Recreation is past time or sport. Recreation refreshes one's mind or body. Such an activity is taken up after heavy work or strenuous activity. For example: watching cartoons served as a recreation after studies. It implies that watching cartoons was a diversion to his tired mind. It stimulates a person. If you just visit a fun park and spend some time there, it would be termed recreation. It served for refreshment of your mind.
Recreation could also mean an interest, revivification, joke or prank.
Recreation could also mean an interest, revivification, joke or prank.