CHOH Baseline Survey

C&O Canal National Historical Park Health & Recreation Survey
OMB control #:
Expiration date:

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“Your Towpath to Healthy Living” Survey
First, we would like to find out a little about your knowledge and use of the C&O Canal National
Historical Park.
1.
Were you aware that the C&O Canal National Historical Park has a
Yes
towpath available for recreation nearby? (please check one box)
No (skip to…# 9)
2.

How did you first find out about the
towpath in the C&O Canal NHP?
(please check one box)

Word of mouth
Saw towpath
Driving past
Internet web site
Park ranger
Roadside signage
Other (please specify)
___________________

3.

When was the first time you used
the towpath in the C&O Canal
NHP? (please check one box)

Never, have not used the towpath
Less than 1 month ago 7-11 months ago
1-3 months ago
1-3 years ago
4-6 months ago
More than 3 years ago

4.

When you use the towpath in the
C&O Canal NHP, do you usually
use it for: (please check one box)

Recreation (sport, exercise, leisure, or other types of
relaxation)
Transportation (commuting to and from work, stores, or
other places you need or want to visit)
Both recreation and transportation
Other (please specify) ________________

5a.

In general, when you visit the
towpath in the C&O Canal NHP,
what are the main reasons for using
the trail?
(Please check all that apply)

___ exercise
___ lose weight
___ reduce stress
___ relax
___ experience peace and quiet
___ spend time with family
___ be with members of my
group

5b.

Of the reasons you selected above,
in general, what is your primary
reason for using the towpath?
(please write in your response)

______________________

Local newspaper article
Brochure
Workplace flyer
Workplace email
Workplace poster

___ experience nature
___ to be outdoors
___ get away from other
people
___ get away from usual
demands of life
___ reflect on my
spiritual values
___ other (please specify)
________________

6.

7.

8.

9.

C&O Canal National Historical Park Health & Recreation Survey
OMB control #:
Expiration date:
When you are on the towpath for
walk jog or run
bicycle
recreational purposes, what activity
walk the dog
do you usually do? (please check
other (please specify) ______________
one box)
How do you usually get to the
walk
jog or run
towpath in the C&O Canal NHP?
bicycle bus
(please check one box)
automobile
other (please specify)
________________
Who are you usually with when you
use this towpath? (please check one
box)

By myself
Family
Friends
Co-workers
Family & friends Other organized group
Pet
Other (please specify) ________________

Now, we’d like to know about your level of physical activity.
At this time, would you say that
Excellent
your overall health is: (please check Very Good
one box)
Good
Fair
Poor
Don’t know/not sure
yes, I have been for more than 6 months
yes, I have been for less than 6 months
no, but I intend to in the next 30 days
no, but I intend to in the next 6 months
no, and I do not intend to in the next 6 months

10.

Experts say that getting regular physical
activity means doing moderate activities,
such as walking briskly, for at least 30
minutes on 5 or more days of the week.
At this time, are you regularly physically
active according to the definition above?
(please check one box)

11.

Think about the time you spent walking in the last 7 days. This
includes at work and at home, walking to travel from place to place,
and any other walking that you might do solely for recreation, sport,
exercise, or leisure.
During the last 7 days, on how many days did you walk for at least 10
minutes at a time? (please write in the number of days)

____ days per week
No walking (skip to…
#15)

2

12.

C&O Canal National Historical Park Health & Recreation Survey
OMB control #:
Expiration date:
How much time did you usually spend walking on one _____ hours per day
of those days?
_____ minutes per day

3

Don’t know/Not sure
13.

How many days did you walk on the C&O Canal NHP towpath for
at least 10 minutes at a time at a moderate pace? (please write in the
number of days)

14.

How much time did you usually spend walking on the
C&O Canal NHP towpath on one of those days?

____ days per week
No walking on C&O
Canal NHP towpath (skip
to…#15

_____ hours per day
_____ minutes per day
Don’t know/Not sure

Next, we would like to hear about your overall experiences on the C&O NHP towpath
15.

What do you like the most about the
C&O NHP towpath?
(please check one box)

place to exercise
free to use
distances are marked
convenient location
scenic beauty
good surface
lighting
other walkers/bicyclist present on trail, etc.
safety
other (please specify) ________________

16.

What would you most like to see
improved? (please check one box)

lighting
bathrooms
smoother surface
safety from traffic
other (please specify):
____________________

17.

Overall, how would you rate the
quality of your experience on the
C&O NHP towpath? (please check
one box)

very poor
poor
okay
good
very good

cleanliness
drinking fountains
wider surface
trail markers

C&O Canal National Historical Park Health & Recreation Survey
OMB control #:
Expiration date:

18.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
o.
p.
q.

r.

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We would now like to ask you a few questions about your opinions regarding walking for
exercise.
Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement in regards to
the following statements:
Strongly Disagree Undecided
Agree
Strongly
(Please place a check in one box for
Disagree
Agree
each statement.)
Walking is a good way to spend time
with people who are important to me.
Walking is a good time for me to catch
up with my friends/family.
People who are important to me
encourage me to walk regularly.
It is important to me that my family and
friends know I walk for exercise.
Walking is a good way to ensure I have
good health.
Walking is a good way to control my
weight.
In order to get the benefits of walking, it
has to be hard work.
Walking helps me deal with stress.
Walking is a good way to enjoy the
outdoors.
I can find time to walk.
Walking can be fun.
I am too tired to walk.
I get plenty of exercise at my job.
I don’t have the motivation to walk.
I have an injury or health condition that
limits my ability to walk.
National Parks provide opportunities for
me to improve my health by walking.
In the next two months, I intend to walk
for exercise—at least 30 minutes a day,
and 5 days a week.
In the next two months, it is likely that I
will be able to walk for exercise—at
least 30 minutes a day, and 5 days a
week.

C&O Canal National Historical Park Health & Recreation Survey
OMB control #:
Expiration date:

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Finally, we’d like to know a little about you.
19.

Where are you currently employed?
(please write in the name of your
employer)

________________________________________________

20.

Do you intend to participate in the
“Your Towpath to Healthy Living
Challenge” as: (please check one
box)

A member of a team
An individual

21.

Are you Hispanic or Latino? (please
check one box)

yes

22.

Please select one or more of the
following categories to best describe
your race.

American Indian or Alaska native
Asian
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
White

23.

What is the highest grade in school
you have completed? (please check
one box)

Some high school or less
high school graduate or GED
some college
college graduate
some graduate school
graduate degree
doctoral or professional degree

24.

What is your age? (please write in
your answer)

__________

25.

Are you: (please check one)

female

26.

What is the postal zip code where
you live? (please write in your
answer)

__________________

no

male

C&O Canal National Historical Park Health & Recreation Survey
OMB control #:
Expiration date:

PRIVACY ACT and PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT statement:
16 U.S.C. 1a-7 authorizes collection of this information. This information will be used by park managers to better
serve the public. Response to this request is voluntary. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply
the information requested. Your name is requested for follow-up mailing purposes only. When analysis of the
questionnaire is completed, all name and address files will be destroyed. Thus the permanent data will be
anonymous. Please do not put your name or that of any member of your group on the questionnaire. An agency may
not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
Person collecting and analyzing information: Dave Smaldone, Ph.D., Recreation, Parks & Tourism Program, PO
Box 6125, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6125; (304) 293-2941
Burden estimate statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 15 minutes per response.
Direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this form to: Kevin Brandt, Superintendent,
C&O Canal National Historical Park, 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100; Hagerstown, MD 21740-6620.

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