Community Assessment - Health & Quality of Life in San Mateo
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recreation, entertainment & cultural offerings

Note the following findings from the 1998 San Mateo County Quality of Life Survey:

• A total of 42.3% of the San Mateo County residents surveyed rate local recreation and entertainment offerings as "excellent" or "very good." In contrast, 17.4% rate the recreation and entertainment offerings in the county as "fair" or "poor" (compared to 27% throughout the state). "Fair/poor" evaluations in San Mateo County are most represented among low-income individuals (20.6%). ⁴⁰⁸

• Respondents gave slightly lower evaluations of recreation and entertainment offerings specifically for youth in the community (40.4% "excellent/very good," 42.3% "fair/poor"). "Fair/poor" evaluations of youth recreational programs are particularly high among African-Americans in San Mateo County (46.8%) and low-income individuals (30.1%). ⁴⁰⁹

• Higher evaluations were given to the availability of outdoor recreational options in the area: 43.1% "excellent/very good," 16.5% "fair/poor." Low-income respondents are more critical of San Mateo County’s outdoor recreational options, giving a 31.8% "fair/poor" response. ⁴¹⁰

• Of the San Mateo County adults surveyed, 85.5% have visited a local park or public recreation facility in the past year (just above the 83.4% found throughout California). Use of local parks and recreation facilities is higher in higher-income groups (89.3%). Note that 92.4% of households with children have used local parks and recreation facilities. ⁴¹¹

• A total of 38.3% of San Mateo County survey respondents give the variety of arts and cultural offerings in the community "excellent" or "very good" evaluations. This is slightly higher than the 35% found throughout the state. A total of 21.8% of residents give "fair/poor" evaluations.⁴¹²

412   Ibid.

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