PARK AND RECREATION MANAGEMENT

TOPIC ONE
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF PARK AND RECREATION
Park and recreation agencies are increasingly being called
upon strategies that positively affect the lifestyle behavior
pattern of the citizens who live, work and play in the
communities.
THE CONTEXT OF LEISURE-SERVICE MANAGEMENT
Three terms that are commonly linked to the management/operations:
1. RECREATION
A form of human activity, carried on voluntarily in ones free time, usually
pleasurable, and without extrinsic or other practical purposes.
The refreshment of the mind and body after work, especially by engaging in
enjoyable activities (Encarta World English Dictionary)

Recently, some concluded that recreation is not so much a form of
pleasure-seeking activity as it is an emotionally transforming activity
designed to meet important personal needs and motivations

Include the need for personal achievement, creative self discovery,
social involvement, relaxation and stress reduction, or mental and
physical fitness.

THE CONTEXT OF LEISURE-SERVICE MANAGEMENT
THE CONTEXT OF LEISURE-SERVICE MANAGEMENT

2. PARKS
Outdoor areas provided chiefly by government or others to serve varied
purposes, such as wilderness or heritage preservation or the provision of such
nature-centered pursuits as backpacking, camping, hunting, fishing, boating,
skiing and etc.
Initially, parks were established in the US and Canada during the 19
th
century
as a separate branch of government and professional responsibility. Later, they
joined with recreation and park agencies and professionals, involving in
environmental and economic concern, and linked to the growth of travel and
tourism industry.
THE CONTEXT OF LEISURE-SERVICE MANAGEMENT

3. Leisure
Time free from obligated tasks, such as work or work-connected activity, or
personal maintenance functions connotation of wealth and social class.
Today, leisure is viewed more broadly as the possession of all classes and as
both the opportunity for free choice in a wide range of creative and social
involvements and as a key element in the cultural life of a nation. Leisure
recreation also involve in diversity elements of entertainment, community
service activities, religious expression, continuing education, host of related
social services and etc.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEISURE AND RECREATION
Important to peoples lives in the past, people enjoyed their leisure time but most activities linked to
religious festivals and gatherings.

Most significant growth occurred during 19 & 20 century.

Ancient Times

Little opportunities for true leisure and recreational - the distinction between work and leisure was
often blurred.

Normally associated with festivals and celebrations for religious or spiritual nature.


The Greek Civilization

Ancient Greek philosophers were the first to distinguish between work and leisure.

Recommend sensible use of free time balance between work and play to healthy individual and
healthy society.

The Romans

Characterized as leisure with purpose

Built public facilities for the mass population to practice recreational for physical fitness and in
readiness for war.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEISURE AND RECREATION
THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEISURE AND RECREATION

The Middle Ages/Dark ages

Few opportunities for mass population to take part in leisure activities.

Rise of Christianity during this period associate leisure with worship and religious festivities.

During the later Middle Ages, leisure continued to be those in power who enjoyed hunting, music, and
dance.

Leisure towards the end of the middle ages was beginning to take on unpleasant character with
activities gambling and drinking
THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEISURE AND RECREATION
The Renaissance and Reformation

Leisure activities such as drama, music and dance were opened up to the masses.

During post reformation time, Grand Tour has become one of the leisure activities that can educate
the young ones and during the early seventeenth century, spa has become a famous choice.


Nineteenth century/Industrial revolution

During the early industrial revolution time, migration of people from the countryside to urban areas
creates unpleasant condition such as overcrowded housing conditions, long working hours and low
wages the needs for leisure and recreation have become significant.

As the industrial revolution progressed, the working class demands for greater freedom from work.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEISURE AND RECREATION
THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEISURE AND RECREATION
The Twentieth century

During first world war, leisure activities were concentrated on home-base recreation such as knitting,
needlework, reading and board games.
Recreation grow rapidly during this century.
Increase in mobility with private car ownership
Gap between rich and poor widened yuppie and dinky were significant high risk activities
such as hang-gliding, powerboat racing, hot air ballooning become a commonplace for this privileged
individual.
Some leisure activities are facing declining.

FACTORS AFFECTING LEISURE AND RECREATION
INCREASE IN LEISURE TIME
- Shorter working week
- Increase in holiday entitlement
- People retiring at early age
- Increase automation at home

MORE DISPOSABLE INCOME
- Families with two wage earners
- Smaller families
- Improved financial advice and money management
- People marrying later in their life
FACTORS AFFECTING LEISURE AND RECREATION
IMPROVED MOBILITY
- Increase in two car families
- Improved infrastructure
- Faster and cheaper travel

CHANGING NEEDS AND EXPECTATION
- More interest in personal health and fitness
- Increase in demand for adventure and innovation activities
- Work hard, play hard attitude
- Joined roles within marriage
FACTORS AFFECTING LEISURE AND RECREATION
PROVISION
- Dry-ski slopes
- Free-form leisure swimming pools
- Health clubs
- Hi-tech bowling alleys
- Activities for older clients

DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE
- People living longer due to advance in medicine
- Greater health awareness
- Increased influence among the older generation
- Better financial planning
- Increased opportunity
OUTCOMES OF ORGANIZED RECREATION AND PARK
SERVICES
Building strong communities
Promoting ethnic and cultural harmony
Strengthening family life
Assisting persons with disabilities and socially/economically disadvantaged
Economic growth and stability
Offering services for children and youth
Promoting environmental well-being and ecological values
UNDERSTANDING THE LEISURE-SERVICE SYSTEM
EIGHT DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS SPONSOR
RECREATION, PARK AND LEISURE SERVICES TODAY.

Public recreation and park departments
Formally structured government agencies with mandate
to provide socially constructive and ecologically sound
programs and facilities to the public. E.g. Forestry Dept


Nonprofit community organizations
Operate under the leadership of private
citizens on a nonprofit basis. E.g. YMCA
UNDERSTANDING THE LEISURE-SERVICE SYSTEM
EIGHT DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS SPONSOR
RECREATION, PARK AND LEISURE SERVICES TODAY.

Special interest organizations
Nonprofit groups that promote a particular type of
recreational activity or that serve a special population.
E.g. Environmentalist Association

Commercial recreation Operated for profit. E.g. Theme parks

Private membership organizations
1. Closed-membership clubs that serve a few specific sports interests
e.g. golf, tennis
2. Groups based primarily on ones residential status. E.g. retirement communities

UNDERSTANDING THE LEISURE-SERVICE SYSTEM
EIGHT DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS SPONSOR
RECREATION, PARK AND LEISURE SERVICES TODAY.

Campus recreation
1. Intramural and club sports and outdoor recreation activities. E.g. Kelab Kembara
2. A broader program that includes college union or dormitory- based social activities. E.g.
concerts, cultural activities

Employees recreation programs
Recreation Center located in the establishment
UNDERSTANDING THE LEISURE-SERVICE SYSTEM
EIGHT DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS SPONSOR
RECREATION, PARK AND LEISURE SERVICES TODAY.

Armed forces recreation
e.g. Retired army

Therapeutic recreation service
The purposeful use of recreational activity in the care, treatment and rehabilitation of persons with
disabilities, including dependent aging persons, through directed program.
1. Clinical Treatment 2. Special Recreation
e.g. Senior citizen centers
OTHER ELEMENTS IN THE
LEISURE-SERVICE SYSTEM
Sport Management
E.g. FAM, BAM

Travel and Tourism
The motivations for pleasure travel are several:
to VFR, to revitalize or enrich ones life experience, escape from mundane daily works/routines,
sightseeing, adventure, educational or cultural experience
RESPONSIBILITIES OF LEISURE-SERVICE MANAGERS
NINE MAJOR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES:
Providing philosophical leadership
Defining/reformulating organizations statement of overall purposes, goals and objectives
Planning efforts that develop short/long term goals, decisions/actions and serves a visionary/spiritual leader
or role model and help staff members understand organizations value system and adhere to it at all levels
of involvement.
Organizational structure
Reviewing and continuing to develop/improve organizational structure, relationship with supervisory
boards, commissions or other advisory groups.
Overseeing the performance of each administrative unit within the structure, encourage the coordination
and cooperative action of different units/personnel on various levels through special project teams or task
forces.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF LEISURE-SERVICE MANAGERS
Program service
Planning and implementing successful programs that serve participants with absorbing, constructive leisure opportunities
and that fulfill the organizations overall mission.

Involving in planning program activities/services to ensure that they cover a diversified range of recreational areas and
distributed in terms of age-level needs and represent the highest possible quality of personal leisure experience.

Facilities planning, construction and maintenance
Conducting planning or feasibility studies, spearheading property-acquisition efforts, overseeing facility design and
construction processes.

Maintaining facilities to ensure safe and enjoyable participation at all times.

Fiscal administration
Formulating money-related policies and procedures; the planning, presentation, execution of budgets, effective accounting
and auditing controls and maximizing the organizations fund raising capabilities.

Stressing on cost-benefit analysis, differentiated pricing policies, privatization and subcontracting of agency functions, and
demanding productivity standards.





RESPONSIBILITIES OF LEISURE-SERVICE MANAGERS

Human resource management
Recruiting, hiring, training and giving ongoing supervision of personnel
Stressing on a flexible, creative and participatory approach to assign and supervise team members and
also give counseling, job enrichment and rotation, shared decision making, delegation of authority, and
the fuller use of part-time, seasonal, and volunteer leadership
Public and community relations
Designing public relation messages on form of printed materials, varied events, open houses or other
programs designed to promote the leisure services agenda.
Forming community-relations activities involve two-way communication through advisory committees and
neighbourhood, district councils, community hearings or forums, focus groups and similar efforts.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF LEISURE-SERVICE MANAGERS
Legal functions and risk management
Operating as administrators, planners and program heads in other types of agencies do within a
framework of law as outlined in enabling or controlling legislation or court decisions.

Stressing on risky outdoor recreation, sport activities that must be acutely aware of safety guidelines and
the need for sound emergency and follow up procedures (linked to the prevention of vandalism and crowd
control or other law enforcement function)

Evaluation, research and information management
Measuring and evaluating system of the effectiveness or overall quality of leisure service program,
examining on all elements of the organizations operation, approved standards, accreditation, and
certification or planning studies.

Analyzing comprehensive performance data about all elements of an organizations operation, program
enrollments and revenues, staff assignments and personnel actions, facility needs and scheduling and
similar items
CHANGES AFFECTING LEISURE SERVICES
THE INCREASED BIRTHRATE IN THE LAST DECADES OF 20
th
. CENTURY
Demand for improved daycare and diversified facilities and programming for this age group

THE STEADY GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF ELDERLY
Create greater need for improved senior citizen centers and other social services as well as improved recreation programming in long-
term care facilities

THE CONTINUING HIGH DIVORCE RATE AND INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN BORN TO UNMARRIED
PARENTS
Resulted in a greater number of single-parent families who represent a high priority along with all families for appropriate recreation
programs.

CHANGES AFFECTING LEISURE SERVICES
THE REMARKABLE EXPANSION OF NON-CAUCASION POPULATIONS
represent a majority in a growing number of central cities, have major implications for multicultural programming and employment
policies

THE WOMENS DRIVE FOR EQUITY IN MODERN SOCIETY
a dramatic increase of participation by girls and women in sports, outdoor recreation, and other leisure pursuits. Also, concern about
improved career opportunities for females in parks, recreation and leisure services

THE EMERGENCE OF A GROWING CLASS OF EXTREMELY WEALTHY PERSONS WHO HAVE WITHDRAWN FROM THE
USE OF PUBLIC FACILITIES
shows a marked contrast with the lives of socially and economically disadvantaged persons often with barren recreation facilities and
programs



CHANGES AFFECTING LEISURE SERVICES
THE ENVIRONMENTAL POINT OF VIEW OF FULLER USE OF WILDERNESS AREAS
arguments between public-interest societies and environmentalists that outdoor recreation and ecotourism also provide jobs
on continuing basis without destroying the environment

THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF RECREATION, PLAY AND LEISURE
religious and spiritual terms that offer the opportunity for humanistic and holistic experiences that enrich the quality of
human life and improve societal relationships, but today many leisure elements today depict violence and leads to
irresponsible leisure programming and activities

THE IMPACT OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
Continue to promote awareness of the need to provide enriching and mainstreaming recreational experiences for persons with
disabilities, in both the United States and Canada

Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam Agriculture Park
The Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam Agriculture Park Malaysia was the brainchild of the former Minister of
Agriculture, Y. Bhg Tan Sri Sanusi Junid in 1985. On the 24th April 1986, a gotong royong
programme involving over 300 personnel from the ministry, and its departments and agencies was
carried out to develop the Agriculture Park.

The park was officially open to the public on the 15th September 1989 with entrance fees based on the
price of a bus ticket RM2.00 for adult and RM1.00 for children
Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam Agriculture Park
The park was originally known as Bukit Cerakah Agriculture Park and the name was subsequently
changed to Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam Agriculture Park in August 1990 by the late Sultan of Selangor,
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Abdul Aziz Shah.

In the period of time the entrance fee was increased to RM3.00 for adult while remaining at RM1.00 for
children.

Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam Agriculture Park
The Objectives of the Malaysia Agriculture Park Establishment:

Developing an agriculture and tourism based complex.
Developing the park as a knowledge centre for the public and farmers to better understand agriculture.
As an open university for the public to conduct research in agriculture.
Developing a learning and recreational facility for the public.
Making the park into a main tourist attraction centre.


(Source: http://www.moa.gov.my/taman_pertanian)
Taman Tasik Perdana
Located at Jalan Perdana

One of the oldest park in KL

Introduced by Alfred Venning, the British State Treasurer in the 1880s

Covers area of 91.6 hectares

Built around an artificial lake with beautiful green landscape
Taman Tasik Perdana
Attractions nearby include:

The Orchid Garden
The Hibiscus Garden
The Butterfly Park
KL Bird Park
The Deer Park
National Monument