Wisconsin Park andRecreation Association

Region 3 MeetingImportant Concepts in Local,

County and State Parks

“Implementing Concepts for Successful Park Planning: From Local to Regional Land Legacy

Initiatives(And How Your UW-Extension Office Can Help!)”

Thursday, February 8, 2007City Hall, Jefferson, Wisconsin

Presented By:

Steve Grabow, Community Development Educator and ProfessorUW-Extension, Jefferson County

Presentation Purpose

Process Guidance:

Provide an understanding of an integrated approach to successful park planning based on a research-based approach.

Overview and Content:

Provide insights to the Wisconsin DNR/County/UW-Extension partnership resulting in the Land Legacy Program – The Glacial Heritage Area Initiative

Throughout This Presentation:

Describe some of the ways UW-Extension can support local, County and State parks initiatives.

Fundamental Benefits of Parks, Recreation and Open Space

Parks are one of the most effective ways to build a sense of community and an improved quality of life.

Parks provide intrinsic environmental, aesthetic and recreational benefits to communities.

Open space/green relief in the cities.

A vision to preserve natural wonders and wilderness.

Recreation and “play” spaces in urbanizing areas.

Common spaces where diverse populations can intermingle.

The parks, recreation and conservation movement in America started in the later 1800s in response to a need for:

Fundamental Benefits of Parks, Recreation and Open Space

All great communities are known for having great parks and their ability to provide recreation, natural beauty and signature places in the “public domain”.

Parks help build civic pride and communitylivability, enhance tourism and economicinvestment, and contribute to health andquality of life.

UW-Extension can help people understandthe benefits of parks, recreation and conservation.

PROCESS GUIDANCE

Plan Process

Meaningful planning and change process require an integration of learning opportunities, research and expert involvement, citizen participation and a sound planning approach.

UW-Extension can help the community in designing a response to parks initiatives by:

Providing research when needed

Providing learning and educational opportunities when appropriate

Helping design planning approaches when the time is right for planning

Helping design and facilitate meaningful public participation as needed.

Plan Process

UW-Extension can help the community in designing a response to parks initiatives by:

Helping to understand and access “experts” (often the department heads, agency representatives and consultants) as is realistic

Helping to position the community to incorporate coordinate and link these many purposes which are needed at different times

Summary of Steps

General Approach to Comprehensive Planning:

A Road Map

The Approach

Step 1 Initial

Education and

Diagnosis

Step 2 Plan for Planning

Step 3 Background Information

and Inventory

Step 4 Trends and Assessment

Step 5 Issue

Identification and

Visioning

Step 6a Strategy

Formulation and

Alternative Responses

Step 6b Strategy

Formulation and Select Preferred

Alternatives

Step 7 Plan Review

and Approval

Step 8 Plan

Implemen-tation

Step 9 Plan

Monitoring, Reassessment

and Amendment Procedure

Determine How the Smart Growth Law and Elements Relate to the Approach See detailed charts (Figures B, C, and D) for each step

Show Examples of Output for Each Step See detailed charts (Figures B, C, and D) for each step

Source: University of Wisconsin Extension Citizen Participation Team/Comprehensive Planning Committee

Facilitated and Compiled by Steve Grabow, Associate Professor, May 2000

Definition of Approach: A mode of conduct with a series of steps directed toward achieving desired results.

Generate – Organize – Select: A three-step “mini-process” that occurs in many of the steps in the comprehensive planning approach.

13

General Approach to Planning: A Road Map

UW-Extension can help the community to understand the planning process (See Grabow, et. al. “Comprehensive Planning and Citizen Participation” – 2006, on-line at www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/jefferson)

Parallel or Concurrent Processes

Parallel or Concurrent Processes Which Occur During the Comprehensive PlanThe illustration below shows that there are parallel tracks of purposeful activities that occur during the carrying out of the comprehension planning process. For example, thereshould be learning and education taking place throughout the comprehensive planning. Similarly, there needs to be routine evaluation and assessment about how well thecomprehension planning is going. The approach for “Education and Learning” and for “Evaluation” should be determined early and should be planned out ahead of time. Andthroughout these approaches, citizen’s must be involved at appropriate times, and they should be given an opportunity to continually contribute to the comprehensive plan. Thegraphic below illustrates how planning, citizen participation, education of the citizens/planners, and evaluation of the approaches occur concurrently.

PARALLEL TRACKS Track 1 Comprehensive Planning: The Approach

Track 2 Citizen Participation Diagnose & Plan

the Approach

Track 3 Education and Learning Diagnose

& Planthe Approach

Track 4 Evaluation Diagnose

& Planthe Approach

Step 1Initial

Educationand

Diagnosis

Step 2Plan forPlanning

Step 3BackgroundInformation

andInventory

Step 4Trends andAssessment

Step 5Issue

Identificationand

Visioning

Step 6aStrategy

Formulationand

AlternativeResponses

Step 6bStrategy

Formulationand SelectPreferred

Alternatives

Step 7Plan

Review andApproval

Step 8Plan

Implementation

Step 9Plan

Monitoring,Reassessment

andAmendmentProcedure

?

Figure E

Source: University of Wisconsin-Extension, Citizen Participation Team/Comprehensive Planning Committee

Dynamics of Group Decision-Making

Citizen Participation Methods(A short list of 14)

(UW-Extension professionals are skilled in these methods.)

Special Emphasis in Parks Planning

In Step 1 (Initial Education and Diagnosis), use the UW-Extension, media and internet for unlimited opportunities to ready the community for planning.

In Step 2 (Plan for Planning), it is critical to design a sound approach and determine the people and resources to involve; UW-Extension can assist in RFP development.

In Step 3 (Background Information and Inventory), it is important to have expert observations in site analysis.

Strong designers provide valuable clues to site limitations and site opportunities.

Special Emphasis in Parks Planning

In Step 5, (Issue Identification and Visioning), there are many opportunities to use creative, interactive tools for public involvement.

Favorite Tools: “Concerns and Hopes” (for the overall plan and/or site)

Open House Workshop Drop-Off Opinion Surveys (inform/educate first and then survey)

Focus Group Interviews (powerful technique to get at possible issues, vision ideas and to explore or test strategy ideas)

Visioning/Design Charette (using base maps, aerials, markers)

OVERVIEW AND CONTENT

Nature-Based orNatural Resource-Oriented Parks

(UW-Extension can refer to important research-based resources.)

There are ten activities which account for most recreation time for “natural-type” park users:

The order of importance varies significantly by age groups.

Camping

Fishing

Hiking

Biking

Picnicking

Relaxing

Sightseeing/Pleasure Driving

Swimming

Sunbathing

Nature Walking/Wildlife Viewing

Source: George E. Fogg. Park Planning Guidelines. NRPA, 1995.

Jefferson County adapted Phil Lewis’ research (UW-Madison/Extension Landscape Architect) to identify “attributes” for priority ranking of potential “natural resource-oriented” parks

The “attributes checklist” included: Proximity to environmental corridor

Along or near an existing trail corridor

Scenic overlooks

Cultural/Historic Features

Native vegetation

Undisturbed

Glacial features

Adjacent or near state land

Water present

Nature-Based orNatural Resource-Oriented Parks

UW-Extension can help in the use of “decision matrices” and other decision-making techniques; it also provides access to UW campus specialists.

Prior Jefferson County Parks-Related Planning

(UW-Extension has been involved in different ways for each initiative.) Jefferson County Bikeway/Pedestrianway Plan (1996)

Jefferson County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan (June 1997)

Jefferson County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan 2005-2010 (February 2005)

UW-Madison Graduate PlanningWorkshop “Impacts and Benefits ofParks, Recreation and Land Preservation”

Jefferson County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan

2005-2010

Prepared for:Jefferson County Parks Department

March 1, 2005

Linkages to Other Plans(UW-Extension can inform the interface among different

plans.)

Integrate strategies in the Jefferson County Agricultural Preservation and Land Use Plan

Integrate with strong community plans

Key Ideas From New Parks Plan

Integrate Jefferson County Parks Vision and Strategies with Glacial Heritage Area (Land Legacy Initiative)

UW-Extension can provide important context for complex partnerships because of its unique role in serving local, County and State interests)

Key Ideas From New Parks Plan

Provide emphasis to the Glacial Heritage Area

UW-Extension can be a continuous resource for incorporating sound principles of “change”:

Understanding and Leading “Change”(UW-Extension can help leaders understand principles of

change.)

Principles of “Change”:

1. Framing the “sense of urgency” to do something

2. Helping to identify and form “guiding coalitions”

3. Assisting in the design and facilitation of “vision and strategy” approaches

4. Helping to “communicate for understanding”

5. Alerting the community to the importance of “broad-based and empowered action”

6. Advising about the need for “early evidence of progress”

7. Foster “determination, persistence and on-going process refinements”

8. Help reinforce the “value of successful change” and long-term cultural changes

John Kotter (1996). Leading Change

Closing – Framing the Challenge(UW-Extension can be a versatile resource in helping

to address complex challenges.)

How can we preserve our natural resources and rural character while making all our communities healthier, more livable and more enjoyable for our families?