Table 5 . --Importance of an average number of trips per year for recreation to three 



distance zones for Blacks and Whites 



Distance zones 



Mean (grouped) 

 annual trips ^ 



Percentage indicating 

 distance zone as 

 "very important" 

 for recreation^ 



Whites 



Blacks 



Whites 



Blacks 



Within 15-minute walk 



7.5 



37.0 



49 



371 



Within 1-hour drive 



7.8 



36.5 



54 



54 



More than 1-hour drive away 



5.9 



35.2 



39 



334 



■^Means based on midpoints for the categories: "Never" (0), "1 to 2 trips" (1.5), 

 "3 to 10 trips" (6.5), "more than 10 trips" (assumed as 11). 



^Responses for each group sum to more than 100 percent because individuals respond- 

 ed independently to each distance category. 



3Black-White differences significant at 0.01 level using Chi-square with 1 degree 

 of freedom. 



When the mean number of annual trips made to each zone is compared to the impor- 

 tance each group attaches to distance, a discrepancy emerges within the Black group. 

 Blacks report the local zone as most important for outdoor recreation purposes, but 

 this emphasis is not borne out when the actual number of trips made to each distance 

 zone is considered (table 5). Although Blacks overwhelmingly value the local zone, 

 they nevertheless travel outside it with some regularity. This discrepancy between 

 stated local emphasis and actual travel to more distant places may be a reflection of 

 the difference between what respondents do and what they report they want. 



What about travel for specific activities? Do Blacks tend to travel outside the 

 local zone more often for certain activities? How do these patterns compare to Whites 

 engaging in these activities? Table 6 examines Black participation rates for selected 

 activities by comparing them to Whites' participation as a percentage. This relation- 

 ship to Whites shows that Black participation is lower in almost all instances for all 

 three distance zones, and tends to decline with greater distance in comparison to White 

 participation in these distance zones. There is, however, some variability between 

 activities; fishing, for instance, retains a very similar ratio at all zones. In sum, 

 it appears that, though Blacks do tend to travel somewhat less, they are still willing 

 or able to do so, especially for certain activities. Unfortunately, the data do not 

 permit a deeper analysis. The key question that remains unsatisfactorily answered con- 

 cerns "the relative importance of location of participation opportunities versus the 

 activity itself in determining Black leisure style. 



