Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 29 Notice that PAR is a philosophical approach to gathering information rather than one specific method Four techniques that are often used in this form of action research are featured in this section: asset mapping, photovoice, open space technology, and go-along interviews Asset Mapping Asset mapping is the intentional mapping of available resources within a community for building community Such an approach engages members of the community in which the project is located and creates a context for the process or project While it has gained renewed popularity in recent years, asset mapping was actually used by settlement houses in the late 19th century This approach focuses on the strengths of an area rather than deficiencies and problems While asset mapping may initially appear to be time-consuming, it is gaining in popularity in parks and recreation due to: • Contributions made to a neighborhood by identification and organization of data not previously available • The engagement of young people in the community, such that a subset of this technique is known as “youth asset mapping” • The unique way in which community members can evaluate the design of a project and its impact on the community Guidelines for Implementation The Center for Youth Development and Engagement within the Academy for Educational Development (formerly known as the Center for Youth Development & Policy Research) identified the following steps as suitable for youth asset mapping However, the same steps apply to the process when used with adults Step 1. Identify the convening organization. An organization within the community must take the lead to bring community groups together to consider the process Step 2. Form a public/private/nonprofit community advisory board. A community advisory board is formed to support, plan, and implement the community mapping process Step 3. Designate a lead agency. A lead agency—not necessarily the same agency as the original convener—is identified Ideally, this agency is known to work well with youth and the community Step 4: Define the community. A clear definition of community is required to establish the boundaries of the project, such as specific neighborhood blocks, city limits, and the school catchment area Step 5. Recruit the mapping team. The lead agency recruits individuals to work on the mapping team Stipends, particularly for youth, are an incentive Step 6. Develop the mapping protocol. The mapping team, with the assistance of the lead agency, develops guidelines for the project, such as sample questions, timetables, and data collection methods Step 7. Train the mapping team. Mapping team members need training that encompasses resource identification, interview techniques, and risk management Step 8. Conduct the mapping. The mapping team goes into the community and collects the necessary information Step 9. Analyze results Analysis should include the types of resources found, access to those resources, and types of resources that are missing or inadequate in various parts of the community Step 10. Report and use the findings. A concise summary of the findings will be developed, published, and shared widely with the community The complete results of the mapping process and its analysis, along with recommendations, will be shared with the convening organization Source: http://cyd.aed.org/cym/tensteps.html
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