Management Learning Laboratories Final Report Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment M anagement L earning L aboratories March 2006

Management Learning Laboratories

Final Report Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment

Management

Learning

Laboratories

March 2006


Method used in the needs assessment

• Focus groups with different segments of the community

• Questionnaire development

• Adult data collection with 13.5% response rate

• Youth data collection in schools


Method used in the needs assessment

• Aggregate analysis of the adult data and youth data

• Production of a final report


Major Findings


Recreation Categories: Participation and Interest

Special Events 41%(80%)

Outdoor Fitness 42%(77%)

Self-Improvement 23%(77%)

Passive recreation 37%(72%)

Performances 40%(71%)

Indoor Fitness 36%(71%)


Use LevelsHistoric sites

Fairgrounds

Trails

Picnic facilities

Waterfront parks

Playgrounds

Swimming pools

Athletic fields/courts


Reasons for non-useLack of information 42%

Unclear about the opportunities offered 39%

Not interested in what is provided 37%

Inconvenient timing 28%

I do not have the time 23%

Prefer other facilities 21%

Hours of operation 21%

Inconvenient location 20%


Time and Availability

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. 7% 8% 7% 8% 8% 19% 16% 8 a.m. to Noon 15% 15% 15% 15% 15% 57% 38% Noon to 3 p.m. 16% 15% 15% 15% 16% 61% 53% 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 38% 38% 38% 39% 40% 61% 56% 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. 43% 44% 44% 45% 49% 45% 36% 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. 5% 5% 4% 5% 8% 15% 12%


Information

Direct mail of brochure 93%

Newspaper articles 72%

Recreation Website 71%

Newspaper advertisements 65%

Newspaper inserts 64%

E-mail 59%

Brochures, flyers or posters 55%


Opinions about Recreation (About 60% or more agreed:)

Well-maintained parks add to the quality of life in the community (98%)

The JCPRD should provide activities where the whole family can participate (84%)

There needs to be greater emphasis on active recreation (72%)

There is a need for more teen programs (67%)


Opinions about Facilities (About 60% or more agreed:)

I would support lighted facilities to extend hours of facility use (78%)

I feel safe in the parks (70%)

The park facilities I visit are clean and well maintained (66%)

I prefer smaller parks closer to my home over a large centralized park (66%)

The parks I visit are conveniently located (60%)

There is a need for more athletic fields (60%)


Areas of Need (Facilities)Community Centers 80%

Year round swimming facility 78%

Playgrounds 78%

Indoor exercise facility 75%

Bike trails 72%

Walking trails 72%

Indoor walking track 69%

Senior Center 66%

Tennis courts 66%

Nature Center 66%

Exercise machine 59%

Mountain Biking trails 54%


Areas of Need (Programs)

Concerts 79%

Fireworks 73%

Special Events 65%

Soccer 63%

Holiday

Programming 61%

After-school

Programs 61%

Ice skating 58%

Volleyball 58%

Gymnastics 57%

Dance programs 56%

Baseball 55%

Football 54%

Land acquisition 54%

Teen dances 54%

Teen concerts 53%


Funding sources suggested1. Bonds to be paid by voter approved property

taxes

2. Sales Taxes

3. Corporate sponsorship and donations

4. Grants from state, federal, & private sources

5. Private individual donations

6. Program user fees for recreation programs

7. Taxes in general


Youth Recreation: Participation and Interests

Sports and Athletics 57%(75%)

Outdoor Fitness 44%(65%)

Family Programs 34%(51%)

Adventure activities 32%(63%)

Indoor Fitness 31%(53%)


Youth Opinions about Recreation (About 60% or more agreed:)

There is a need for more teen programs

There is a need for more athletic fields

The JCPRD should provide activities where the whole family can participate

I feel safe in the parks


Youth Areas of NeedGame rooms 81%

Paintball 77%

Teen concerts 76%

Special Events 75%

Concerts 75%

Football 74%

Fireworks 73%

Year round swimming facility 71%

Teen dances 71%

After-school programs 66%

Skatepark 64%


Youth Reasons for non-use

Not interested 52%

I do not have the time 51%

Cost 43%

Lack of transportation 42%

Inconvenient timing 41%

Lack of information 41%


Youth Information

Cable TV Public access 61%

E-mail 58%

Direct mail of brochure 54%

Brochures, flyers 54%

Radio 53%

Newspaper 50%

Recreation Website 50%


Questions and Comments

For more information contact Ananda Mitra at:

1-800-789-5247

http://www.m-l-l.com(E-mail: [email protected])

Documents

Management Learning Laboratories Final Report Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment M anagement L earning L aboratories March 2006