changelabsolutions.org 2 Getting Started Successful implementation of a Complete Parks system relies on many government agencies and community-based groups working well together in many areas, including collecting, sharing, and analyzing data. Decisions about assessing parks, from selecting indicators to adapting metrics, should be made by a local group made up of residents who represent the various communities in a city, county, or area, as well as people from many local government agencies and departments. Including communities and a range of local agencies and departments in this decision-making and parks assessment process makes sense because it • Can make achieving communities’ vision for Complete Parks more likely. When conversations with community members inform decisions, civic projects can be more responsive to that community’s needs, priorities, and preferences, and are more likely to be effective and succeed.2 • Increases capacity to conduct a meaningful assessment. Working with data can require a range of skills, resources, and supports. Spreading this responsibility across many groups and sectors makes it more likely that the assessment will include the most pertinent metrics, rather than fallback metrics that the group is able to collect easily but that may be less relevant. • Takes full advantage of existing data across systems and minimizes redundant work. The Complete Parks elements span the purview of many agencies, departments, and community-based or non-profit organizations. By bringing together various representatives, the group can access the data that each member collects or knows about and coordinate their efforts to gather data most efficiently and make use of the group’s collective strengths. • Helps ensure that the right mix of indicators and metrics are selected. Each setting is unique, and some metrics may resonate more or less for different stakeholders. Local groups should select at least 1 metric for each element — a minimum of 7 — and as many as appropriate for the city, county, or town. Considering the priorities of many groups and interests helps ensure that the assessment captures information that is meaningful to communities, especially those whose perspectives aren’t usually shared or considered as part of government decision-making. • Engages early on the many sectors, agencies and organizations needed to create a Complete Parks system. The assessment should inform the mix of strategies a city, county, or town chooses to align its parks system with the Complete Parks approach. Involving these people and groups from the assessment phase onward is likely to increase their commitment when they are responsible for implementing strategies. Review the Complete Parks Model Resolution for ideas on individuals and groups to engage in assessing a parks system.
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