The effect of building a new university recreation facility on student, faculty, and staff participation in open recreation activities

Abstract

Students' demands for recreation opportunities have forced academic institutions to reexamine their recreation facilities. As a result, there has been an increase in the building of recreation facilities across the country. Within the last seven years, 60% of the members of the Mid American Conference have built new recreation facilities. However, it is important to note the impact of building new recreation activities on a college campus. This study examined the effect of increasing the available recreation space on the participation rate of students, staff, and faculty in informal recreation activities. A survey was sent to the ten members of the Mid American Conference and the resulting data upheld the hypotheses of the study that an increase of x% in the available recreation space on a college campus will always result in at least an x% increase in the student, faculty, and staff participation rate in informal activities for the particular college.