Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 22 Greater Insight How can we reach people that may not respond to traditional surveys or attending meetings? Intercept surveys are short lists of written questions distributed to people who either are visiting the park in question or are present in nearby public spaces. These questions can also be asked orally by a parks representative stationed at the entrance of the park. How can we generate more specific ideas and suggestions? A walking tour is an easy, effective, and inexpensive technique. Stakeholders are invited to visit the site or the neighborhood, and the tour leader emphasizes generating ideas and solutions in a relevant time and space. Knowing the Critical Considerations The park agency will either serve as the catalyst for the revitalization project or act in concert with other individuals or groups undertaking it Whether holding meetings or using surveys, the agency should address are a number of elements • Identify and invite a variety of people to provide the needed insight • Determine desired outcomes This can start with information dissemination and conclude with consensus building • Generate questions • Determine the best method to use • For meetings, consider logistics such as the location and time of day that would work best for the invitees In the case of surveys, consider the time of year that would work best for the respondents Train the staff or volunteers (who will be running the meeting and recording the information) in the specifics of effective interaction and recording techniques Such training is required for survey design and phone interviews as well Extensive community participation is essential to providing a good understanding of the existing site and the sacred places, as well as in formulating the needs and hopes of the residents. – MARILYN BOYD DREW, URBAN PARK AND RECREATION EXPERT The following addresses important elements for successful public meetings Identifying People to Be Included A good starting point is to develop a list of stakeholders (both individuals and groups) who are likely to have the insight you seek, such as: • Neighbors who immediately surround the park or project as well as any neighborhood associations • Community leaders, both official and informal • Schools, both staff and students • Churches, both staff and members • Nearby social service agencies • Local area businesses
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