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How Many Parks and Trails are Enough?

How Many Parks and Trails are Enough? Preliminary Thoughts on How to Estimate Need for Active Local Recreation Facilities Our assignment

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How Many Parks and Trails are Enough?

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  1. How Many Parks and Trails are Enough? Preliminary Thoughts on How to Estimate Need for Active Local Recreation Facilities

  2. Our assignment • The interagency committee for outdoor recreation shall develop recommendations for a statewide approach to a recreation level of service for local and regional active recreation facilities, including indicators with which to measure progress in achieving level of service objectives.

  3. What We Did • Formed advisory committee • Secured independent assistance • Defined terms • Developed and tested options • Consulted with the public • Narrowed the options • Selected a recommendation

  4. Formed Advisory Committee • Larry Otos, Washington Parks and Recreation Association • Speed Fitzhugh, recreation planner, Avista Utilities • Nancy Craig, recreation planner, Grant County PUD • Grant Griffin, planner, Pierce County Parks • Greg Jones, Wenatchee Park Board • Linda Steinman, Office of Financial Management • Leonard Bauer, CTED

  5. Secured independent assistance • Competitive process • Hired EDAW • Seattle office of an international consulting firm • Extensive recreation planning, GIS and other expertise

  6. Defined terms • Local: division of local government • Regional: purpose built to serve multiple jurisdictions • Active: predominantly human muscle powered

  7. We Did Not Include • “Open space” • School facilities • Activities not predominantly human-muscle powered (e.g., picnics) • Low- or no-data activities (e.g., paddling) • … because of our instructions and our need to narrow our focus

  8. 1. Walking 2. Picnic, cookout 3. Sightseeing 4. Nature: gardening, wildlife viewing 5. Bicycling 6. Sports, play 7. Water: swimming, boating 8. ORV use 9. Fishing 10. Camping 11. Hunting 12. Snow/ice 13. Equestrian 14. Air (ultralight) The Context (Big Picture)

  9. 1. Walking 2. Picnic, cookout 3. Sightseeing 4. Nature: gardening, wildlife viewing 5. Bicycling 6. Sports, play 7. Water: swimming, boating 8. ORV use 9. Fishing 10. Camping 11. Hunting 12. Snow/ice 13. Equestrian 14. Air (ultralight) What is Covered (Big Picture)

  10. Developed Options • Original options developed by staff • Expanded by IAC-EDAW collaboration • Refined by advisory committee

  11. The Options • A. Population ratio (NRPA) • B. Service area (GIS-based) • C. Community-driven (“those who speak up”) • D. Demand-based (“actual play”) • E. Service area/population ratio • F. Community-Driven/demand based • G. Preferred service area

  12. Testing the Options • Selected 6 Washington communities • Collected available data on inventory, participation, population from each • Calculated estimated outcomes

  13. Test Communities Winthrop Snohomish County Spokane County Aberdeen Wenatchee Tacoma

  14. Outcomes from the test… Compared results to reality when possible • Example finding: “Population ratio” says Winthrop should have zero facilities

  15. Consulting with the Public • 8 workshops in 5 communities • Web page made avaiable for those not able to attend

  16. Typical Public Comments • “Population ratio” does not work • “Community driven” favors vocal special interests • “Demand based” has merit • Scale or modify method for different size communities if possible • Consider health benefits in the recommendation

  17. Our Conclusions • There is no simple one-size-fits all formula • It is desirable to offer options for local application • Options should result in measurable outcomes: for example, overall participation, satisfaction

  18. Reviewing Priorities of Government • Recreation is a priority of government • Measured by participation, equity, and volunteer hours • Participation and equity can be addressed by LOS criteria • “Recreation” facilities can contribute to other priorities, such as health and mobility

  19. Pulling the Pieces Together • Old formulas • New approaches • Public input • State priorities • Local resources • Measurable outcomes

  20. Our Approach • A self-assessment guide for local agencies • Respecting approaches already in use • Based on demand, service area, population, and function (how well a park/trail works) • Use of the tool would result in a score of the local system of active facilities, 1 through 5

  21. The Preliminary Guide • Baseline measure: existing participation • Enhanced measures: • Service area • Function

  22. Guide, cont • State and local use of the same tool can help better define “Need” • The tool includes indicators (e.g., demand, service area) that can be measured

  23. Implementation? • Any local agency can use the guide for general planning purposes • The state could use the guide for capital budgeting purposes • Grant programs could adapt the guide to help determine “Need” (e.g., answer evaluation questions)

  24. Outcomes • A better idea locally and (over time) statewide of “where we are” • Better estimates of the need for investment in local active facilities • Ability to better address priorities of government • Ability to track progress (if any)

  25. Inputs • YOUR thoughts

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