Municipal recreation services in North Carolina: A 24‐year analysis

Based on data developed by a state recreation advisory agency, this research is a case study of public recreation and park services in selected North Carolina municipalities over a 24‐year period (1951–1974). Specific attention is given to sources of support, types of expenditures, salaries of executives and the relative growth of recreation/park services in relationship to other local government services and national patterns of inflation.

The results indicate recreation and parks have enjoyed a rate of growth greater than that of both other selected municipal functions and the national inflation rate. Also, that such external forces as the General Revenue Act of 1972 have affected both the distribution patterns of sources of income and types of expenditures.

Keywords:

• public recreation
• park services
• recreation advisory agency
• government services
• and North Carolina