New Community Leisure and Recreation Planning text a product of authors' decades of experience

Ken Marriott, John Tower and Katie McDonald are pleased to announce the publication of their new book, Community Leisure and Recreation Planning.

The book, published by Routledge in November, provides an up-to-date, evidence-based approach to planning community leisure and recreation programs, facilities and services, introducing readers to key theory and best practice tools in the planning of effective leisure and recreation projects.

The book was a three-year project in the making, but draws on the authors’ decades of work in leisure and recreation planning, teaching and research.

The book defines planning, leisure, recreation and other key concepts and explains why a thorough planning process is essential to achieving effective outcomes.

Commenting on the publication, Tower advised “our book presents a four-phase planning model based on pre-planning, planning research, preparing a plan, and implementing, monitoring and evaluating the outputs and outcomes of a plan in a comprehensive and integrative approach that covers all aspects of a planning project.

“It provides a conceptual rationale for each component of the planning process, a detailed explanation of the tools and techniques that can be used, and extensive examples and international case study materials to demonstrate their use. The principles and techniques explained in the book are applicable at a range of community levels from small individual programs and sites to regions, states and even countries.”

This is a useful text for industry professionals involved in the design and delivery of programs, facilities and services. It is also essential for leisure and academics and students working in leisure and recreation planning, management, events, culture and sport.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction: Planning Community Leisure and Recreation Programs, Facilities and Services
2 The Leisure and Recreation Planning Model
3 Pre-Planning
4 Socio-Economic Change and Demographics
5 Assessing Opportunities for Leisure and Recreation 
6 Report Reviews: Scope and Purpose
7 Assessing Needs and Aspirations
8 Leisure and Recreation Participation
9 Planning for Greenfield and Brownfield Sites and Natural Areas
10. Alternate Leisure and Recreation Planning Approaches
11. Preparing a Leisure and Recreation Plan
12. Implementing, Monitoring and Evaluating a Plan
13. Ensuring a Sound Future for Leisure and Recreation Planning

Click here to order copies of the book via the Routledge website.

Copies can also be ordered via Amazon.

Image: John Tower.