"Graying of America"
"The Graying of America" refers to the growing proportion of elderly persons in the population as the large baby boom generation ages. As the percentage of senior citizens in our customer base grows, our recreational facilities must accommodate their needs. Generally speaking, accommodations for universal accessibility also address the needs of elderly persons with mobility limitations that may come with age. The provision of unisex restroom facilities also allow care-givers to assist the elderly.
Ethnic Populations
Current population projections indicate that by the year 2040, minorities will collectively make up 50% of our nation's total population. We must look beyond national averages, however, and consider the regional differences in ethnic diversification that will affect our local visitor bases.
Legislative Requirements
Legislation such as the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) change both the legal requirements for the facilities and services that we shall provide, but also affect public perception of acceptable facilities and services.
New Technology and Equipment
Examples of recent technological and equipment advances that affect recreational experiences and customer demands at our projects include increased usage of laptop computers, electronic mail, cell phones, hand-held GPS units, jet skis, ATV's, and luxury RVs.
Concerns for Safety
Concern for safety in today's society creates a need for recreational facilities that allow our customers to feel secure at our projects. One example to address these concerns is to provide unisex restroom and shower facilities. Instead of walking into the typical multi-user facility with partitions that make it difficult to determine who else may be in the room, when opening the door of a unisex unit the user can immediately view the facility in its entirety. Unisex units also enable single parents to either go into the facility with a child of the opposite sex, or to check the facility before the child enters the restroom alone.