Principles of public recreation practice in Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Current recreation studies, "thought" literature and relevant federal and provincial statutes were utilized to identify principles of public recreation practice. Analysis of the data resulted in the identification of ten principles of public recreation practice. Public recreation practice in Alberta, Canada, was analyzed utilizing current park and recreation master plans, government policy documents and relevant research on municipal recreation practice. Content analysis, using a thematic approach, was applied to all documentation utilized in identifying principles of public recreation practice as well as documentation utilized to examine current public recreation practice in Alberta. Evaluation research techniques, based on a five-phase model outlined by Wetherill and Buttram, were utilized to determine if current public recreation practice in Alberta was consistent with the ten principles of public recreation practice as identified in the first phase of the study. The research hypothesis stated that municipal recreation practice in Alberta is consistent with principles of public recreation practice as identified from current North American recreation studies and relevant Canadian statutes. Evaluation of current public recreation practice in Alberta indicated that such practice was consistent with eight of ten principles identified in the first phase of the study. As a result the research hypothesis was found to be tenable. Although the hypothesis was found to be tenable the study raised a number of questions which resulted in suggestions for further research and recommendations for public recreation practitioners and recreation educators and their representative associations.