SCORP Focus Group Report
Central Ohio
Focus Group Locations: Marion, Alum Creek State Park
What are the most POPULAR outdoor recreation activities in this region?
- trail use
- birding
- ATV riding
- biking, and
- nature observation
These activities were also cited as being quite popular:
- Skate boarding
- Fishing
- Street hockey
- Boating, canoeing and kayaking
Participation in the following activities appears to be INCREASING:
- Disc golf
- League sports such as soccer, lacrosse, softball, etc.
- Dog park use
- Dodge Ball
- Corn-hole
- Rugby
- Water trail use
- Horseback riding
- Golf
- Pick-up football
- Paintball
Some participants identified the following activities as DECLINING in popularity:
- Picnicking
- Softball
- Tennis
- Time/distance
- cost
- concerns about safety
Participants also cited these barriers:
- Distractions / too many choices
- Technology (cells, I-pods, video games)
- Accessibility for special populations
- Lack of knowledge or information about recreation opportunities
What OBSTACLES do outdoor RECREATION PROVIDERS face in this region?
The increasingly high cost of land in urban areas and the lack of available land are major barriers to providing outdoor recreation opportunities. Another obstacle is convincing the public that participation in outdoor recreation at public areas is a community and health benefit. Many felt the public lacks information about what is available.
Other barriers include:
- Funding
- Lack of communication between agencies
What are the most pressing NEEDS of outdoor RECREATION PROVIDERS in central Ohio?
Land acquisition for new facilities and additional funding are major needs. Additional multi purpose trails and ball fields were identified as the primary facility needs.
These facility needs were also identified:
- Dog parks
- Passive, quiet facilities
- Need for more birding areas
- More boat docks to eliminate crowding
- Paved trails for skateboarding
- Playgrounds for those with disabilities
- Facilities/equipment for adaptive sail boating, fishing, rock climbing, etc.
- Adaptive facilities for all types, disabled, aging and ADA trails
- More leadership, more partnerships.
What are important PLANNING ISSUES for outdoor recreation providers in this region?
A pressing need to promote the value of recreation and protect open spaces and riparian corridors was identified. Other issues mentioned were:
- Lack of communication between agencies
- Need to aggressively promote parks & recreation districts
- Park districts in cities feel pressure from small communities to provide recreational facilities that the small communities cannot afford
- There is a need to work with a wide range of people to determine demands
- Accessibility education
- Need to make green space idea attractive to public versus selling out to a developer
- Need to better educate those with funds about local needs
- Need for recognition of the additional costs associated with providing ADA accessible facilities
How do outdoor recreation providers rank the need for PASSIVE outdoor recreation opportunities?
Outdoor recreation providers in central Ohio placed a very high priority on passive and quiet recreation, “enjoying unstructured nature”, cautioning also that there are very few pristine wetlands left. Birding is considered a high priority passive activity.
What methods of obtaining FUNDS have been successful in central Ohio?
The most successful methods of obtaining funds are through levies, grant assistance, donations, and capital earmarks. Grass roots groups and “Friends of the Park” type groups are regarded as extremely helpful.
Comments about outdoor recreation and special populations
Outdoor recreation providers in this region placed a high priority on making facilities user friendly for all. There is a concerted effort to provide adaptive facilities and programming for the disabled, aging, and children with special needs. A need to recognize the “comfort level” of special populations was discussed.
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