Gaps in Parks Master Planning: Part Two | Using Academic Research as Guidance

 Gaps in park master planning frameworks

-- "Gaps in Parks Master Planning: Part One | Levels of Service"

-- "Gaps in Parks Master Planning: Part Two | Utilizing Academic Research as Guidance"
-- "Gaps in Parks Master Planning: Part Three | Planning for Climate Change/Environment"
-- "Gaps in Parks Master Planning: Part Four | Planning for Seasonality and Activation"
-- "Gaps in Parks Master Planning: Part Five | Planning for Public Art as an element of park facilities"
-- "Gaps in Parks Master Planning, Part Six | Art(s) in the Park(s) as a comprehensive program"
-- "Gaps in Parks Master Planning: Part Seven | Park Architectural (and Landscape Design) History" 
-- "Gaps in Parks Master Planning: Part Eight | Civic Engagement"
-- "Gaps in Parks Master Planning: Part Nine | Second stage planning for parks using the cultural landscape framework" 

But while I have written a bunch about parks and transportational access, I didn't think to include that as another topic in the series.  The challenge is to ensure that as many parks as possible are accessible by transit.  This, and other forms of accessibility, should be covered in a parks master plan.

-- "Gaps in Parks Master Planning: Part Ten | Park transportational access" (2025)

CDC image. Strategies to increase physical activity.

Using academic research for evidence-based objective guidance. When parks master plans don't have specific guidance about facilities or what to do, I think we can and should reference evidence-based academic research, focusing on those studies with findings that demonstrate in practical ways for engaging people in outdoor recreation and fitness activities.

That way decisions are made on an objective, informed basis--rather than responding to current expressed needs like pickleball or adding a splash pad without thinking through the issue(s) in a time consuming, more complicated manner.

(Coordination of resources is important too.  SHP is basically a 110 acre dog park, but not officially.  Some people want there to be a dog park. OTOH, there is a city regional park a few blocks away with a beautiful 2.5 acre dog park.  We don't need to duplicate.)

The studies, "The First National Study of Neighborhood Parks Implications for Physical Activity," American Journal of Preventative Medicine (2016) and System of Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC)  identified particular facilities as key to getting people to visit and be active in their local parks:

• basketball hoops
• dog parks
• playgrounds
• restrooms
• recreation and senior centers (indoor facilities)
• splash pads.

By focusing on increasing usership and participation, greater physical activity and individual improvements in health should result.

Planners at Salt Lake County Parks say adding a splash pad to a playground makes it festival-like, with hordes of users.  Columbia Heights, DC.

The Trust for Public Land ParkScore® measure uses this list of facilities as part of their ratings of park systems.

-- "The First National Study of Neighborhood Parks Implications for Physical Activity, American Journal of Preventative Medicine (2016)
-- Resources on playgrounds Studio Ludo, 
-- American Fitness Index
-- Active People, Healthy Nation, CDC
-- Play Provocations: What play can do for a city, Bentway Toronto
-- "Playground Design: Contribution to Duration of Stay and Implications for Physical Activity," International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023)