closer to home when engaging in outdoor recreation, and consequently had 

 relatively low participation rates in activities that involve a wildland environment. 

 Hispanics and "other groups" had significantly higher participation rates than 

 Caucasians in a number of activities, including bicycling, saltwater fishing, and 

 downhill skiing. Caucasians had significantly higher participation rates in 

 camping, hunting, canoeing, and mountain climbing. 



There is little doubt that there will be increased racial/ethnic diversity in the years 

 ahead (fig. 30). Between 1990 and 2025, the U.S. population is expected to 

 increase by 50 million, of whom 17 million will be Hispanic Americans, 14 million 

 African Americans, and 10 million from other groups. Thus, 81 percent of the 

 increase in population will be in minority groups. 



Urban/rural residence— Differences in outdoor recreation participation by urban/ 

 rural residence appear to reflect the availability of recreational opportunities in 

 fairly close proximity. Activities generally associated with substantial wildland 

 areas such as freshwater fishing, camping, hunting, and snowmobiling are more 

 likely to be participated in by individuals living in an area with a population of 

 less than 50,000 than in areas with a larger population. Activities requiring the 

 development of specialized facilities or programs are more likely to be 

 participated in by individuals living in large urban areas where there are usually 

 substantial recreation facilities and programs such as golf and tennis. 



There are prospects for increased urbanization. The 1980's witnessed a return to the 

 long-term trend of greater growth in metropolitan areas than in nonmetro areas. The 

 Nation's nonmetro areas grew at only half the rate of their metro counterparts. 



Figure 30 — Customers for outdoor recreation will become increasingly diverse in terms of race and 

 ethnicity. 



53 



