Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Capital Standards

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Capital Standards

Consultant: In association with:

ETC InstituteLeisure Vision

Nationally Recognized….Uniquely Local

A Presentation for the Citizens Capital Budget Advisory CommitteeJuly 11, 2012

Our Purpose

Connecting people to opportunities and places within the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation System Three Key Themes:

▪ Conservation and Stewardship▪ Parks and Greenways▪ Recreation Programs and Facilities

Industry Indicators National Recreation and Park Association (NCRPA)

Guidelines Best Practices of Similar Cities/Counties including:

Maryland National Planning Commission Fairfax County, Virginia Lake County, IllinoisOakland County, Michigan

Recreation Activity Participation Rates Reported by Sports Data for U.S and for Mecklenburg Area

Consultant Findings and Assessment Report Citizen Survey

Existing Capital Need Standards

2008 Comprehensive Park and Recreation Master Plan

Amenity Needs Assessment

Using the combination of unmet community needs and community priorities, Walking and Biking Trails, Small Neighborhood Parks (2-10 acres) and Nature Centers and Trails are the three facilities / amenities that merited the highest priority

Mecklenburg CountyFacility / Amenity Needs Assessment

Overall Ranking

Walking and biking trails 1Small (2-10 acres) neighborhood parks 2Nature center and trails 3Large community parks and district parks 4Indoor fitness and exercise facilities 5Playground equipment and play areas 6Indoor swimming pools/leisure pool 7Indoor running/walking track 8Community gardens 9Outdoor swimming and spraygrounds 10Park shelters and picnic areas 11Small (less than 2 acres) pocket parks 12Mountain bike trails 13Outdoor tennis courts 14Off-leash dog park 15Outdoor amphitheaters 16Youth/teen soccer fields 17Golf courses 18Outdoor basketball courts 19Indoor basketball/volleyball courts 20Indoor shelters 21Youth/teen baseball and softball fields 22Boating and sailing areas/sailing center 23Youth/teen football fields 24Adult softball fields 25 Skateboard Park 26Adult soccer fields 27Soapbox Derby track 28

Program Needs Assessment

Using the combination of unmet needs and community priorities, Adult Fitness and Wellness Programs, Special Events and Family Recreation – Outdoor Adventure Programs are the three programs with the highest priority ranking

Mecklenburg CountyProgram Needs Assessment

Overall Ranking

Adult fitness and wellness programs 1Special events/festivals 2Family Recreation - Outdoor Adventure programs 3Nature Education programs 4Education/Life skills 5Youth Learn to Swim programs 6Water fitness programs 7Senior programs 8Youth/teen sports programs 9Tennis lessons, clinics and leagues 10Adult sports programs 11Adult art, dance, performing arts 12Youth/teen summer camp programs 13Adult swim programs 14Golf lessons 15Before and after school programs 16Pre-School programs 17Martial arts programs 18Youth/teen fitness and wellness programs 19Youth/teen art, dance, performing arts 20Programs for people with disabilities 21Gymnastics and tumbling programs 22

Park and Facility Standards Matrix

Park and Facilities Standards

PARKS:

Park TypeMeet Standard/

Need Exists

Neighborhood / School Parks (Acres) 2 - 20 acres 1.13 acres per 1,000 3.00 acres per 1,000 3.00 acres per 1,000 Need Exists 1,597 Acre(s)

Community Parks (Acres) 20 - 100 acres 2.74 acres per 1,000 4.00 acres per 1,000 4.00 acres per 1,000 Need Exists 1,072 Acre(s)

Regional Parks (Acres) 100+ acres 4.34 acres per 1,000 5.00 acres per 1,000 5.00 acres per 1,000 Need Exists 559 Acre(s)

Special Use - Golf/Sports Park/Other (Acres) (1) 2.02 acres per 1,000 1.00 acres per 1,000 1.00 acres per 1,000 Meets Standard - Acre(s)

Total Park and Special Use Acreage 10.23 acres per 1,000 13.00 acres per 1,000 13.00 acres per 1,000 Need Exists 3,229 Acre(s)

Nature/Preserve Area (Acres) 7.68 acres per 1,000

Greenways (Acres) 3.67 acres per 1,000

Total Other Open Space Acreage 11.35 acres per 1,000

Total Combined Inventory Acreage 21.58 0.00 1,000 AMENITIES: (2)Playgrounds 1.00 structure per 5,610 1.00 structure per 2,500 1.00 structure per 4,000 Need Exists 61 Structures(s)

Outdoor Pools (2) 1.00 site per 94,740 1.00 site per 20,000 1.00 site per 50,000 Need Exists 8 Site(s)

Spraygrounds (2) 1.00 site per 170,531 1.00 site per 25,000 1.00 site per 50,000 Need Exists 12 Site(s)

Picnic Pavilions - Large 1.00 structure per 53,291 1.00 structure per 20,000 1.00 structure per 20,000 Need Exists 27 Structures(s)

Picnic Pavilions - Medium/Small (3) 1.00 structure per 6,047 1.00 structure per 5,000 1.00 structure per 10,000 Meets Standard - Structures(s)

Picnic Pavilions - Indoor 1.00 structure per 121,808 1.00 structure per 50,000 1.00 structure per 50,000 Need Exists 13 Structures(s)

Trails - All Surfaces - Paved (Miles) (4) 0.10 miles per 1,000 0.40 miles per 1,000 0.40 miles per 1,000 Need Exists 238 Mile(s)

Basketball Courts 1.00 court per 6,714 1.00 court per 2,500 1.00 court per 5,000 Need Exists 44 Court(s)

Tennis Courts 1.00 court per 5,030 1.00 court per 4,000 1.00 court per 4,000 Need Exists 44 Court(s)

Volleyball Courts 1.00 court per 18,948 1.00 court per 15,000 1.00 court per 15,000 Need Exists 12 Court(s)

Dog Parks (3 acre minimum) 1.00 site per 170,531 1.00 site per 50,000 1.00 site per 50,000 Need Exists 12 Site(s)

Skateparks 1.00 site per 284,219 1.00 site per 50,000 1.00 site per 100,000 Need Exists 6 Site(s)

Nature Centers 1.00 site per 213,164 1.00 site per 50,000 1.00 site per 100,000 Need Exists 6 Site(s)

Aquatic Center/Indoor Pool (Square Feet) 0.08 SF per person 0.50 SF per person 0.50 SF per person Need Exists 360,736 Square Feet

Recreation/Fitness Center Space (Square Feet) 1.09 SF per person 1.50 SF per person 1.50 SF per person Need Exists 351,864 Square Feet

Mecklenburg County - Facility Standards 3/14/2008

Additonal Facilities/Amenities Needed

Service Levels - Current, National, and Recommended Preliminary 2008 Facility Standards

Current Service LevelTypical National Standards /

BEST PRACTICESRecommended Standards;

Revised for Local Service Area


PARKS:


Need Exists



Regional Parks (Acres) 100+ acres 4.34 acres per 1,000 5.00 acres per 1,000 5.00 acres per 1,000 Need Exists 1,207 Acre(s)





















Preliminary 2012 Facility Standards





Service Levels - Current, National, and Recommended



PARKS:


Need Exists



Regional Parks (Acres) 100+ acres 4.34 acres per 1,000 5.00 acres per 1,000 5.00 acres per 1,000 Need Exists 1,785 Acre(s)





















Preliminary 2017 Facility Standards





Service Levels - Current, National, and Recommended


Mecklenburg County Citizen Survey

Questions on full range of usage, customer satisfaction, needs, unmet needs, and priorities questions

Completed 1033 surveys. Results have 95% level of confidence with margin of error of +/-3%

Summary of Overall Findings Usage of parks is high with good satisfaction Mecklenburg County Parks is the prime provider of

services Enjoyment of the outdoors and close to our

home/residence are prime reasons for usage There is a wide range of unmet needs for outdoor and

indoor parks, trails, recreation facilities and programs Walking and biking trails are the most important facilities,

followed by small neighborhood parks, and large community and regional parks

Summary of Overall Findings Special events/festivals and adult fitness and wellness

programs are most important programs Market opportunities exist to grow programs of high

importance at Mecklenburg County facilities 50% of household respondents do not feel there are

sufficient parks and green space areas within walking distances of their residence

88% or more of households feel it is important to use Mecklenburg County Greenways for environmental protection and a major connected network of walking, biking and nature trails

Purchase land to support the community identified goals

Community Vision for Greenways

Develop the 185 miles included in the 2008 Greenway Master Plan. Currently 37 miles of greenway are open to the public.

“Talented people are moving to our city in large part because of our trail system that creates the quality of life they are expecting. …Trails are no longer viewed as community amenities; they’re viewed as essential infrastructure for business recruitment.”

John Brewer, CEO of the Chamber of CommerceBillings, Montana

2-stage process:

1. Capacity Service Area Analysis Existing assets - map service areas based on facility capacity

2. Gap Analysis and Parcel Prioritization Identify opportunities for new facilities in service gaps:

» Size» Access via frontage on a major or minor thoroughfare» Partnership via adjacency to a school, library» Linkages to greenways» Linkages to developed parks» Residential population within new service area» Public transit accessibility

Park Facilities Gaps and Needs Analysis

Entities Benchmarked for Comparision

National Recreation and Park Association (NCRPA) Guidelines

Best Practices of Similar Cities/Counties including:Maryland National Planning Commission Fairfax County, Virginia Lake County, IllinoisOakland County, Michigan

Recreation Activity Participation Rates Reported by Sports Data for U.S and for Mecklenburg Area

Consultant Findings and Assessment Report Citizen Survey

Board’s Community Vision Elements

In 2015, Mecklenburg County will be a community of pride and choice for people to LIVE, WORK AND RECREATE.

CCBAC Action

Support the Fiscal Year 2014 request of Park and Recreation to provide the facilities required by the citizens for a sustainable community.

Recognize and support the need to acquire public lands for attaining goals for recreation and preservation of open space.

Questions?

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Capital Standards

Documents

Transcript of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Capital Standards