Critical perspectives on place in leisure research

Increasingly, place is being considered in the leisure studies literature as an important contextual factor influencing behaviour, shaping perceptions, and defining experiences. Such considerations, however, have largely neglected the literature in humanistic geography where many of the basic definitions, perspectives, and issues concerning place are rooted and continue to be debated. In this paper, some classic sources, in particular Relph (1976), as well as some contemporary contributions are briefly described to uncover where many of the perspectives on place have emerged and evolved. In addition, some cautionary notes are offered to remind leisure researchers that continuing to romanticize place will fail to acknowledge its negative implications for many groups, especially those who are marginalized by place. Finally, some observations are offered on where we, as leisure researchers, might take our inquiries in an effort to understand the impact of place.