The Role of Sustainability in Park and Recreation Administrators’ Policy Decisions

This study assessed the extent to which economic, environmental, and social sustainability concerns factor into park and recreation administrators’ decisions regarding outdoor recreation and facilities. Links to an anonymous, online survey were emailed to state and local park and recreation administrators within the state of Tennessee. The study’s useable response rate was 22% (122/561).

An adjusted Value Belief Norm (VBN) theory was used as the framework, with variables including administrators’ values, beliefs, pro-environmental behavior implementation, perceived constraints, and demographics. Analysis consisted of mediated regression, multiple regression, path analysis, and a qualitative evaluation of submitted constraints. Results supported the general VBN framework’s causal chain model, where significant relationships were found in subsequent links as well as links more than one level apart.

Values had a direct effect on behavior as well as an indirect effect when mediated by beliefs. Demographic variables were not found to be significant predictors of pro-environmental behavior implementation. Increasing administrators’ biospheric values positively affects their ecological worldview beliefs, which, in turn, increases the likelihood of economic, environmental, and social sustainability policy implementation. Constraints were not found to be a strong influence in this study, with 13 participants citing constraints when questioned. The largest category of constraints cited were structural at 77%. Funding and staffing were the most common specific constraints given.

This study adds to the VBN literature concerning pro-environmental behaviors within organizations generally and park and recreation administrators specifically. Administrators’ biospheric values should be highlighted and enhanced to increase pro-environmental behavior policy implementation within park and recreation departments. Future studies should include organizational influences as variables to examine in the model but focus on a singular pro-environmental behavior.