| The purpose of this study was to examine the role of social representation, migration history, and civic engagement on residents' recreation in a post-industrial community. Despite decades of efforts to combat economic decline, out-migration, and industrial ruin, a place-based pessimism developed among some residents in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, where this study was conducted. It was anticipated this investigation would provide insights for community leaders, policy-makers, and destination marketing organizations, as to how place-based social representations, residential longevity, and civicism, affect or relate to residents' awareness of and participation in local recreation, potentially limiting the benefits of recreation within that region.;Several key findings emerged. First, residents who held a negative social representation of local recreation were found to be less aware of these opportunities. Next, results supported literature which noted that long-term residents have more awareness than newer residents, but also indicated that awareness of return migrants did not differ from long-term residents. Additionally, residents with higher levels of civic engagement were more likely to be aware of and participate in local recreation. Finally, civic engagement was a stronger predictor than both migration history and social representation regarding awareness of and participation in local recreation.;Study results regarding awareness and participation generally performed as the literature predicted, but valuable information was gained from the research question that addressed the relationship between social representation and migration history. Specifically, newer residents were least likely to hold the pessimistic place-based perspective, while return migrants were more so inclined, and the persistence of a negative representation of local recreation opportunities was greatest amongst stayers, who were lifetime residents of that county. |
