Recreation Trends
The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department administers many parks, trails, and facilities for which it is well known. This includes Twin Lakes Recreation Center, the B-Line Trail, and Bryan Park. These parks, trails, and facilities provide community members with cultural programs and physical fitness opportunities. Among the most popular programs and events that the Department offers are the Farmers’ Market, community events, and organized youth sports leagues and programs. According to the 2015 Sports and Fitness Industry Association (formerly the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association) report, inactivity in the United States has taken a sharp turn upwards to 28.3% overall.14 Bloomington’s inactivity rate is far lower than this national average, which can be attributed to active lifestyles that are supported by the facilities, programs, and events provided by the Department and other recreation providers in the community.
National Recreation and Park Association’s areas of focus.
On a national level, participation rates for individual sports have seen a decline from 2009 through 2014. Meanwhile, participation in team and fitness sports has been relatively steady. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, people born after the year 2000 make up the age group with the highest participation rate in team sports, while Gen X-ers and Millennials lead participation in fitness sports. In Bloomington, these trends are reversed, with individual activities on the rise and team sports declining. Survey respondents indicated that assets that facilitate individual fitness, such as trails, are the most used in Bloomington. What also makes Bloomington different from much of the national data is the interest in and value placed on community programs and events like the Farmers’ Market, concerts, and community events. These programs and events are the most used and most valued in the community and support Bloomington’s unique qualities while at the same time they promote physical health via healthy food and mental wellbeing by creating opportunities for social interaction in enjoyable environments.
14 National Park and Recreation Association (Accessed October 14, 2015) http://www.nrpa.org/About-NRPA/Impacting-Communities/.
Master Plan Project
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