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Conejo Recreation & Park District Master Plan <br />Section 11 <br />39 Ibid <br />" Ibid <br />Well maintained parks- and recreation facilities <br />39 help reduce crime in a <br />community. <br />b. Encourages Volunteerism <br />Companionships and friendships developed and fostered through leisure <br />participation and perceived availability of social support generated by leisure <br />engagement help people cope with excessive life stress and thereby help <br />maintain or improve health. (Coleman and Iso -Ahola, 2001) <br />Adults who use parks, recreation and cultural facilities and participate in <br />recreation programs are more willing to volunteer than those who do not use <br />these services, according to a case study of 640 adults. (Busser & Norwalk <br />2001) 1 <br />c. Promotes Stewardship <br />Participants' feelings of care and connectedness for the environment were higher <br />while they were in the park and after they exited the wilderness than when they <br />initially came to the wilderness according to a study of 62 groups in the <br />Okefenokee Wilderness. (Borrie & Roggenbuck, 2001) <br />A clear linkage between environmentalists and avid participation in outdoor <br />recreation is demonstrated by the Roper Starch Report. One out of every ten <br />active Americans is also personally involved in and supportive of outdoor <br />recreation. (ARC, 1999) <br />Promotes Social Bonds <br />a. Unites Families <br />• Families that recreate together tend to be closer and more cohesive, and have a <br />greater chance of staying together. This is true with both parent-child <br />relationships and married couples. By participating in activities together, family <br />members elicit feelings of loyalty, trust, harmony, teamwork andgoodwi 11.40 <br />Family togetherness received a high rating as a reason to participate in outdoor <br />recreation. Nearly three in four Americans consider this an important reason to <br />get active. (ARC, 1999) <br />b. Builds Cultural Diversity and Harmony <br />Recreation promotes positive contact between different ethnic groups and opens <br />communication in a non -threatening atmosphere. Recreation opportunities <br />provide a means for social interaction that can help to break down the barriers of <br />11-17 June 2, 2011 <br />