PRECM 12-07-1983 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ta~met:: . , footing with thusi= nc;t affected ay the leisure survey Continued from page 1.' Other results of the survey: • 84 percent said they like to walk in their neighborhood, 78 percent in nat• urai areas. • 75 percent said they're interested In shopping or browsing in stores. • 51 percent like nonpovrer boating, canoeing or sailing, while 36 percenf are interested in power boating, water- skiing or racing. • 64 percent like to .attend sports events, while just 33 percent are inter- ested in playing team sports. 39 percent like to cross-country ski and 26 percent to downhill ski. The study also asked what kind of con- straints keep people from participating in the activities they like.. , Most commonly, people said they're too busy with responsibilities or with other free-time activities. Cost was mentioned third most often, followed by the dis- tance to facilities. OTHER PEOPLE NLEOED beaches and campgrounds were most , frequently cited as facilities the Rcgi~n needs more of, although again the most t: frequent response was "nothing." A ~ fourth of the respondents said the Region has tou many snowmobile trails. ~ ` To meet the increased costs of operating parks, people were strong-y in favor of increasing user fees and- less willing to , support a tax increase or reduction in park services. i Smith said Council .planners will use the survey results in conjunctir~n with a recent study of regional park-use pat- terns to determine how ditferent areas 1~ and population groups would be best served ay the park system. PARKS CAN DIFFER Smith said that not having anyone to do . things with also is becoming more of a constraint. Some activities, like tennis, require two or more people, and others are more fun when .more people are around-such as picnicking, and swim- ming. "With today's busy schedules, this can be a real constraint,".Smith said.. Bike paths, natural areas, fishing docks, "The idea is that every park doesn't have to be everything for everybody," Smith said. "Perhaps a natural resource- based park is needed in one area and a more athletic-oriented park in another." Smith said he was pleased with the survey response but that.. the sample of 3,441 .respondents .slightly under- represented small, low-income, mobile households and minority groups. He said the Council will conduct follow- up studies to see whether interests are being served in these population groups. The Metropolitan Council, with the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission, plans the regional park system and awards .grants for land pur• chase and park. development. Ten cities, Counties and special park districts own and operate the regional parks. Meredith McNab t l