Community Engagement: An Appreciative Inquiry Case Study with Theodore Roosevelt National Park Gateway Communities

Leah Joyner, N. Qwynne Lackey and Kelly S. Bricker
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Leah Joyner: Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation, College of Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, USA
N. Qwynne Lackey: Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation, College of Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, USA
Kelly S. Bricker: Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation, College of Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, USA

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 24, 1-17

Abstract: Appreciative Inquiry was employed to understand the mutual impact of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and nearby communities’ relationships with tourism. Specifically, the goals of this study were to: understand the role of Theodore Roosevelt National Park related to stimulating regional tourism; to ascertain gateway community resident perceptions of benefits from tourism as it relates to economic development and quality of; and, to explore nearby communities’ relationships with the park and how those communities may help influence quality visitor experiences, advance park goals, and develop and leverage partnerships. Results include a collection of emergent themes from the community inquiry related to resource access and tourism management, citizen and community engagement, conservation, marketing, and communication between the park and neighboring residents. These findings illuminate the need to understand nearby communities’ relationship to public lands and regional sustainability support between public land managers and these communities.

Keywords: parks and protected areas; sustainable tourism; gateway communities; appreciative inquiry; destination stewardship (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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