ATTACHMENTS TO RECREATION SETTINGS - THE CASE OF RAIL-TRAIL USERS

The authors explore the nature of place attachment (the extent to whic h an individual values or identifies with a particular environmental s etting) and develop a model to help explain how such relationships wit h recreation settings form. This model is then tested with a sample of users of three ''rail-trails'' (multiuse recreation trails constructe d on unused railroad rights-of-way). Results support the literature, s uggesting that place attachment has at least two dimensions: a place d ependence, reflecting the importance of the place in facilitating a us er's activity, and a more affective place identity, reflecting an indi vidual's valuing of a setting for more symbolic or emotional reasons. Analysis reveals that place identity can best be predicted by how long users have been associated with the trail, the importance they ascrib e to their trail activity and their level of place dependence. Level o f place dependence is best predicted by the distance between the trail and the user's home and users' frequency of trail use. Users' frequen cy of trail use is most strongly related to their age, the importance they ascribe to their trail activity, and how far the trail is from th eir home. Management implications and needs for further research are d iscussed.