Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 10/09/2014

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The Regional Parks System has been designed and developed to provide outdoor recreation opportunities for all of the residents of the area, with facilities and services geared to meet the demands and abilities of the general population. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed by the U.S. Congress in 1990, has created specific requirements for development and rehabilitation projects in the Regional Parks System. All new projects and updated master plans for the system include ADA review. Additionally, regional park implementing agencies are encouraged to provide physically challenged participants with similar park /trail experiences through adaptive programs. Findings from the 2008 Regional Parks Visitor Study found that people of color underuse the regional system. In 2014, the Council released its research findings on Regional Parks System use among select communities of color. A total of 16 focus groups were held throughout the metropolitan region to assess recreational preferences, barriers to recreation participation, and suggestions to enhance participation. In sum, 263 individuals participated in the focus groups and self - reported diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Study findings revealed the most preferred outdoor recreational activities included walking, picnicking or barbequing, and playground use. In terms of barriers to using the Regional Parks System, the most frequently identified barriers were lack of awareness, available time, fear or safety concerns, language barriers, and weather. Focus group participants identified key suggestions to enhance park use, including: • Increasing awareness • Addressing safety • Enhancing capacity of gathering spaces • Creating a regional park ambassador program • Increasing and diversifying programming • Providing more events in regional parks In addition to the study noted above, the Council invited feedback from around the region to identify strategies that would have the greatest impact on strengthening equitable use of the Regional Parks System. Based on the insights provided by more than 400 individuals, the Council has committed to several strategies to enhance equitable use. While the strategies are highlighted briefly below, each bulleted summary is further described in the associated policy and strategy section that follows. To summarize, in an effort to enhance equitable usage of the Regional Park System, the Council will: • Create a set -aside competitive Park Equity grant program for capital projects, specifically targeted toward projects that would enhance equitable usage of the Regional Parks System. • Ensure regional park implementing agencies adhere to the 25 -year Parks and Trails Legacy Plan's intent to "connect people to the outdoors." • Work with regional park implementing agencies to prioritize funding requests, using equity as a key factor. • Conduct studies to inform Regional Parks System planning and management. Such efforts will include: A region -wide visitor survey every five years to monitor changes in Regional Parks System use.