The role of distance in peri-urban national park use: Who visits them and how far do they travel?

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThere is a sizable literature about the factors shaping park visitation and use e especially for urban parks, including (i) geographic (e.g. proximity), (ii) socio-cultural (e.g. population characteristics) and to a lesser extent, (iii) individual psychometric factors (e.g. attitudes and values). Yet comparatively little is known about how factors related to distance may affect peri-urban national park use, particularly outside the United States. This paper reports on research investigating distance-related factors affecting use of a periurban national park in Brisbane, Australia. This study found that older visitors live closer to the park while younger visitors travel further to use it. Surprisingly, travel distance did not vary with the type of recreational activities that users were conducting in the park. These results have implications for park planning and management including user demand for different recreational activities in peri-urban national parks. Results are useful for scholars using distance decay models to explain travel behaviour, evidencing the empirical veracity of the model in different places and across different service types. The findings are especially important for geographers because they demonstrate that assumptions about uniform park catchments may be unsupported and need to be empirically validated.

The Barriers to Millennials Visiting Rouge Urban National Park

“…In the case of this study into millennial motivations, this would then imply that younger people are in fact less likely to travel farther distances but older populations would. Another study tested distance-decay theory on Brisbane's D'Aguilar National Urban Park in Australia and findings revealed that peak visitation came from visitors five to ten kilometers away in order to specifically undertake experiences local neighborhood parks could not offer [8]. Significantly, this study also showed that millennials were in fact more likely to visit parks and green spaces located further distances from them than older populations [8].…”

“…For these reasons, the demographics are different from national park users and vary from one urban park to another according to the demographics of the local community within which the park is located. Although a general profile of Toronto urban park users cannot be defined, previous studies have shown that urban park users typically live within five kilometers and visits are short, yet frequent, mainly to conduct exercise routines [8]. In saying this, the leading motivations to visit urban parks will vary between location depending on the design and layout, but the desire to appreciate nature is always paramount.…”

“…In saying this, the leading motivations to visit urban parks will vary between location depending on the design and layout, but the desire to appreciate nature is always paramount. Studies have indicated that language, level of education and gender are relatively weak predictors of park use but that age and proximity are greater predictors to urban park use [8,16].…”

“…Another study tested distance-decay theory on Brisbane's D'Aguilar National Urban Park in Australia and findings revealed that peak visitation came from visitors five to ten kilometers away in order to specifically undertake experiences local neighborhood parks could not offer [8]. Significantly, this study also showed that millennials were in fact more likely to visit parks and green spaces located further distances from them than older populations [8]. Those with a high affinity to nature are more likely to travel further distances, visit more frequently and spend more time at parks opposed to those with a low affinity but are within a closer proximity [16,26].…”

“…These parks were created for two main reasons: residents' recreation and nature conservation [7]. With increased urbanization in recent years, much of the world's population live in cities, thus reducing available green spaces and access to parks [8]. The creation of UNPs aims to address this issue.…”