Nontraditional uses of the National parks

Abstract

National parks are increasingly attracting visitors with diverse and sometimes unusual expectations, often referred to as nontraditional activities. The purposes of this study were: (1) identify which recreation activities were seen as inappropriate to national parks, (2) identify reasons for inappropriateness, (3) relate these reasons to perceptions of the meaning of national parks.

Two hundred eleven visitors to seven Park Service areas in Utah were asked to rate the appropriateness of 22 activities (ranging from hiking to hang‐gliding) in national parks. Reasons for ratings, respondent participation in the activities, and definitions of the meaning and purpose of national parks were also acquired. Seven activities were ranked as most inappropriate: trail biking, snowmobiling, water skiing, nude bathing, power boating, four‐wheeling, and hang‐gliding. None were rejected by a majority of respondents, however.

Definitions of park meaning and desired park experience tended to be general and did not show any relation to appropriateness ratings. Personal participation in an activity appeared to be the most influential factor in such decisions. Park visitors appear to have only generalized conceptions of national parks as places and make decisions on activities based on personal knowledge or assumed images of the activities.

Key words:

• national parks
• nontraditional recreation
• conflict
• risk
• resource management