Visitor Survey At Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA)

Programmatic Review and Clearance Process for NPS-Sponsored Public Surveys

DEWA River Trail and Front Country Survey 322.2015 Revision 2

Visitor Survey At Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA)

OMB: 1024-0224

Document [doc]
Download: doc | pdf


NOTE: For the purpose of this review the questions below will serve as the content for three separate surveys: 1) river-based visitors, 2) trail-based visitors, and 3) front-country visitors. Questions 1-14 will appear in all versions of the surveys. The questions that appear on pages 7-12 are unique to each of the user groups listed above.


Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Survey



PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT and PRIVACY ACT statements: The National Park Service is authorized by 16 U.S.C. 1a-7 to collect this information. This information will be used by park managers to understand the visitor use and the perceptions of recreation management at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Response to this request is voluntary and anonymous. No action may be taken against you for refusing to respond to this 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.

BURDEN ESTIMATE STATEMENT: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 15 minutes to complete this questionnaire. Direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection to: Jeffrey C. Hallo, Associate Professor, Clemson University, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, 280B Lehotsky Hall, Clemson, SC 29634-0735, [email protected] (email).



Topic Area 1: KNOW9

  1. Were you aware before receiving this survey that you are visiting Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (NRA), which is part of the U.S. National Park System? (Please check one)


Yes

No


Topic Area 1: VISITHIS3

  1. Have you visited Delaware Water Gap NRA more than once in the last five years? (Please check one)


Yes → including this visit, how many times have you visited Delaware Water Gap NRA in the last five years? ________________

No → Go to next question.


Topic Area 3: TRIPC8

  1. On this visit, how long did you stay at Delaware Water Gap NRA? Please list partial hours as 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4.

_________ Number of hours, if less than 24 hours

OR

_________ Number of days, if 24 hours or more





Topic Area 5: CROWD18 (variation)

  1. Have you ever not been able to, or chosen not to visit Delaware Water Gap NRA because it was too crowded? (Please check ‘yes’ or ‘no’. If yes, specify how many times and if you were trying to visit a specific site)


Yes → How many times? ____________


What specific site(s) were you trying to visit? ___________________________________


No → Go to next question.


Topic Area 6: EVALSERV2 AND 3

  1. a. What did you like most about your visit to Delaware Water Gap NRA? _______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________


b. What did you like least about your visit to Delaware Water Gap NRA?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________


c. What about Delaware Water Gap NRA makes it unique and special to you?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________


Topic Area 3: ACT3

  1. Please check which of the following activities you participated in while visiting Delaware Water Gap NRA on this trip. Then please indicate how important each activity was to your visit. If you did not participate in an activity then leave that line blank.



Check if you participate in this activity


How important was this activity to your visit?

Not at all important

Somewhat important

Very Important

Attending ranger programs

Bicycling

Bird watching/nature study

Motorboating

Camping

Canoeing/paddling with canoe liveries

Canoeing/paddling with private canoes/kayaks

Fishing

Hiking/walking

Hunting

Picnicking

Swimming

Scenic driving

Viewing scenery/river views/waterfalls

Visiting historic sites

Other (please specify): ______________________________________________


Topic Area 3: ITIN7

  1. Please check which of the following sites you visited while at Delaware Water Gap NRA on this trip. If you did not visit a site then leave that line blank. A map is available from the person who gave you this survey to help you locate the sites you visited.


Check if you visited this site



Check if you visited this site

Milford Beach


Smithfield Beach

Turtle Beach


Bushkill Access

Dingmans Boat Launch


Poxono Access

Pocono Environmental Education Center


Hialeah Picnic Area

Dingmans Falls/Visitor Center


Kittattiny Point/Visitor Center

Bushkill Visitor Center


Overlooks (Resort Point, Point of Gap, Arrow Island)

Park Headquarters


Raymondskill Falls

Van Campens Glen Recreation Site


Watergate Recreation Site

Dingmans Campground


Childs Park Recreation Site

Valley View Campground


Riversbend Campground

Mohican Outdoor Center


Millbrook Village

Peters Valley School of Craft


Other (please specify):

_________________________________________


Topic Area 3: ACT2

  1. What was the primary reason for your visit to Delaware Water Gap NRA today?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________









Topic Area 6: OPMGMT7

  1. Please indicate the extent that the following issues were problems for you at Delaware Water Gap NRA. (Check one box for each issue, or indicate that you don’t know.)


Not a Problem

Small Problem

Big Problem

Don’t Know

Crowds

DK

Graffiti

DK

Human waste

DK

Litter

DK

Other recreational users interfering with what you want to do


Types of recreation uses that should not be allowed

DK

Visitors not following rules or behaving badly

DK

Power-lines

DK

Unnecessary signs

DK

Human-caused noise

DK

Condition of trails

DK

Condition of facilities

DK

Condition of historic structures

DK

Condition of park roads

DK

Adequate information about the park

DK

Adequate trails

DK

Adequate designated swimming areas

DK

Adequate picnic areas

DK

Adequate river access for boats/canoes

DK

Adequate river-accessed camping

DK

Adequate car-accessed camping

DK

Adequate restrooms

DK

Adequate signs for direction-finding

DK

Adequate parking

DK

Adequate handicap accessibility

DK

Adequate opportunities to experience historic or cultural sites

DK

Adequate educational or interpretive programs

DK

A view of the night sky and stars that is impacted by lights

DK

Environmental impacts caused by other visitors

DK

Loss of scenery or scenic value

DK

Availability of rangers and park staff

DK

Helpfulness of rangers and park staff

DK

Safety conditions in the park

DK

Traffic on roads

DK

Closures for construction or repair

DK





Topic Area 6: OPMGMT12

  1. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. (Check one box for each statement, or indicate that you don’t know.)



Strongly

Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Don’t Know

Visitors and their use of the park should be managed more

DK

Visitors and their use of the park should be managed less

DK

Changes in the management of Kittatinny Point have improved the site

DK

Laws and rules are easily found and understood

DK

Laws and rules in the park should be enforced more

DK

Laws and rules in the park should be enforced less

DK

Fees charged at several developed facilities are appropriate

DK

If needed by the park, fees could be charged at additional developed facilities

DK

Where necessary, limits should be placed on the number of people who can use a specific place for recreation at any one time

DK

Where necessary, a permit or reservation systems should be used to better manage visitor use

DK


Topic Area 6: OPMGMT1(variation)

  1. If you could ask the National Park Service to change some things about the way they manage Delaware Water Gap NRA, what would you ask them to do?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________


Topic Area 6: EVALSERV27

  1. Please rate the quality of the following items during this visit to Delaware Water Gap NRA. (Check one box for each statement.)


Very Poor

Poor

Average

Good

Very Good

Overall quality of visitor services in the park

Overall quality of the facilities in the park

Overall quality of recreational opportunities in the park

Overall quality of your visit in the park






Topic Area 5: CROWD1

  1. How crowded did you feel while at the following locations at Delaware Water Gap NRA? (Circle one number for each location, or indicate that it was not applicable to your visit.)



Not at all Crowded

Slightly Crowded

Moderately Crowded

Very Crowded

Extremely Crowded

Not Applicable

On trails

1

2

3

4

5

N/A

At the swimming area

1

2

3

4

5

N/A

At the picnic area

1

2

3

4

5

N/A

At a develop campground campsite

1

2

3

4

5

N/A

At a rustic river-side campsite

1

2

3

4

5

N/A

While boating

1

2

3

4

5

N/A

At waterfalls

1

2

3

4

5

N/A

During your entire visit

1

2

3

4

5

N/A


Topic Area 1: RES3

  1. Do you live in the United States? (Please check one and fill in the appropriate blank.)


Yes (What is your zip code? ____________)

No (What country do you live in? __________________________________)







The Questions in the next section will be used for three different samples in this collection. The following headers are used to indicate the particular survey version:

  1. RIVER USERS - Q 15-20

  2. TRAIL USERS – Q 15-17

  3. FRONT COUNTRY USERS – Q 15-18

. .



1 RIVER BASED VISITOR SURVEY


Topic Area 3: TRANS1

  1. On this visit, which type(s) of watercraft did you and your personal group use? (check all that apply)


None → Skip to next question. Canoe Kayak Raft Boat


Tube Other (please specify): __________________________________


Topic Area 3: ACT10

  1. Were you using the river with a paid guide, group or canoe livery/outfitter? (Please check one)


Yes

No


Topic Area 6: EVALSERV2 AND 3

  1. a. What about the Delaware River or using the river added most to your enjoyment?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________


b. What about the Delaware River or using the river detracted most from your enjoyment?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________


Topic Area 6: OPMGMT7

  1. Please indicate the extent that the following issues were problems for you while using the Delaware River. (Check one box for each issue, or indicate that you don’t know)



Not a Problem

Small Problem

Big Problem

Don’t Know

Too many other boaters

DK

Large groups boating

DK

Too many other river campers

DK

Finding a place to camp on the river

DK

Adequate facilities/amenities at campsites (e.g., restrooms, lantern hooks, etc.)

DK

Informal (visitor-created) campsites and fire rings

DK

Vegetation loss along the river due to visitors

DK

Erosion along the river due to visitors

DK

The actions or behaviors of other boaters

DK

Adequate information about river conditions

DK

Adequate number of boat ramps and put-ins

DK

Condition or maintenance of boat ramps and put-ins

DK

Boating safety on the river

DK

Litter along the river

DK

Adequate information and signs at the river access points

DK

Other (please specify)

______________________________________

DK



Topic Area 3: TRIPC33 (variation)

  1. Have you ever camped along the river at Delaware Water Gap NRA? (Please check one)


Yes → Go to next question.

No → Thank you for completing the survey, please return it to the person who gave it to you.


Topic Area 6: OPMGMT12

  1. These questions are about river camping along the Delaware River at Delaware Water Gap NRA. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. (Check one box for each statement, or indicate that you don’t know)


Strongly

Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Don’t Know

Allowing river camping for only one night per location helps to better manage it

DK

Allowing river camping only by boaters on trips where the distance is too great to be traveled in one day helps to better manage it

DK

Willing to pay a $15 per night for a river campsite if it was used to improve visitor service in this park

DK

A reservation system should be used to better manage river camping

DK

If storms/floods destroy river campsites it is ok to move these campsites farther away from the side of the river

DK

If storms/floods destroy river campsites it is ok to not replace these campsites and have fewer campsites

DK


2. TRAIl BASED user SURVEY


Topic Area 6: EVALSERV2 AND 3

  1. a. What about the trails or hiking on them added most to your enjoyment?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________


b. What about the trails or hiking on them detracted most from your enjoyment?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________


Topic Area 6: OPMGMT7

  1. Please indicate the extent that the following issues were problems for you while using the trails. (Check one box for each issue, or indicate that you don’t know.)


Not a Problem

Small Problem

Big Problem

Don’t Know

Too many other hikers

DK

Adequate information and signs at the trailhead

DK

Adequate information about trails before arriving at the trailhead

DK

Finding the trailhead

DK

Adequate signs marking the trail route

DK

Parking at the trailhead

DK

The actions or behaviors of other hikers

DK

Trail surface quality (too deeply eroded, muddy, rough, uneven, too wide, too narrow)

DK

Litter on the trail

DK

Informal (visitor-created) trails

DK

Trails that go to the places I want to go

DK

Trails too difficult (too many hills/too steep)

DK

Other (please specify):

______________________________________

DK


Topic Area 6: OPMGMT12

  1. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. (Check one box for each statement, or indicate that you don’t know.)



Strongly

Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Don’t Know

Where necessary to better manage trails, hikers should be asked to sign-in at trailheads

DK

To improve the experience, a limit should be placed on the maximum size of groups that are allowed to hike together

DK

It is appropriate to charge a parking fee at trailheads if it is used to improve visitor services

DK

Where necessary to better manage trails, a limit should be placed on the number of people who can use certain trails at one time

DK

A permit system should be used to better manage hiking on trails

DK


3. FRONT COUNTRY USER SURVEY


Topic Area 6: EVALSERV2 AND 3

  1. a. What about the developed site you are at now added most to your enjoyment?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________


b. What about the developed site you are at now detracted most from your enjoyment?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________


Topic Area 6: OPMGMT7

  1. Please indicate the extent that the following issues were problems for you while using the developed site you are at now. (check one box for each issue, or indicate that you don’t know.)



Not a Problem

Small Problem

Big Problem

Don’t Know

Too many other people

DK

Large groups of people

DK

Information available about this site (e.g., features, rules, safety, etc.)

DK

Litter

DK

Dogs and other pets

DK

Finding a place to picnic

DK

Finding a place to take pictures

DK

Informal (visitor-created) trails

DK

Vegetation loss due to visitors

DK

Erosion along the water due to visitors

DK

The actions or behaviors of other people

DK

Visitor centers and what is offered there

DK

Adequate information about this site

DK

Swimming safety on the river

DK

Adequate places to swim or access the water

DK

Trails that go to the places I want to go

DK

Trails too difficult (too many hills/too steep)

DK

The maintenance of this site

DK

Other (please specify)

______________________________________

DK



Topic Area 6: OPMGMT12

  1. What services and facilities are needed but not provided at the developed site you are at now? _______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________


Topic Area 6: OPMGMT12

  1. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. (check one box for each statement, or indicate that you don’t know.)



Strongly

Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Don’t Know

The services provided by the park at this site are adequate

DK

The facilities provided by the park at this site are adequate

DK

It is appropriate to expand or increase the fees charged at this site if it is used to improve visitor service in this park

DK

To improve the experience, a limit should be placed on the maximum size of groups that can use this site without getting a special permit

DK

To improve the experience, parking availability should be used to limit the number of people who can use this site at one time

DK

To improve the experience, other similar nearby sites should be strongly recommend if it is too crowded at this place

DK

If it becomes too crowded for park staff to keep visitors safe then people should be stopped from entering this site

DK




12


File Typeapplication/msword
File TitleMuir Woods Visitor Survey
Authorjchoinie
Last Modified ByPonds, Phadrea D.
File Modified2015-03-22
File Created2015-03-22

© 2024 OMB.report | Privacy Policy