It’s in the Public’s Best Interest

…The Benefits of Parks &

Recreation

Ramada Convention Center Topeka, Kansas

September 26, 2013

Presented by Bill Maasen, Supt. of Parks & Golf Courses

& Michael D. Meadors, Executive Director

Johnson County Park & Recreation District

Johnson County, Kansas

Built Environment & The Outdoors Summit

We will discuss and explore the well-documented and substantiated community-wide benefits of parks & recreation that fall in the following major categories:

• Economic Prosperity

• Environmental Sustainability

• Alleviating Social Problems

About Us…

OUR MISSION To enhance the quality of life in Johnson County by providing

high-quality parks, services, and recreation programs.

OUR VISION

The Johnson County Park & Recreation District will be the leader in park management and recreation services. We will:

• be responsive to our community and the people we serve,

• impact the character of our community in a positive manner,

• serve as a catalyst for program and land use innovation, and

• function as a responsible steward of all our resources.

• Nine developed park areas

• Four future park sites

• A streamway parks system

• These combined properties comprise nearly 9,650 acres and over 7,600,000 million park visitations were recorded in 2012

• Two 18-hole championship golf courses with putting greens, driving ranges, and clubhouses

• Nearly 68,000 rounds were played on the two courses in 2012

JCPRD Parks & Golf Courses

JCPRD is the single largest provider of leisure and recreational activities for both children and adults (governmental or private sector providers) in Johnson County and in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

• Aquatics: Progressive aquatics classes from learn-to-swim through competitive swimming

• Children’s Services: Early childhood development, before and after school care, as well as summer day camps for youth

• Fine Arts: Drawing, painting, calligraphy, and a wide variety of craft classes

• Older Adults: Activities, centers, as well as local, regional and international trips developed specifically for persons 50 years of age and older

• Performing Arts: Dance, drama, and an outdoor community theatre

• Special Needs: Programs for physically and mentally handicapped children and young adults

• Sports & Facilities: Tournaments, leagues, fitness programs, clinics, and individual instructional classes for youth and adults

• Wellness: Fitness and special events for area businesses and the overall community, self-defense programs offered to girls and women, and corporate competitions

In 2012, JCPRD provided over 4,200 fee-supported recreation programs, which generated over 2 million program participations.

JCPRD Recreation

• Police services for park visitors and resource protection through patrol of parks and facilities, the enforcement of state law and agency codes, and the investigation of criminal acts within JCPRD properties.

• Fee-supported program offerings and opportunities for cultural, environmental and outdoor education. • In 2012, these programs and events drew 48,240 participants.

• JCPRD also operates the Ernie Miller Nature Center and TimberRidge Adventure Center. • These two facilities drew 124,700 visitors in 2012

JCPRD Safety & Outdoor Education

5 Stages of the Benefits Evolution of Parks and Recreation

1. Activity and Custodial – 1950’s and 60’s

2. Promotion and Selling – 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s

3. User Benefits – 1990’s and early 2000’s

4. Community Benefits – 2000’s to current

5. Repositioning Community Benefits with Community Concerns

-1950’s & 60’s

Activity & Custodial

• User Oriented • Supply & Demand

• Customer-driven transaction for valued benefits

• Marketing concepts introduced

Promotion & Selling -1970’s, 80’s & 90’s

-1990’s & Early 2000’s

User Benefits

• Meets fundamental human needs • Needs met through partnerships • Effectiveness and professionalism

increase

-2000’s to Current

Community Benefits

Personal benefits shift to community benefits including:

• Economic prosperity

• Environmental sustainability

• Alleviating social problems

Repositioning Community Benefits with Community Concern

Benefits Related to Economic Prosperity

• Attracts tourists

• Attracts businesses

• Attracts retirees

• Enhances real estate values

• Reduces taxes

• Stimulates equipment sales

Benefits Related to Environmental Sustainability

• Protects drinking water

• Controls flooding

• Cleans air

• Reduces traffic congestion

• Reduces energy costs

• Preserves biological diversity

Benefits Related to Alleviating Social Problems

• Reduces environmental stress

• Community regeneration

• Cultural and historical preservation

• Facilitates healthy lifestyles

• Alleviates deviant behavior among youth

• Raises levels of education attainment

• Alleviates unemployment distress

One Community’s Model

Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department

North Carolina

Our Community’s Model

Johnson County Park & Recreation District

Kansas

Expanded parks, trails and green spaces in Johnson County would promote economic prosperity and improve quality of life.

1. Enhance real estate values and attract businesses and people to Johnson County

• Real estate values in Kansas communities are consistently higher when located next to or near local parks. This increase in private property value due to proximity to parks increases property tax revenues and improves local economies (2013 KRPA Legislative Platform Guide)

• The real estate market consistently demonstrates that many people are willing to pay a larger amount for property located close to parks and open space areas than for a home that does not offer this amenity. (Crompton, p. 140)

Expanded parks, trails and green spaces in Johnson County would promote economic prosperity & improve quality of life.

1. Enhance real estate values and attract businesses and people to Johnson County (continued)

• Given the substantial variation in the size, usage, and design of park lands in all the various the studies and the disparity in the residential areas around them, it is not feasible to establish a definitive generalized estimate of how much parks and open space contribute to increasing proximate property values. However, it is suggested that a positive impact of 20 percent on property values abutting or fronting a passive park area is a reasonable starting point guideline. (Crompton, p. 141)

• Funds spent in Kansas recreation and park programs or facilities, or on activities and employees return $1.70 for every $1 invested according to a recent economic impact study conducted through the University of Kansas School of Business (2013 KRPA Legislative Platform Guide)

1. Enhance real estate values and attract businesses and people to Johnson County (continued) • The importance of quality of life in business location decisions has

been repeatedly verified in the literature. It is widely cited as being especially important for high-technology firms or businesses employing highly workers in information- or knowledge based services. (Crompton, pp. 134-138)

• Quality recreation and parks are cited as one of the top three reasons that businesses use in relocation decisions in a number of studies (2013 KRPA Legislative Platform Guide)

• Trails ranked second behind highway access when home buyers were asked about the importance of community amenities. The amenities homebuyers ranked next in importance were sidewalks, parks and playgrounds. (National Association of Home Builders and National Association of Realtors Survey, 2002)

2. Protect water quality and preserve animal and plant life in Johnson County • There is a clear link between the quality of water coming out of a

catchment area and the extent of parkland, forests and conservation open land in that area. The relationship is widely recognized throughout the world and is exemplified by approximately one-third of the world’s largest cities obtaining a significant proportion of their drinking water directly from protected areas. Protecting for water and protecting for nature are synonymous. (Crompton, pp. 145-149)

• Parks and protected public lands are proven to improve water quality, protect groundwater, prevent flooding, improve the quality of air we breathe, provide vegetative buffers to development, produce habitat for wildlife, and provide a place for children and families to connect with nature and recreate outdoors together. (2013 KRPA Legislative Platform Guide)

2. Protect water quality and preserve animal and plant life in Johnson County (continued)

• When heavy rainfalls occur and flooding results, it is testimony that the efficient and effective drainage systems created by nature has been abused….The creation of substantial park or conservation areas in watersheds and the preservation of the floodplains as greenways can contribute substantially to preventing the occurrence of such flooding. (Crompton, pp. 149-152)

3. Promote good health in Johnson County residents

• Recreation and parks offer healthy lifestyle benefits to its users at a significantly reduced cost and as a result has a substantial impact reducing the overall cost of health care for citizens and state agencies. (2013 KRPA Legislative Platform Guide)

• A growing body of research demonstrates that the cumulative amount of physical activity obtained from park and recreation agencies is huge and provides a wide variety of health benefits. (2013 KRPA Legislative Platform Guide)

• Studies show the number and size of parks and playgrounds in a community are positively related to physical activity levels. Counties with more facilities and acreage devoted to recreation have a lower proportion of the population reporting insufficient physical activity. (2013 KRPA Legislative Platform Guide)

• Trees, other vegetation and soils enhance air quality. (Crompton pp. 153-156

Thank you!!! Bill Maasen & Michael Meadors

Johnson County Park & Recreation District 7904 Renner Road

Shawnee Mission, KS 66219

Bill.maasen@jocogov.org 913-826-3437

Michael.meadors@jocogov.org

913-826-3404