A passive recreation area is generally an undeveloped space or environmentally sensitive area that requires minimal development. Entities such as a parks department may maintain passive recreation areas for the health and well-being of the public and for the preservation of wildlife and the environment. The quality of the environment and "naturalness" of an area is the the focus of the recreational experience in a passive recreation area.
Passive recreation may be defined as a non-motorized activity that:
Definitions vary by locality. The following is an example of what falls under the definition of one community's passive recreation area: