AN ASSESSMENT OF RESIDENTS' RECREATIONAL BEHAVIORS AND PREFERENCES IN OSOGBO METROPOLITAN AREA OF OSUN STATE

Abstract

The study appraised the level of involvement and preferences of residents in recreational activities in
the Oshogbo metropolis. The data for the study were sourced from both primary and secondary
sources. The survey research design was adopted whereby structured questionnaires were used to
elicit information from 411 randomly selected residents of the study area, this represents 0.095% of
the sample frame of 449, 099. The secondary data were sourced from the internet, journals,
textbooks, magazines, and the Ministry of Youth, sport, and social development. Descriptive
statistical tools were used in the analysis of the data. Results of the investigation reveal that
recreational activities occupy about 65% of the respondents' leisure time and only 35% of the sample
residents usually engaged in non-recreational activities. The result revealed the five most preferred
activities of recreation by a majority (79%) of the sampled population which include; watching
soccer, playing soccer, taking beer/other drinks, visiting places of interest, and trekking/walking.
However, the results also indicate that the preferred recreational activities also vary with the age,
gender, educational attainment, and income level of the residents. For effective planning therefore,
the study recommends that the allocation of resources for recreational facilities in the metropolitan
areas should reflect the different social classes; age, gender, education, and income levels

Keywords: Recreation, recreational behaviors, recreational preferences.