A recreational trend

THE OWNERSHIP OF SECOND HOME and rural retirement residences is becoming an important recreational trend. Illinois ranks fourth in total housing units in the nation, but it ranks last (fiftieth) when its ratio of vacation homes to total housing units is compared to other states. (1) However, several new lakes provide suitable sites for vacation homes and permanent retirement residences.

If lake and park managers, private developers and landowners are going to minimize land use conflicts and provide the type of resources necessary for a quality recreational experience, they need to know something about potential lot buyers. Who are they? Why do they acquire a lot? What services and facilities do they prefer, and do their preferences cause conflicting demands on the lake resources and management personnel?

To begin finding answers to these and other related questions, a study was made of lot owners at the Lake of Egypt. The Lake is located in Williamson and Johnson Counties in southern Illinois (Figure 1). Completed in 1961, the lake is used by the Southern Illinois Power Cooperative as a source of cooling water in generating electricity. The lake covers approximately 2,300 acres and has 93 miles of shoreline. (2) During the summer of 1970, a total of 147, randomly selected, lot owners were personally interviewed.

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OWNERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS

Nearly two-thirds of the lot owners were between 45 and 63 years of age. They were more frequently characterized as managers of small businesses, as craftsmen, or retired from full time employment. Most had completed high school, and almost half of the lot owners had family incomes ranging from $8,000 to $15,000 per year (Figure 2).

When owners were asked why they had acquired their lot, the most frequent reasons given were to have a place for outdoor recreation, to establish a retirement home, or to build a vacation home. Over half of the owners selected a subdivision because of either environmental factors (shade, slope and scenic beauty) or the location of the subdivision in relation to roads, shopping centers and towns. Water frontage was the dominant factor governing the selection of a specific lot. Almost two-thirds said they chose their lot because of water frontage or for the view of the lake.

Table 1
MAJOR REASON FOR PURCHASING THE LOT
Reason	Number	Percent
Recreation and camping .............. Retirement .................................... Vacation Cottage .......................... Permanent Residence (not retired) Speculation .................................... Other ..............................................	66 42 17 13 6 3	44 29 12 9 4 2
Totals ......................................	147	100

A typical second or retirement home found on the Lake of Egypt located in southern Illinois.

The type of outdoor recreation enjoyed by lot owners and their families was predominantly water oriented. Fishing led the list. However, swimming, motorboating, and waterskiing (they are often participated in on the same outing) were also popular. Over forty percent of the lot owners participated in fishing, swimming, and motorboating more than ten times per year. New owners often camped on the lot until a permanent residential facility was built.

Twenty-two percent had actually established permanent residence at the lake and another 58 percent traveled less than 151 miles to use their lot (Figure 1). Most of the owners who traveled 300 miles or more came from the greater Chicago area. The closer a lot was to an owner's permanent residence, the more the lot was used. Half of the owners used their lot more than 80 days per year.

	SELECTED CHARACTERISTICS OF LOT BUYERS AT LAKE OF EGYPT
. LESS THAN 25	AGE 2%		LESS THAN 4,500	FAMILY INCOME 6%
25-34	5%		4,500-7,999	19%
35-44	16%		8,000-9,999 21%
45-54	36%		10,000- 14,999	28% 14%
55-63	29%		15,000-19,999
64 AND OVER	12%		20,000 AND OVER	10%
PROFESSIONAL MANAGERS CRAFTSMAN OPERATIVES	OCCUPATION 10% 20% 25% 8%		EIGTH GRADE OR LESS SOME HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL	EDUCATION 27% 15% 40%
SERVICE	7%		SOME COLLEGE OR 1 DEGREE GRADUATE WORK	12% 6%
LABORERS	9%
RETIRED	17%
OTHER	4%
Figure 2

Table 2
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES PARTICIPATED IN MORE THAN 10 TIMES PER YEAR
Activity	Number	Percent*
Fishing ...................................	126	86
Swimming ...............................	72	49
Motorboating .........................	64	43
Camping ...................................	35	24
Waterskiing ...........................	24	16
Other .......................................	28	19

*These figures reflect the percentage of 147 owners participating in outdoor recreational activities.

An important part of the study was to determine the major problems of lot ownership. Twenty-two percent of the responses expressed concern for environmental problems (moss on the lake, shoreline erosion, and excessive tree removal) . Fifteen percent were concerned about subdivision management problems (failure to fulfill agreements, and indefinitely defined lot boundaries). Another 15 percent complained of poor road conditions. Most of the roads have an all weather gravel surface that becomes very dusty in late summer.

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Only a few of the present problems appear to be directly related to a "lack of privacy." In fact, 91 percent of the owners said "No" when asked: "Is the land surrounding your lot becoming overcrowded?" However, when owners were asked to state what type of subdivision regulations they felt would be desirable at the lake, 22 percent of the responses showed a desire for regulations that would prevent future overcrowding. Actually other desired regulations mentioned by lot owners, such as enforcement of boating regulations and need for zoning and sewerage disposal regulations, are associated with the effects of overcrowding. Apparently a number of owners fear that overcrowding may occur in the future.

Table 3
REGULATIONS DESIRED BY LOT OWNERS
Regulations Pertaining To:	Number	Percent
General regulations and enforcement	27	33
Prevention of overcrowding	18	22
Building and zoning	13	16
Lot maintenance	11	14
Sewerage and sanitation	8	10
Other	4	5
Total ....................................	81	100

When asked what additional services were desired, nearly three-fourths said they wanted some type of public utility. Less than a tenth of the owners indicated a need for additional recreational facilities, community services, or roads. Owners did show some willingness to pay for added services and facilities. Over a fourth said they would pay a reasonable charge for utility services, improved roads, or garbage removal.

LOT OWNERS DIFFER

Lot buyers could be clearly separated into two distinct groups, those who had established permanent residence on their lot and those who had permanent residence elsewhere. The two groups were significantly different in their family characteristics, reasons for purchasing the lot, use of the lot, and selection of a particular lot.

The lot owners who had established permanent residence on a lot were either retired, semi-retired, or planning to retire soon. As a result their family incomes tended to be below $6,000 annually. Few children lived with them. The family consisted of the man and his wife. These owners had acquired their lot as a place to build and establish a retirement home. Permanent residence enabled them to use their lots more than 80 days per year and recreate during all seasons. Because they were older, they enjoyed the less strenuous types of outdoor recreation (motorboating and especially fishing).

A permanent resident tended to acquire more than one lot for his home. The lot had lake frontage and was at least 50 percent covered with trees. These owners desired additional utility services, apparently to enhance their investment and make their permanent home more comfortable.

Owners who had not established permanent residence on a lot had different characteristics. Their annual family incomes were larger ($6,000 to $15,000), probably because they were employed full time. Their families tended to be larger because they still had children living at home. These owners had acquired a lot for outdoor recreation and camping. Since they had a permanent home elsewhere, they used their lot less than 80 days per year and were predominantly summer users. The non-permanent lake resident enjoyed the more strenuous forms of outdoor recreation (especially waterskiing and swimming).

The lot buyer who had not established permanent residence tended to acquire only one lot. The lot did not always have lake frontage and it had less vegetative cover than the lots acquired by the permanent lot resident. These lot owners generally desired additional recreational facilities instead of utilities.

MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

The study revealed several implications for reservoir managers, subdividers, and landowners who might sell an occasional lot for rural residence.

A lake manager must establish policy that will accommodate different types of users with a minimum of conflicts. Thus, he must be concerned about the undesirable effects of overcrowding. Although neither group of lot owners identified overcrowding as a current problem, many were concerned about the possibility of future overcrowding. A lake manager might take several steps to minimize this type of conflict between users. For example, day users at boat docks, picnic areas, and campgrounds can be buffered and screened from lot owners. Lake surface zoning will also separate active water sports participants from fishermen. (Surface zoning is already in effect at the Lake of Egypt).

Reservoir managers should also review and implement regulations governing subdivision development (type of sewerage disposal system, distance between buildings and the lake, landscaping requirements, etc.). Enforcement of sound regulations can go tar in minimizing the effects of overcrowding. Paved roads to subdivisions and general recreational areas would also enhance the value of the recreational experience for users.

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Subdivision developers and landowners who sell lots for rural residence on the other hand should establish a sound set of restrictions for development and live up to all contractual agreements. They should clearly identify lot boundaries and attempt to correct misunderstandings as quickly as possible.

Depending on the subdivider's objectives, the study shows that lakeshore subdivisions might be planned to serve two types of buyers. Larger, more shaded lakeshore lots with full utility hookups could be made available as permanent homesites. Smaller, more open lots further from the lake might be sold to those wanting a place for summertime outdoor recreation. Perhaps, as these latter lot owners are ready for retirement, a trade could be arranged with the subdivider in order to obtain a more desirable lake front building site.

Subdividers might also consider providing paved roads, garbage removal, or other facilities and services desired by lot owners. The cost could be recovered from lot owners through a monthly maintenance charge.

Above all, lake managers and subdividers must be ready for change. The older age of most lot owners could mean that lake use patterns (major forms of recreational activities, number of permanent residences, and types of facilities demanded) could change over a relatively short period of time. This year's summer, non-resident lot owner could be next year's retirement home builder. The older permanent lake resident could die next week and leave his lot and dwelling to children. These changes will bring new demands. A wise lake manager and subdivider will watch for these changes and be ready to meet the needs of a changing clientele.

Interested readers are invited to write to the Forestry Department at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois, for an expanded discussion of the "Lake of Egypt Lot Owner Study." Request: Department of Forestry, Publication number 8.

LITERATURE CITED

(1) National Association of Home Builders, National Housing Center Council, 1967. Vacation Homes, Washington, D. C.

2) Worms, A. J. 1964. The Effects of Recreational Development On The Water Quality Of The Lake Of Egypt. Unpublished Masters Thesis, Southern Illinois University.

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