But, as Driver points out, recreation and leisure not only preserve cultural identities - they also allow for cultures to mix and share experiences. Baseball, for example, may be a distinctly American sport, but when a field is built or a league is formed, people who identify with a variety of different cultures and ethnicities are able to participate. The same holds true when a community holds a craft fair, a town pride day, or a festival. People from a variety of cultures are able to come together, learn from each other, and contribute to the overall strength of the community.

It seems natural to conclude that an important component of a strong community is the availability of recreation and leisure activities that are accessible and can bring together all of the cultures of the community.

Environmental benefits

As we have seen, recreation and leisure activities provide numerous benefits for...
[ View Full Essay]