Physical and Social Conditions Affecting Recreation Site Preferences

Recreation managers have focused much of their efforts on the analysis of relationships between perceived user satisfaction, participation levels, and the manipulation of supply features whereas other managers have been concerned with unwanted social interactions that take place at recreation facilities. This study focuses upon an analysis both of the environmental preferences of recreators and of the social conditions present at facilities which affect visitor satisfaction and use. Preferences for five attributes of trail areas within Chicago forest preserves were examined so that a predictive model for visitor satisfaction could be derived and used to evaluate alternative management strategies for trail design. The number of changes in views contributed more to visitor satisfaction than the type of trail surface, trail length, and the type of terrain on the trail. Proximity to residence was more important than the combination of all other physical characteristics. In addition, a positive correlation was found between the level of social interaction that one might experience and one's preference for a trail area. Neither one's choice of activity nor the characteristics of the person or persons encountered with regard to age, race, or behavior along the trail areas significantly affected concerns for social interactions or use of trail areas. However, differences did exist among the recreators with regard to the perceived effectiveness of alternative management strategies designed to mitigate social interactions. Last, the joint effects of recreators' preferences for environmental attributes and the effect of environmental management policies aimed at controlling social interaction were examined and shown to have interlocking and, sometimes, offsetting effects.