RECREATION TRENDS: KEY TAKEAWAYS

Here are some major takeaways for local and national recreation trends. These are worth considering as we update Tracy’s master plan:

Pickleball has surged in popularity, in community centers, physical education classes, public parks, private health clubs, YMCA facilities, retirement communities - and parks.

Nationally, rugby has emerged as the overall fastest growing sport over the past five years although it has yet to make its presence felt in Tracy.

Ultimate, tackle football and touch football are losing participants both locally and nationally.

Aquatic activities have experienced strong participation growth, both locally and nationally, although swimming on a team saw significant increases in casual participation.

Outdoor recreational activities are on the rise nationally. Hiking is extremely popular both nationally and locally.

Based on national measurements, income level has a negative impact on inactivity rate. Lower income households tend to have higher inactivity rate.

Age is also a significant factor to inactivity level. Generation Z (age 6-17) had the lowest inactivity rate while the boomers (age 55+) had the highest inactivity rate.

Besides income and age factors, non-participants are more likely to join sports or fitness activities if a friend accompanies them.

Local Recreation Market Potential

How do these trends look at the local level?

Overall, Tracy demonstrates above average potential for many activities. The three charts below illustrate Market Potential Index (MPI) data measuring the probable demand for recreation in the City of Tracy, using data from ESRI.

Looking at three categories—general sports, fitness and outdoor activity—a majority of the activities’ scores are well above 100. This number indicates the likelihood of an adult participating in certain activities when compared to the US National average. The data indicate that Tracy is an active place with very strong potential participation rates when it comes to recreational activities. In particular, there is great interest projected in golf, weights, jogging, tennis, and yoga.