County Parks - Recreation Opportunities "Close to Home"
By Harry Graves - Director, Johnson County Conservation Board

The dramatic rise in gasoline prices experienced earlier this summer, along with declining amounts of leisure time, are factors contributing to an increase in the amount of time that Americans spend in recreation "close to home." Usage of Johnson County parks and statewide parks seems to mirror this trend.
Studies conducted by the Federal Government and Iowa State University have determined that recreational participation is also closely related to associated changes in the social and economic conditions of our society. These "socioeconomic" factors include population, education, occupation, income, leisure and mobility. The studies revealed that when any of these factors increase, the demand for and the use of recreational features and opportunities will increase proportionately. This information is being utilized in the development of long range plans, which are currently being written, for the Johnson County Conservation Board.

POPULATION
Recently released statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau graphically illustrate the population boom in Johnson County. Over the last decade, Johnson was the second fastest growing county in the state and is now the fifth largest county in Iowa with a population of 111,006.

• Of those 111,006 persons in the county, 55,752 are female and 55,254 are male.
• The median age for the total population is 28.4 years.
• The single largest segment of the population is the age group 25 to 29 years with 10,249 persons. The second largest segment is the age group 30 to 34 years with 8,233.
• Growth of the well elderly segment of the population will increase the need for recreation opportunities "close to home."

EDUCATION
Various studies have shown that a strong relationship exists between recreation participation and levels of educational attainment. Through education people are exposed to a wider range of choices and more sophistication in recreational wants and needs. The most recent selective characteristics data from the Census Bureau, 1993, documents that Johnson is the most educated county in the state with 90.6% of the population possessing an educational attainment of high school graduation or higher.

OCCUPATION
The occupational level of a population is generally proportional to its level of educational attainment. Professional people and skilled workers generally participate more in various forms of outdoor recreation, due to their higher income.

INCOME
Per capita income, a measure of average income per person, was $23,120.00 for Iowa in 1997. For Johnson County $24,629.00 was the average. Per capita income increased 264% between 1977 and 1997.
With increasing incomes, many families find it both possible and desirable to spend more time and money for recreational purposes. This results in a continuing increase in outdoor recreation demand.

LEISURE
Recent studies reveal a steady decrease in leisure time over the last thirty years. In 1969 the average worker put in 53.5 hours per week on the job or doing chores around the house, and had 19. 5 hours of leisure time. By 1999, the numbers had grown steadily further apart, to 57.5 hours spent working and 15.5 hours playing. A decline in leisure time further necessitates the need for recreational opportunities" close to home".

MOBILITY
Ease of transportation and mobility enabled people to travel long distances for recreation, however, the recent increases in fuel and transportation costs present an increasing demand for local opportunities. No long-term abatement of this condition is expected.

SUMMARY
In summary, Johnson County has experienced tremendous growth over the last decade. A rapidly growing, diverse, cosmopolitan and well educated citizenry is the population base which the Johnson County Conservation Board will serve in the coming decades. The demand for inexpensive family oriented recreational opportunities "close to home" will continue to grow.