ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on urban recreation and on organizational structure for providing recreation and highlights the importance of the individual. It presents basic approaches, some of which are discipline based such as economics, sociology, geography, and urban planning. The book addresses problems of recreational behaviour and provides an interdisciplinary overview in order that students might develop a basic understanding of the types of problems, concepts, methods, and approaches helpful in furthering and integrating knowledge of recreation services. It considers urban recreation and the use of resources and facilities within the metropolitan milieu. The book describes the increased importance of the private sector as a means to provide recreation/leisure services, whether they are urban, suburban, or rural. Public-private cooperative planning and management offer promise for meeting many of the nation’s recreational needs.
