Contact information:
Barbara Elwood Schlatter, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Illinois State University
Campus Box 5121
Normal, IL 61790-5121, USA
beschla@ilstu.edu
State-owned factories provided workers with city park areas for daily leisure pursuits as well as resorts and summer camps for annual vacations and holidays. Workers who displayed high levels of obedience and involvement were rewarded with beach vacations in the south of the Republic (Service, 1999). Such vacations included health treatments in mud baths and sulfur cures. Smith (1976) maintained that these inexpensive, month-long vacations were the pride of the people.
While recreational clubs in urban centers thrived during Khrushchev’s rule (1961-1964), the number and quality of rural recreation facilities fell drastically short. Khrushchev’s attempts to create super collective farms in the country, as well as quasi-urban settlements with facilities for education, recreation, shopping, etc., resulted in little more than societal misery (Service, 1999). For example, bulldozers destroyed small villages to make way for the super collective farms and settlements, but the problems occurred when newly constructed facilities either fell short of community expectations, or were never built at all.
Sports schools were another important leisure-related Soviet institution. Like other communist countries, success in sport performance bolstered the Soviet Union’s international reputation (Service, 1999). Youngsters who showed potential in sport received exclusive training for a career. Facilities for the sport elite were well-funded and equipped with the best trainers and equipment (Service, 1999). These sports included gymnastics, swimming, track, field, ice hockey, among others (Smith, 1976).
Russians have always liked to escape city life and return to nature on weekends and holidays (Smith, 1976, 1991; and Gerhart, 1994). Wild flowers and free-growing grasses have strong appeal to Russians. They appreciate the untamed, vast landscape of Russia, and often replicate these features in personal gardens. The popular activity of mushroom picking is often combined with camping and drinking. Pickers keep their favorite spots a secret. The experience of mushroom picking is an entire process that involves travel, sleeping out, awaking early to find the best mushrooms, and keeping the prime locations a secret. Other popular outdoor activities include ice skating and cross-country skiing.
While alcohol consumption often occurs in leisure environments
(Simpura,
1985), the pervasive, and oft-negative role played by alcohol in
Russian
culture is well-documented (Bykhovskaya, 2004, March; Mikheyev, 1996;
Smith,
1976; 1991; & Service, 1999). Mikheyev (1996) offered two theories
on the motivations for drinking during communism. First, dictatorships
create psychological strain on individuals because they lead a double
life
– the public life of conformity and obedience, and the private life of
individuality. Alcohol, then, provides an ironic safeguard for one’s
individuality.
The second theory links drinking to powerlessness and helplessness,
both
of which are emphasized in totalitarian systems (Mikheyev, 1996). These
theories underscore the ubiquitous nature of alcohol in Russian
culture.
Diminishing state control after perestroika affected other aspects of leisure. For example, financial support for managing and maintaining sport and recreational training facilities declined (Schultz, 2000). Concomitant with the popular acceptance of capitalist ideology were new forms of leisure that were attractive to those willing to pay. Leisure opportunities that emulated other western countries included bowling, karate, cycling, gymnastics, rock climbing, mountain climbing, caving, auto racing, sailing, alpine skiing, sky diving, ballooning, swimming, diving, archery, boxing, wrestling, squash, hunting, fishing, baseball, fencing, inline skating, rollerblading, bodybuilding, golf, horseracing, billiards, table tennis, video games, and paintball; all were available for a price (Schultz, 2000).
Unfortunately, by the mid 1990s, a Russian male’s life expectancy
was
an average of only 59 years and alcohol abuse was pervasive throughout
the Russian philosophy (Bykhovskaya, 2004, March; Mikhevov, 1996). “The
problems faced by most citizens were beyond their control: declining
health
care, the pollution and lack of industrial safety standards, and the
fall
in average family income. Even thousands of people who had jobs were
not
always paid” (Service, 1999, p. 518). Russian citizens continue
to
struggle economically to make ends meet today, and gone are the days
where
leisure was provided by communist leaders. The current trend is to
charge
a fee for leisure attractions and amusements.
Vladimir, Russia is a large industrial city located northeast of Moscow. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, broad support for public parks was negatively affected by a significant decline in government funding (Service, 1999). Concurrently, profit-based “corporate leisure activity” grew to meet the needs of a relatively small cohort of affluent urban youth (Bykhovskaya, 2004). According to local government officials in Vladimir, there is concern that increasing numbers of youth spend their summers drinking beer, smoking, and getting into trouble. Moreover, few young people are attracted to parks that are in such decline. Vladimir City Administration officials shared their concerns with staff members at the “American Home” and asked for assistance, claiming that failure to address these problems places demands on law enforcement resources and interferes with economic development.
The "American Home" in Vladimir was conceived as a way to open the
door
to concrete assistance from the United States as the city began making
the transition from communism to a democracy (“Serendipity,”
2005).
As such, cooperative projects have been established between the
“American
Home” and the Vladimir City Administration since 1992. To address the
problems
faced by youth during the summer, the “American Home” asked leisure
researchers
from the United States to assist with the project. The project had
three
objectives: (1) to determine the extent to which public parks meet the
needs of Vladimir youth; (2) to conduct a focus group with youth to
determine
their leisure interests; and (3) to introduce several pieces of leisure
equipment to the youth in the form of skateboards, disc golf baskets
and
discs, and indoor rock-climbing equipment. Grant monies obtained from
the
University of Nebraska at Kearney financed the travel of one researcher
and purchases of the leisure equipment.
Interview Design and Analysis
The interview design for park directors was based on the “non-schedule
standardized interview” process (Denzin, 1989, p. 105) whereby the same
questions were asked of all the subjects, however, there was no
predetermined
order to the questioning. Subjects were asked about what they perceived
to be the greatest challenges and assets of their parks. Denzin
(1989)
cited several inherent problems with interview research designs;
language,
honesty, subjects’ interpretation of the culture, and the identity of
the
interviewer(s). While the researchers took steps to minimize these
problems,
it was not possible to completely eliminate them.
A bilingual (Russian – English) Vladimir city official arranged four interviews with the city’s park directors for the researchers, and also served as translator. The list of questions included the following: What are the challenges of running your park? What are the assets of your park? While other questions were asked, these two questions served as the basis for the data collection. Shank (2002) contended that it is better to ask too few questions than too many. Interview questions for the directors focused on the challenges and assets of their venues in terms of meeting the leisure needs of youth. Finally, the interviews ranged in duration from 30 – 45 minutes, including facility tours.
Data from the interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis (Shank, 2002) whereby “patterns of order that seem to cut across various aspects of the data” (p. 129) were identified as themes. This creative process occurs by sorting the data so that the themes will seem apparent.
Focus Group Design and Analysis
Focus groups are a useful approach for learning about user needs and
preferences (Morgan & Krueger, 1998). The focus group meeting
with Vladimir youth was arranged prior to the researchers’ arrival in
Russia.
Several months in advance of the researchers’ visit, staff at the
“American
Home” was asked to contact members of youth clubs and invite them to
participate
in the focus group. Researchers then sent the “American Home”
staff
informed consent forms which were translated into Russian and given to
the youths’ parents for signatures. The questions included the
following:
what work, if any do you have; what do you do for fun in the summer;
how
do you hear about upcoming opportunities for fun; what do you
think
about the recreation equipment that we’ve brought for you to try
(skateboards,
disc golf, and indoor rock climbing equipment)?
The co-ed group consisted of 19 youth who ranged in age from 12 – 25
years. Ten were male and nine were female. Youth were invited to try
out
the leisure equipment at the conclusion of the focus group meeting.
Their
reactions and interest levels were recorded in researchers’
notes.
Focus group data were analyzed by grouping similar responses,
identifying
frequently-mentioned comments, and discussing strongly held viewpoints
(Edmunds, 1999). The focus group findings are presented in the
succeeding
section.
Another challenge faced by park administrators was the dilemma of free versus fee-based attractions. While it may be desirable to offer free park attractions, it was currently not feasible in the existing environment to do so. Directors argued that parks need all the income they can generate with vandalism the other most common theme that emerged in the form of challenges they currently faced.
Assets identified by park directors included: professionals’ genuine concern for youth; presence of well-organized youth groups; clean parks and city-wide beautification projects; and presence of a low-cost mass transportation system. Each park had main walkways combined with heavily wooded areas. Every few feet there were metal containers to be used for garbage. That there was little litter on the ground and park trash receptacles were empty indicated to the researchers that cleanliness was a priority for park administrators.
Focus Group Meeting
The focus group consisted of 19 youth with a median age of 18 years.
Five had summer jobs (one worked in a supermarket, one was a parking
lot
attendant, two were web designers, and one was a computer
specialist).
In the summer they like to skateboard, watch TV, drink beer, hangout,
hike,
and ride mountain bikes. They indicated that they find out about
leisure-related
activities through the Internet, newspaper, TV, billboards, and word of
mouth. While they indicated their most popular participant sports as
football
soccer and basketball, they also expressed interest in new activities
that
were more individual-based and not dependent on teams.
Researchers presented recreation equipment to the youth in the focus group. Youth reactions are presented in the order in which they tried out the recreation equipment: skateboarding / in-line skating, disc golf, and rock wall-climbing. The main problem with skateboarding lamented by the youth was that there is no ideal place to engage in it. As a group, they currently skateboard and in-line skate in front of the regional administration building, largely due to its central location and smooth surface. Because there are no obstacles for skateboards, they make their own by stacking skateboards and trying to jump over the stack. No protective equipment is used, and many have wounds and scars from previous accidents. The youth expressed a desire for a centrally-located facility that would be open year round, have obstacles and other challenges, and offer protection from potential vandals.
Youth were then exposed to the sport of disc golf for the first time. They tried their skill at tossing the disc into the baskets in the back yard of the American Home. Their immediate reaction to the sport was that it was enjoyable, easy to learn, and affordable, primarily because they would only need to initially purchase the discs. To install a disc golf course at a park would require purchasing the baskets and maintaining them from weather and possible vandals.
The last activity discussed amongst the group was indoor rock
wall-climbing.
Youth found the activity both interesting and challenging. The problem
would be placing the equipment in a facility would be accessible to
them.
They assumed that a fee would be required for participation, and the
group
overwhelmingly indicated that they do not have the money to pay such
potential
fees. They also acknowledged the sizable cost and expertise needed to
purchase
and install the hand holds for rock climbing.
At the parks, little in the way of new forms of equipment and amenities has been introduced. For example, most playground equipment and carnival rides available to the public date back to the 1960s. Maintenance is basic in the extreme. One park did not have a water utility. Moreover, vandalism is an issue for directors and youth alike. Both feared that new recreation attractions would be subject to vandalism. One park director cited two examples to reinforce how different the situation was. The first related to new park lights that were installed one day in 1995 and destroyed the next day. The second example offered occurred in 2000, whereby newly installed steel benches were dumped in the park fountain. Park directors felt that, by seeking new sources of funding, it will be possible to address this behavior and other more pressing maintenance issues not addressed in the parks’ recent history.
Programs and Services
The most common program formats used in Vladimir parks are in the form
of open facility, competition, and special events. Citizens visit
parks to picnic, relax, and use the available facilities. Parks
also
offer short-term competitions for a variety of sports. Special
events
celebrate the seasons of the year, patriotic holidays, and other noted
dates. Directors stated that there are few, if any, instructional
programs
offered because there is no money to pay staff, nor can people afford
to
pay the fees.
While the provision of facilities, competitions, and special events are important; such program formats are only short term. The authors urge park directors to develop organized leisure programs because they will be most effective in steering youth away from negative influences (Rossman & Schlatter, 2003). Leisure professionals in the United States have employed Benefits Based Programming (BBP) (Allen & McGovern, 1997) to create programs that foster resiliency among troubled youth. Administering such programs does not have to be costly, especially if managed (perhaps initially) by volunteers. Research by Witt & Crompton (1997) has shown that the presence of knowledgeable, caring, and responsible adults, who are present in the lives of young people during organized leisure experiences, helps them stay out of trouble. Vladimir City parks would do well to offer such outcome-based programs that include cultural adaptation for Russian society.
In terms of services, park directors would do well to incorporate staff training into their operations to address things like customer service practices, and program planning skills. Staff training could help foster pride among park employees with their facilities and customers.
Fee versus Free
Vladimir park directors who were interviewed indicated that they charge
patrons for as many opportunities as possible in order to bring in
needed
revenue. One park had a wide-open space in the center of the park
which had been converted to a parking lot for revenue purposes.
Bath
houses (banya), amusement park rides, and pinball / video games are all
examples of services which are offered for a fee. Seasonal lease
agreements with beer companies result in numerous tents with tables,
chairs,
and beer sales opportunity. Directors all agree that they can depend on
revenue from beer sales at the parks. Revenue from all sales are
used primarily to augment park staff salaries and to make essential
purchases
for park operations. Still, directors indicated they would prefer
not to charge fees to patrons, especially youth. Youth with the
greatest
need for leisure programs often have the least discretionary income
available.
Recent Developments
In response to the youths’ desire for a skatepark, the researchers
submitted an $8000 grant proposal to the Tony Hawk Foundation for the
purchase
of several skatepark obstacles. Also, one of the city park
directors
agreed to transform an unused park facility into an indoor skateboard
venue.
If the grant proposal is approved, the obstacles will be placed at that
venue, with the added bonus of vandalism protection due to the indoor
venue.
The two portable disc golf baskets used at the focus group meeting
were
later taken to one of the parks. Additionally, step-by-step
construction
plans obtained in the U.S. were translated into Russian so that disc
golf
baskets could be built. Careful attention was placed on the need for
basic
and inexpensive materials. It is expected that the portable nature of
the
disc golf baskets will aid in reducing the opportunity for vandalism.
Bykhovskaya, I. (2004, March). Cultural traditions and leisure
behaviour
in modern Russia (PAF1B). Paper presented at the meeting of the
International
Conference on
Leisure, Tourism & Sport: Education, Integration, Innovation,
Cologne,
Germany.
Denzin, N. (1989). The research act: A theoretical introduction to sociological methods. (3rd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Edmunds, H. (1999). The focus group research handbook. American Marketing Association.
Gerhart, G. (1994). The Russian’s world: Life and language. New York, NY: Holt, Rinhart, & Winston.
Morgan, D.L., & Krueger, R.A. (1998). The focus group kit. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Mikheyev, D. (1996). Russia transformed. Indianapolis, IN: Hudson Institute.
Rossman, J.R., & Schlatter, B.E. (2003). Recreation programming: Designing leisure experiences. (4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Sagamore Publishing.
Schultze, S. (2000). Culture and customs of Russia. Westport, CN: Greenport Press.
Serendipity. (2005). The American Home Project. Retrieved on March 2, 2005, from http://www.serendipity-russia.com
Service, R. (1999). A history of 20th century Russia. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Shank, G.D. (2002). Qualitative research: A personal skills approach. Columbus, OH: Merrill Prentice-Hall.
Simpura, J. (1985). Drinking: An ignored leisure activity. Journal of Leisure Research, 17(3), 200-211.
Smith, H. (1976). The Russians. New York, NY: Ballentine Books.
Smith, H. (1991). The new Russians. New York, NY: Avon Books.
Witt, P.A. & Crompton, J.L. (1997). The protective factors
framework:
A key to programming for benefits and evaluating the results. [Invited
Paper] Journal of
Park and
Recreation Administration, 15(3), 1-18.