Parks & Recreation - Current Survey Statistics

Open Space Master Plan The mountains, the desert, the river…El Paso wouldn’t be the same without them. Yet as our city grows, the special places our families remember are disappearing one by one.
The El Paso Open Space Plan gives you the opportunity to say which natural areas around us are most important to you. Through the Plan process the City will work with the community to identify and preserve these special places for future generations to enjoy.

1. Have you ever been to or used any of the following in and around El Paso?


Natural open space (Mountains/desert)	66%	National Park	51%
State Park	60%	City Park	68%
Jogging Path	45%	Hike/Bike Trail	47%
Mountain Trail	48%

2. Where, around El Paso, do you prefer to go for outdoor recreation?


Don’t go anywhere	4%	City park	39%
Ascarate Park	17%	McKelligon Canyon	35%
Tom Mays State Park	28%	Red Sands	8%
Upper Valley Levee	25%	Transmountain	34%
Rd/Franklin Mtns State Pk	52%	Wilderness Museum area	23%
Other	25%

3. How often do you engage in outdoor activities?


Never	0%	Once in a while (1-2 times a year)	4%
Sometimes (3-4 times a year)	11%	Regularly (1-2 times a month)	15%
Often (3 or more times a month	40%

4. How far do you need to travel for outdoor recreation?


Start recreation from home	14%	Less than ¼ mile	6%
Less than ½ mile	3%	Less than 1 mile	14%
Less than 5 miles	13%	More than 5 miles	18%

5. What types of outdoor activities do you enjoy?


Walking/Jogging	65%	Hiking/Backpacking	43%
Bicycling	34%	Swimming/Wading	31%
Fishing	18%	Picnicking	46%
Nature/Bird-watching	34%	Orienteering	4%
Overnight backpacking	14%	Overnight camping	29%
4-wheeling/Motorbiking	6%	Organized activities	19%
Just enjoy being outdoors	55%	Other	15%

7. Which of the following elements would you be most likely to use?


Parking	43%	Public Transportation	14%
Routes between accessible elements	28%	Hiking/Biking (Trails-Paved)	42%
Hiking/Biking (Trails-Unpaved)	42%	Restrooms	47%
Dog parks	27%	Scenic areas/Overlooks	54%
Interpretive displays or presentations	20%

8. Has anything prevented you from fully enjoying your visit at an outdoor recreational site?


Lack of parking	18%	Lack of public transportation	9%
Lack of routes between accessible elements	18%	Lack of hiking/biking trails-Paved	23%
Lack of hiking/biking trails-Unpaved	18%	Lack of interpretive displays/presentations	9%
Lack of restrooms	31%	Lack of dog parks	19%
Lack of scenic areas/overlooks	18%	Lack of time	26%
Lack of money	11%	My personal health	7%
Concern for personal safety	16%	Crowded areas	20%
Inadequate transportation	5%	Pollution	13%
No assistance for physical condition	4%	Other	17%

9. Outdoor recreational activities and open spaces provide benefits to our community. Please rate the following statements as to how important they are to you:

	1-Not important	2-Somewhat important	3-Important	4-Very important
Increase physical fitness	3%	5%	21%	40%
Enhance overall health and well-being	3%	2%	19%	46%
Increase self-esteem and positive image	5%	14%	22%	27%
Reduce stress level	3%	5%	21%	40%
Increase sense of community	4%	11%	26%	28%
Help families spend time together	4%	8%	21%	36%
Provide greater appreciation for nature	2%	4%	20%	42%
Conquer boredom	12%	17%	20%	19%
Increase tourism potential	8%	11%	20%	30%
Open spaces make our community more desirable for residents and businesses	4%	6%	17%	43%
Open spaces and developed parks improve our quality-of-life	3%	2%	13%	52%
Open spaces and parks help preserve our landscapes, native plants, and animals	2%	2%	11%	53%
Outdoor recreation is an important part of our community’s quality-of-life	3%	2%	16%	47%
Outdoor recreation is an important part of my personal or my family’s quality-of-life	2%	3%	17%	46%

10. What would encourage you to participate in more outdoor
recreation?


Availability of information	43%	Organized events	11%
Place/person to answer questions	29%	Someone/group to accompany	16%
Other	20%

11. AGES-How many people in your family/recreation group are:?


Age	# (Average)	Age	# (Average)
Under 5 years	0	6-10 years	0
11-17 years	0	18-25 years	0
26-39 years	1	40-55 years	1
56-65 years	0	65+ years	0