ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an excellent introductory statement and overview of the complexities associated with recreation and the physical environment. It outlines some of the basic physical and biological concepts that the recreation planner must consider. In a passive-type outdoor recreation area the public is looking for varied, scenic vegetation which gives a natural appearance. Extreme “noninterference” can be a workable policy in certain types of recreational parks with an expressed intention of preserving a piece of undisturbed biotic community, although noninterference is an ideal rather than an achievable reality. Some compromise has to be made when human access is allowed. Foresters, landscape architects, recreation area planners can jointly work out some measures. Research sponsored by the Canadian Council on Urban and Regional Research and conducted by the present author concentrates on the problem of “establishing physical and ecological criteria for site selection and maintenance” of outdoor recreational areas outside a city.
