changelabsolutions.org 3 Measuring the 7 Elements Engage: Inclusive, Meaningful, Ongoing Dialogue Active participation in community life, such as voting and weighing in on policies that affect the neighborhood, is often good for people’s health. In one study, people with low political engagement reported poorer health,3 and adults who volunteer report better physical health and well-being compared to those who don’t.4 Civic engagement can boost social connection and is linked to greater self-esteem and healthy relationships.5 Just as government serves the people, parks should support the vision of the people who live near it. Engagement done well can yield long-lasting, more equitable solutions that increase civic pride, and has the potential to create special places that affirm a shared identity and sense of belonging. When a park advances a group’s vision for itself, it becomes a central feature of a thriving community and serves as a daily reminder of collective will. Parks help a community fulfill its vision when people in local government who are responsible for designing, creating, and maintaining parks actively listen to residents and involve them in key decisions, learn something from these conversations, and make different decisions based on community input. When people across local government agencies engage residents in this way in order to develop responsive policies, practices, and projects, outcomes can improve across the board, from high satisfaction with services to increased park use6 and better public health. How to Measure: Given the importance of community input to shaping successful parks, the indicators for the Engage element focus on residents’ willingness to participate in local government’s engagement activities; local government’s intention to engage communities; and the effectiveness of local government’s engagement efforts. Local governments that make it a priority to engage communities are more likely to be effective at reaching a representative array of residents and boosting participation by demonstrating that their input matters.
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