Place Loss as a Result of Natural Disaster: A Study of Outdoor Water-Based Recreators

Place attachment is a well-established construct in academic literature. Place attachment is positively impacted by recreation and is disrupted by natural disasters that cause place loss. While these constructs have been studied individually, little is known about recreators who experience place loss. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of outdoor recreators who experienced place loss due to major flood events. Using a constructivist qualitative approach, researchers conducted 15 semi-structured interviews across two separate sites. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants experienced physical and psychological reordering following the floods that were personal and complex. Over time, recreators largely returned to recreation and enjoyment of their river. Recreation professionals should recognize the complex impacts of natural disasters on their recreation spaces and expect that users, clients, and employees will need time to cope with changes.