Participation in public recreation decision-making

Abstract

The aim of this research is to study the role of public participation in decision-making for leisure and recreation provision by the State. Specifically, the goals of the study are to: - investigate the role public participation has in decision-making for public leisure and recreation resources; - identify current levels of participation in leisure and recreation decision-making; - identify directions for future public participation processes which are most appropriate for leisure and recreation. To achieve this, the research design comprised two research methods: 1. a review of the theoretical concepts of leisure, public provision and participation initially identified key variables and issues; 2. a case study then investigated the public participation achieved through a process of consultation for the Hillary Commission for Recreation and Sport. Results indicate that participation is essential in decision-making involving leisure and recreation resources; that the public has demonstrated it's interest in being involved in decision-making; and the level of participation acheived is dependent to a large degree on the provider. With an ideal of 'full' participation, the research highlights the need for participation to be considered as an integral part of public leisure and recreation decision-making. To achieve this, genuine opportunities for public participation are needed.