Barriers to a Backyard National Park: Case Study of African American Communities in Columbia, SC

Autor/inn/en	Le, Yen; Holmes, Nancy C.
Titel	Barriers to a Backyard National Park: Case Study of African American Communities in Columbia, SC
Quelle	In: Journal of Ethnographic & Qualitative Research, 7 (2012) 1, S.20-35 (16 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1935-3308
Schlagwörter	Racial Discrimination; African Americans; Misconceptions; Parks; Focus Groups; Barriers; Recreational Activities; Economic Factors; Case Studies; Safety; Program Effectiveness; Physical Environment; South Carolina + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Racial bias; Rassismus; Afroamerikaner; Missverständnis; Freizeitpark; Freizeitgestaltung; Ökonomischer Faktor; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Sicherheit; Natürliche Umwelt
Abstract	We present an exploratory study of the recreational behaviors, preferences, and opinions of African Americans in the Columbia, South Carolina area and identify potential barriers to visiting Congaree National Park. Focus groups with African American residents of the Columbia South Carolina area revealed that inadequate information, detachment from nature, economic issues, and perceived racial discrimination were among the potential obstacles preventing African Americans in the Columbia area from visiting Congaree National Park. These issues contribute to the most challenging issue to address, that of misconceptions about the park. Lack of information and detachment from nature create the perception that the park is an undesirable, unsafe, and unwelcoming place to visit. The park's protected status fosters an image of a wilderness where desired facilities are not available. Focus group participants suggested that direct personal contact through programs such as community ambassadors or park ranger visits to classrooms would be among the effective channels to connect with the local communities. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Cedarville University. 251 North Main Street, Cedarville, OH 45314. Tel: 937-766-3242; Fax: 937-766-7971; e-mail: jeqr@comcast.net; Web site: http://www.cedarville.edu/jeqr
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10