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Who Started, Stopped, and Continued Participating in Outdoor Recreation during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States? Results from a National Panel Study

Author

Listed:
  • B. Derrick Taff

    (Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA 16802, USA)

  • William L. Rice

    (Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management Program, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA)

  • Ben Lawhon

    (The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Boulder, CO 80306, USA)

  • Peter Newman

    (Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA 16802, USA)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has been proposed as a catalyst for many U.S. residents to re-engage in outdoor recreation or engage in outdoor recreation for the first time. This manuscript describes the results of a representative U.S. national panel study aimed at better understanding the socio-demographic profile (gender, ethnicity, community type, income, and age) of those participants new to outdoor recreation since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, we address how these new outdoor recreationists differ from (1) those who frequently participated in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic and continue to participate in outdoor recreation, (2) those who did not frequently participate in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic and remain un-engaged, and (3) those who frequently participated in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic but stopped their frequent participation following the onset of the pandemic. Results from this U.S. national study suggest that 35.8% of respondents indicated that they did not participate regularly in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic or during the pandemic, 30.4% indicated that they did participate regularly in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic and continued to do so regularly during the pandemic, and 13.5% indicated that they did participate regularly in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic, but did not continue to do so during the pandemic. More than 20% of the sample indicated that they were new outdoor recreationists. The majority of respondents in all categories, including those that were new to outdoor recreation amidst the pandemic, identified as being white, however these new outdoor recreationists were also the least ethnically diverse. The previously but no longer outdoor recreationist respondents were significantly more ethnically diverse than the other three groups, and they tended to live in more urbanized settings. Discussion of these results includes implications for outdoor recreation managers, and researchers who seek to better understand who the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced with regard to outdoor recreation participation. Implications regarding social justice, access and equity to public places that facilitate outdoor recreation, and health-related policies are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • B. Derrick Taff & William L. Rice & Ben Lawhon & Peter Newman, 2021. "Who Started, Stopped, and Continued Participating in Outdoor Recreation during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States? Results from a National Panel Study," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:12:p:1396-:d:704610
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Venter, Zander & Barton, David & gundersen, vegard & Figari, Helene & Nowell, Megan, 2020. "Urban nature in a time of crisis: recreational use of green space increases during the COVID-19 outbreak in Oslo, Norway," SocArXiv kbdum, Center for Open Science.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ralf C. Buckley & Mary-Ann Cooper, 2022. "Tourism as a Tool in Nature-Based Mental Health: Progress and Prospects Post-Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Mateusz Ciski & Krzysztof Rząsa, 2023. "Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression in the Investigation of Local COVID-19 Anomalies Based on Population Age Structure in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-23, May.
    3. Vita Žlender & Stefano Gemin, 2023. "Different Environments and Physical Activity before and during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Data from Slovenia," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-21, January.
    4. Kyle W. Knight & Feng Hao, 2022. "Is Outdoor Recreation Associated with Greater Climate Change Concern in the United States?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-8, March.
    5. B. Derrick Taff & Zachary Miller & Ben Lawhon & Stephanie Freeman & Peter Newman, 2022. "Effective Communication and Campground Recycling: Lessons Learned from Yosemite, Grand Teton, and Denali National Parks," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-13, October.
    6. Zachary D. Miller & Amy Tendick & Caleb Meyer & David Pettebone & Bret Meldrum & Steve Lawson, 2023. "Comparing Visitor Perceptions, Characteristics, and Support for Management Actions before and during a Pilot Timed Entry System at Arches National Park," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-13, June.
    7. Krzysztof Rząsa & Mateusz Ciski, 2022. "Influence of the Demographic, Social, and Environmental Factors on the COVID-19 Pandemic—Analysis of the Local Variations Using Geographically Weighted Regression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-26, September.

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