Space for outdoor recreation : planning aspects for a national policy

Maintenance of public welfare is the function of the public sector. It is the duty of a government to do whatever is conducive to the welfare of the governed. It is the assumption of this study that as recreation is conducive to human well-being, it is the responsibility of government to provide each citizen with the opportunity of a diversity and variety of recreative pursuits. The substitution of automation and advanced technology for human powers and the subsequent gains in productivity have created an affluent society. Never before has man had greater prospects for a higher income, increased longevity, greater mobility and shorter working hours. By means of the rationalization of work, man's role in society will increasingly be sustained through recreative pursuits. Because of man's increased ability and need to participate in recreation, it has been estimated that the demand for recreation, and outdoor recreation in particular, will increase substantially. As a result of rising competition amongst all land uses and concurrent with an increase in demand for outdoor recreation there is a decreasing supply of recreation resources. The underlying purpose of this study was to ascertain what provisions society can make in order to ensure that outdoor recreation amenities will be available to all. In particular, this study sought to define the inadequacy of present policy in light of an increasing demand, and by means of a case study, to determine whether integration of recreation into the environment could represent an aspect of a new policy. The study results clearly uphold the following hypothesis: That the policy concerning the provision of opportunity for outdoor recreation has failed to recognize the dynamics of the supply and demand for outdoor recreation; new policy is indicated, one aspect of which, would be the Integration of recreation into the environment. The case study was focused upon the needs of the citizens of Vancouver and a trail system was conceived as being an instrument of a new policy. It was found that outdoor recreation could be compatible with other land uses. Land in the form of utility rights-of-way represents a recreation potential that could be used not only for the development of a trail system but also as a system serving to connect the major parks. A study of the function of outdoor recreation revealed that recreation is a continuous activity and therefore it is not logical to conceive of it as occurring only in a designated site. Recreation must be a feature of the environment especially as available land for recreation within the urban area is limited and thus a comprehensive approach towards its provision is required. This approach would necessitate the co-operation of all levels of government and the development of the recreation potential in all land uses.Applied Science, Faculty ofCommunity and Regional Planning (SCARP), School ofGraduat