No. 1 - 2

Walmsley, J. (2006). A million centimetres a year: Quality newspaper coverage of ‘leisure’ in Australia. Annals of Leisure Research, 9(1-2), 1-16.

Many claims are made about the emergence of a ‘leisure society’, some focusing on the so-called ‘leisure shock’ and others on the ‘end of work’. In much of this writing, definition of the core concept of ‘leisure’ is problematical. Many see leisure as ‘time left over’ after obligatory commitments have been met. From this perspective, leisure, recreation and tourism are viewed as components of ‘leisure time’, defined on the basis of the location of the activity in question (home, day trip, overnight stay). This actor-based approach to defining leisure is widely used but has drawbacks. The paper explores an alternative approach. It focuses on how leisure is socially constructed in the media. This is an enormous topic and the paper limits attention to a quantitative content analysis of the coverage of ‘leisure’ in the main ‘news’ section of a quality broadsheet (the Sydney Morning Herald) in 2004. Adopting the agenda-setting approach to media impact, the paper gives an insight into the aspects of leisure covered by Australia’s largest selling broadsheet.

Randall, M., Macbeth, J., & Newsome, D. (2006). Investigating the Impacts of Off-road Vehicle Activity in Broome, North-Western Australia: A preliminary appraisal.  Annals of Leisure Research, 9(1-2), 17-42.

Pristine natural areas are important leisure sites, with beaches being particularly targeted by recreational vehicles and their passengers. Coastal areas in the Broome region of Western Australia have been subject to an increasing level of leisure off-road vehicle (ORV) use by locals and tourists. The impacts of ORVs and the associated camping are noticeable on beach and fore-dune areas and include vegetation damage, litter, soil compaction, erosion and the loss of social and cultural values. This paper provides a preliminary integrated assessment of the biophysical/social issues and policy implications surrounding the present use of ORVs and free camping in the Broome region. Ghost crabs and bi-valve mollusc populations are shown to be suitable indicators of environmental impacts from ORVs on the study area’s most heavily utilised beach driving areas. Questionnaire feedback from 46 respondents relates to user demographics, perceptions of environmental impacts and management actions that address the issues of current ORV use and free camping in the study area and constitutes the basis for this paper’s analysis. Visitors are primarily undertaking nature based activities in the study area, do not perceive ORVs to be impacting key environments and show a high level of support for management actions.

Survey research undertaken in 2004 indicates that the recreation priorities of New Zealand local government authorities have altered little since 1987 despite the introduction of new legislation focusing on servicing community groups. The 2004 survey of local government park and recreation managers replicated questions asked in 1993 and 1987. Responses to the most recent survey were consistent with the two previous studies. Survey responses indicated that the provision, construction and maintenance of facilities, along with the beautification of the environment, remain areas of greatest importance for New Zealand local authorities with respect to recreation provision. Goal priorities that specifically contained references to the planning process rated highly, but these priorities were not evident in existing local government policies relating to conducting research within the community. Policies associated with recreation counselling and programming, providing for user groups such as people who are unemployed or have a disability, and for individual growth, rated very low. These findings suggest a need to identify, and put in place, ways of quantifying demand by communities for recreation resources.

Doody, B., & Booth, K. (2006). Rights of public access in New Zealand: Public opinion about foreshore access and proposals to improve land access. Annals of Leisure Research, 9(1-2), 62-85.

The New Zealand government has initiated new policy for the public’s rights of access to land, and the foreshore in particular. Despite this policy activity, little is known about the public’s views on their access rights. A survey of 300 Christchurch residents examined respondents’ use of, and need for, access to the foreshore, their knowledge of foreshore access rights, and opinions about selected access policy proposals. Results show that respondents highly value the foreshore for recreational purposes and expect to be able to go there without charge. Most believe the foreshore should be in public ownership. Knowledge of access rights was found to be low, suggesting policy should place emphasis on improving public knowledge and awareness about access to existing recreational resources rather than increasing the extent of the accessible resource. General support was given for a range of land access policy proposals, including greater portrayal of access information on maps and on-site access signposting; however, the likely effectiveness of such proposals is less certain.

Rapidly growing regions such as South East Queensland strive to maintain the quality of life and standards of liveability that initially attracted the incoming population. Continued urbanisation invariably leads to a loss of open space, a loss of regional landscape quality and limitations on opportunities for outdoor recreation. This paper examines the potential role of regional parks as a policy option and as environmental infrastructure capable of addressing many challenges associated with rapidly urbanising regions. The paper proposes determining a regional parks network that can provide a full array of environmental, social, cultural and economic benefits. Investigations have considered a range of regional park types based on a recreation opportunity and level of service approach. If the concepts outlined are adopted and developed within the SEQ regional planning process, this will make a significant contribution to the achievement of the regional visions of sustainability and liveability.

Lewis,J. (2006). Doing it in the dirt: High sensation seeking motocross racers -  Annals of Leisure Research, 9(1-2), 110-132.

Determining the psychological characteristics of long-term participants in a high-risk sport is relevant to understanding their persistence with the chosen sport. Studies have shown that participants in high-risk sports such as skydiving, big wave surfing and mountain climbing have higher scores on Zuckerman’s Sensation Seeking Scale than people in the general population. This study sets out to investigate whether motocross racers in Central Queensland, Australia, have high sensation seeking scores. Sensation seeking was measured using Zuckerman’s Sensation Seeking Form V and motocross racers were found to be high sensation seekers. In addition, sensation seeking was compared to the generation of the participant (Millennnial, Generation X or Baby Boomer) as a new avenue of research. Central Queensland motocross racers have very high Disinhibition subscale scores related to partying, drinking, willingness to undertake new experiences and enjoying ‘sexy’ scenes in movies, and have a preference for alcohol over illicit drugs. Previous research suggested that scores on two subscales of sensation seeking (Thrill and Adventure Seeking, and Experience Seeking) decline with age at faster rates than the scores on the other two subscales (Disinhibition and Boredom Susceptibility), but this study provides contrary results. Thrill and Adventure Seeking did decline quickly with generation of the participant but Experience Seeking scores actually increased from the Millennials to the Baby Boomers. Disinhibition scores did decrease at a slower rate than Thrill and Adventure Seeking. However, riders younger than 23 (the Millennials) and 44 years of age or older (Baby Boomers) had higher Boredom Susceptibility scores than those aged 23 to 43 years (Generation X).

No. 3

Chroni, S., Hatzigeorgiadis, A., & Theodorakis, Y. (2006). Onsite coping in novice climbers as a function of hardiness and self-efficacy. Annals of Leisure Research, 9(3), 139-154.

The present study investigated the coping strategies used by novice climbers as a function of hardiness and self-efficacy. Thirty physical education university students participated in a two-week climbing training program. Hardiness was assessed before the initiation of the training program, self-efficacy prior to the post-training climbing assessment, and coping strategies after the post-training climbing assessment. Two-way MANOVA revealed significant effects of hardiness on ‘cognitive engagement’ and ‘effort increase’, and a significant interaction between hardiness and self-efficacy on ‘behavioural disengagement’. The results of the study suggest that the coping approach should be further examined as a function of both individual and situational characteristics.

Hoye, R. (2006). Sports betting policy and product fees: Implications for Australian sports organisations. Annals of Leisure Research, 9(3), 155-172.

This paper documents the growth of sports betting services and providers in Australia, and critically reviews the policy issues of online gambling, cross-border betting, and betting exchanges that demonstrate the power imbalance that exists between interest groups in developing sports betting policy in Australia. It is argued that the policy framework for sports betting is dominated by three interest groups: the racing industry, the Totalizator Agency Boards, and state governments that have historically acted to protect revenue and taxation streams. As a result, sports organisations have been unable to maximise revenues in the form of product fees for the use of their intellectual property by wagering operators.

Schmidt, C. (2006). The lived experience of the spiritual potential of leisure. Annals of Leisure Research, 9(3), 173-193.

The potential of leisure to have a meaningful impact on people’s lives is often discussed. For example, it has been noted that leisure can enhance a person’s self-concept and how they feel about themselves and it can contribute to a person’s physical health, sense of well-being and perceptions of quality of life. Research has also identified a spiritual dimension (defining oneself, experiencing wholeness, gaining a sense of connection, and transcendence) as a benefit of leisure. Further, it has also been suggested that leisure may hold a key for people’s free expression and exploration of truth, beauty and knowledge as leisure allows people the opportunity to explore what it means to be fully human. To better understand some of these possibilities I undertook a phenomenological study into the nature of the lived experiences of leisure that individuals considered spiritual. Twenty-four participants shared their self-identified spiritual leisure experiences through unstructured interviews. The findings suggested that leisure was a valuable and edifying aspect of these people’s lives in relation to developing their spiritual self and experiencing their spirituality. More broadly the results remind us of the potential of leisure to be a space in people’s lives where they can experience self, grow, and actualise more of who they are.

No. 4: Special Issue: Urban Parks (Edited by A. J. (Tony) Veal)

Veal, A. J. (2006). Special issue on urban parks: Guest editor’s introduction. Annals of Leisure Research, 9(4), 199-200.

Henderson, K. A. (2006). Urban parks and trails and physical activity. Annals of Leisure Research, 9(4), 201-213.

Urban parks and trails offer a significant venue for promoting active living. Public parks are accessible to most people, generally offer free year-round opportunities, and have the potential to play an essential role in promoting physical activity to contribute to healthier people and to prevent cardiovascular disease and obesity. The purpose of this paper is to provide an integrative summary of the research, within leisure studies and in related fields such as public health and urban planning, that describes the relationships between urban outdoor recreation venues, including parks, trails and green-ways, and opportunities for physical activity. Research is emerging that documents the associations that exist between urban parks and participation in physical activity. Limitations are noted and a rationale is made for conducting further research to explicate more clearly the links between urban parks and physically active people.

Crompton, J.L. (2006). The genesis of the proximate principle in the development of urban parks in England.  Annals of Leisure Research, 9(4), 214-244.

There is a willingness by many people to pay more for property located close to parks and open space than for property that does not offer this amenity. This process of ‘capitalisation’ of park land into increased property values is termed the ‘proximate principle’. The paper traces the central role of the proximate principle in persuading local governments to invest resources into England’s early urban parks. The first purpose-built urban parks in England were conceived as private enclaves for the wealthy. Their primary purpose was to create premium values for properties around them and, hence, enhance the profitability of residential dwellings to the developer. The earliest forms of these private enclaves were ‘squares’. The evolution of the principle to larger park areas occurred in 1811 with John Nash and the commitment to develop Regent’s Park in London and its adjacent Nash terraces that were targeted at the wealthy. In 1841, Richard Yates developed Prince’s Park in Liverpool, using the proximate principle which had resulted in the highly profitable real estate development at Regent’s Park. He hired Joseph Paxton to design it. Its success resulted in a decision by the commissioners of the nearby new city of Birkenhead to hire Paxton and incorporate the financing principle in the construction of Birkenhead Park, which was the world’s first municipal park to be funded with local taxpayers’ resources. Birkenhead Park was the landmark project at which the proximate principle was transitioned from the private to the public sector.

Veal, A. J. (2006). The use of urban parks. Annals of Leisure Research, 9(4), 245-276.

Urban parks are a significant feature of the urban environment and constitute a significant budget commitment on the part of local councils and some state governments, but they are relatively neglected, and often ignored, in mainstream leisure studies. This paper examines two themes in existing urban parks research, namely the ‘non-use and decline’ theme and the theme of equity. The review concludes that the ‘accepted wisdom’ on non-use and decline of urban parks is questionable and contrary to available empirical evidence and that leisure studies discourses which ignore urban parks as a leisure sector give a distorted view of the equity outcomes of public leisure services as measured by patterns of usage. The paper presents data from recent surveys of park use in Sydney, Australia, which indicate that visiting urban parks is the most popular of all out-of-home leisure activities and, unlike a number of other public leisure services, urban parks attract high levels of use from virtually all sections of the community.

(Introduction) This paper describes a project designed to examine the relationship between urban parks and tourism. Such a relationship certainly exists but, as Masberg and Jamieson (1999) observe, the extent and form of that relationship is neither well understood nor documented. This project therefore turns the focus onto a largely neglected realm of academic enquiry and practitioner understanding.