THE ROLE OF FAIRNESS IN USERS ASSESSMENTS OF FIRST-TIME FEES FOR A PUBLIC-RECREATION-SERVICE

User response to frist-time fees for public leisure services is not we ll understood. Although it is believed that fees decrease recreation p articipation, there is only mixed support for this assumption within t he leisure literature. An emerging literature suggests that perception s of fairness may play a critical role in determining client response to fees. A mail survey conducted among 1,405 visitors to public recrea tional day-use areas across the United States suggests the presence of two client types. The first type has paid fees in the past and seer?l s relatively less troubled by the prospect of doing so again in the fu ture. In all cases, this group is more willing to pay fees and to pay higher fee levels than is its counterpart. The second client type typi cally has not paid fees for favored public leisure services and its me mbers resent even the implication that they may be asked to do so. The y assert that fees are unfair and that they feel victimized through th e introduction of fees. User resentment is exacerbated by participants ' familiarity with the recreational setting. Those living closest to t he sites are most likely to be indignant at the thought of paying a fi rst-time fee.