Mexico State University) received a change in knowledge regarding the BLM's recreation management policies and methods for data collection. Regarding specific accomplishments, research during this reporting period focused on objectives 1 & 2, which will be discussed together. Seven technical reports were produced from the data gathered during the previous reporting period. The data represented over 1,000 completed onsite surveys, over 400 completed follow-up surveys, and over 200 focus group participants. These reports reflected a standardization of the BLM's data collection efforts and a refinement of their methods. The reports demonstrated the effectiveness of the Public Lands Recreation Research Center located at UAF. The work completed during this period serves as a template for future work. During this reporting period, the research template developed was initiated at the BLM's "Cross Bar" site outside of Amarillo, TX and focus groups were conducted.

    Publications

    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Casey, T. T., Virden, R. J., Fix, P. J., & Garcia, R. A. (2018). Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument Outcomes-Focused Management (OFM) Recreation Focus Group Study, 2016 - 2017. Project report for the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument. BLM PLRRP Report #2. Grand Junction, Colorado: Colorado Mesa University, Natural Resource Center, Department of Social and Behavioral Science.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Fix, P. J., Brown, C., Virden, R. J., & Casey, T. T. (2018). Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument Outcomes- Focused Management (OFM) Recreation Study, Spring 2017. Project report for the BLM Las Cruces District Office. BLM PLRRP Report #3. Fairbanks, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Natural Resources and Extension, Department of Natural Resources Management.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Fix, P. J., Covelli Metcalf, E., Virden, R. J., & Casey, T. T. (2018). Garnet Winter Recreation Area Winter 2017 OFM Study. Project report for the BLM Missoula Field Office. BLM PLRRP Report #4. Fairbanks, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Natural Resources and Extension, Department of Natural Resources Management.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Fix, P. J., Garcia, R., Brown, C., Virden, R. J., & Casey, T. T. (2018). Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument Outcomes-Focused Management (OFM) Recreation Study, Fall 2017. Project report for the BLM Las Cruces District Office. BLM PLRRP Report #5. Fairbanks, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Natural Resources and Extension, Department of Natural Resources Management.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Fix, P. J., Covelli Metcalf, E., Virden, R. J., Casey, T. T., & Garcia, R. A. (2018). Garnet Ghost Town Outcomes-Focused Management (OFM) Recreation Study, Summer 2017. Project report for the BLM Missoula Field Office. BLM PLRRP Report #6. Fairbanks, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Natural Resources and Extension, Department of Natural Resources Management.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Casey T. T., Virden, R. J., Fix, P. J., & Garcia, R. A. (2018). Missoula, MT BLM Field Office Outcomes-Focused Management (OFM) Recreation Focus Group Study, 2017 - 2018. Project report for the BLM Missoula Field Office. BLM PLRRP Report #7. Grand Junction, Colorado: Colorado Mesa University, Natural Resource Center, Department of Social and Behavioral Science.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Fix, P. J., Covelli Metcalf, E., Virden, R. J., Casey, T. T., & Garcia, R. A. (2018). Blackfoot and Marcum-Kershaw Mountains Block Management Areas Outcomes-Focused Management (OFM) Recreation Study, Fall 2017. Project report for the BLM Missoula Field Office. BLM PLRRP Report #8. Fairbanks, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Natural Resources and Extension, Department of Natural Resources Management.


    Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Academic researchers and public land managers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Journal articles. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Finshing compiling the Outcomes Focused Management database and conduct the meta-analysis.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The overall impact during this reporting period was a change in knowledge. This was achieved through two accomplishments. The first was the publication of previous research that provided a framework to integrate findings of different research methodology. The impact of that paper is to allow future research to more effectively measure the recreation experience, which in turn will benefit the public by better aligning recreational opportunities with demand. The second accomplishment was the beginning of a study of how recreation management can be more effective in producing beneficial outcomes to society. Regarding specific accomplishments during this reporting period, research focused on objective 3. While significant, the publication of the journal article consisted of the final stages of the publication process (final responses to reviewers, editing proofs etc.). A significant accomplishment was the start in compiling a database of previous studies conducted in support of Outcomes Focused Management. Nineteen unique surveys/dataset were identified across five states and representing a diversity of activities. During this reporting period all questions on the nineteen surveys were compared for compatibility and a process to identify issues to be resolved prior to merging the datasets was initiated.Once the database is compiled a meta-analysis will be conducted to examine whether there is a relationship between recreational settings and benefits sought/received. Results will advance our understanding of how to best meet recreational demand.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Fix, P. J., Brooks, J. J., & Harrington, A. M. (2018). Achieving goals and making meanings: Toward a unified model of recreational experience. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 23, 16-25.


    Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

    Outputs
    Target Audience:During the reporting period we worked with representatives from agencies in the the Fairbanks North Star Borough that provide recreation to the public. This included Alaska State Parks, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation Department, Fairbanks North Star Borough Lands Department, Univeristy of Alaska Fairbanks (recreation trails), the US Army (Fort Wainwright), and the US Bureau of Land Management. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A graduate student who worked on the community web-based survey to assess the desired recreation trips of Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) residents. This provided the student with training in survey design, analysis and technical writing. The undergraduate student who worked in the FNSB health study also gained insight into survey design, analysis, and technical writing. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through project reports, presentations to collaborators, and presentations to public audiences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The graduate student who worked on the community web-based survey to assess the desired recreation trips of Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) will finish his thesis. We have two publications planned from this research. In addition, a manuscript submitted from earlier research of this project has been revised after the first review, and will be resubmitted during the next review period.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? During this reporting period the focus was on finalizing the report of the research that address all three objectives. That research invovled a novel approach to a web-based survey of recreationists in the Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB). The novelity result in a complex data analyis and a large amount of result to be presented. The product, though, was a comprehensive examination of the types of recreation trips residents of the FNSB are interested in. This information was provided toAlaska State Parks, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and RecreationDepartment, Fairbanks North Star Borough Lands Department, Univeristy of Alaska Fairbanks (recreation trails), the USArmy (Fort Wainwright), and the US Bureau of Land Management. The information will allow those managers to plan at the landscape level. One outcome of this research was regular meetings, to discuss recreation management issues,of the those managers. Another project was initiatied and completed by an undergraduate student. She conducted a small-scale survey of FNSB health care providers, soliciting their views on the role of parks and recreation in community health.

    Publications

    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Wright, R. B. & Fix, P. J. (2016). Interior Alaska Community Recreation Study: Assessing Characteristics of Recreation Trips. Project report for the US Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management. Fairbanks, AK: Department of Natural Resources Management, School of Natural Resources and Extension, University of Alaska Fairbanks
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: McConaghy, C. (2016). Public land and their role in the community health sector of Fairbanks, Alaska through potential partnerships. Poster Presented at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Undergraduate Research Day. May, 2016


    Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

    Outputs
    Target Audience:During the reporting period we worked with representatives from agencies in the the Fairbanks North Star Borough that provide recreation to the public. This included Alaska State Parks, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation Department, Fairbanks North Star Borough Lands Department, Univeristy of Alaska Fairbanks (recreation trails), the US Army (Fort Wainwright), and the US Bureau of Land Management. In addition research results will be disseminated to local recreation clubs. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided training for undergraduate and graduate students. An undergraduate student completed NRM 300 Internship in Natural Resources Management through this project. Teh internship invovled recreation and visitor services management in the Nome Creek Valley in the White Mountains National Recreation area. A graduate student has been involved in data analysis and report writing (he will be the first author on the report). In addition, the graduate student has gained experience interacting with the various agencies in town. Two graduate students completed internships at the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in Coldfoot, Alaska during summer 2015. Although it was not for UAF credit, they both served in supervisory roles at the visitor center, a valuable professional development opportunity. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We presented preliminary results to the various agencies invovled. Premilinary results were also shared with other researchers invovled in the NE 1962 Hatch Mutli-state project and various other researchers at Arizona State University and Colorado Mesa University. In addition, we presented preliminaryresults to the Snow Travelers, a snowmobile club in Fairbanks. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The report will be finalized and distributed to releveant agencies. The graduate student's thesis will be complete. Outreach materials to recreation clubs and the general public will be developed.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The greatest amount of effort duringthis reporting period was devoted to data analysis and reporting. While the report was not finalized during this review period, significant progress was made. The analysis and forthcoming report contribute to the project objectives. In addition, the graduate students thesis will result from the data analysis. The plan is to pursue the two paper option, which again will contribute to the objectives. More specifically, the analysis and resulting project reports and journal articles will report on the novel survey method of assessing outcomes of recreation. As that was discussed in the previous project report, it is not expanded on here. Regarding item three "colloborate with local recreation managers to incorporate information from 1 & 2 above," as a result of this research, agencies that manage outdoor recreation in the Fairbanks North Star Borough began to hold a regular lunch meeting to discuss common management issues and how their approach toaddressing them. This had leas to collaborative efforts among agencies. For example, the BLM and Alaska State Parks are collaborating on public input regarding public use cabins in interior Alaska. While these meetings sound simple, it is a significant change in recreation management. There has never been this wide of a group of managers who met on a regular basis. This group continues to meet. Regarding itme four "work with a larger network of researchers" methods of preliminary results of our project were presented at the NE 1962 Hatch Multi-state annual meeting in January 2015.

    Publications


      Progress 01/16/14 to 09/30/14

      Outputs
      Target Audience: The audience reached included BLM personnel and researchers at other universities. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Resultsof thepreviously mentioned DaltonHighway study were presented to the BLM.The format wasa small discussion group which allowed for an increased understanding of the BLM staff's knowledge of measures ofrecreation benefits, especially howthose measures relate tomanagement plans the BLM must complete forlands they manage. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results have been disseminated to communities of interest through presentation of results to BLM staff anddiscussion of results to researches at other universities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The following manuscript was submitted to the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism during the "next reporting period." Fix, P. J., Brooks, J. J. & Harrington, A. M. (in review) Meaning makers, information processors, or both? Exploring different but complimentary approaches to the study of recreational experience. Submitted to the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. Duringthe "next review period," reviewer's comments will be addressed and the manuscript published (hopefully). A manuscript discussing the findings from the benefit question wording conducted on the Dalton Highway corridor will be submitted for publication.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? A study that gathered primary data from recreational visitors along the Dalton Highway corridor in northern Alaska incorporated a test of different question formats to ask respondents about the anticipated benefits from recreation. Results suggested that previous methodology employed throughout the western United States utilized questions that were too general; surveys with questions that more clearly asked if the respondents anticipated certain benefits decreased the magnitude ofsome benefits compared to more general versions of the survey. Results were shared with the BLM and researchers at other universities. In addition, a manuscriptreporting findings of earlierresearch thatintegrated twopreviously competing research paradigms for measuring the recreational experience was prepared for submission to the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. That manuscript provides a unique insight into how those two paradigms compliment each other.A new model was proposed to advance our understanding of the recreational experience.

      Publications

      • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Fix, P. J. (2014). Characteristics of Summer 2013 Dalton Highway Recreational Visitors: Implications for the Central Yukon RMP. Fairbanks, AK: Department of Natural Resources Management, School of Natural Resources and Extension.