Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success
National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved Contents Executive Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Section 1: Recalling the Concept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Section 3: Information as Foundation and Springboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Section 4: Neighborhood Insights and Ideas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Section 5: Input to Implementation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Section 6: Outcomes to Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Section 7: Cycle of Success. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Credits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 1 Executive Summary Unleashing the Potential of Parks for Revitalizing Neighborhoods and Communities The practice of developing or redeveloping parks and open spaces, which become catalysts for revitalizing neighborhoods and communities, is spreading throughout the United States Some examples: • Marvin Gaye Park in Washington, D C , once known as “Needle Park” due to drug use and sales, has been restored to a place for children to play and neighbors to gather • High Line Park in New York City, characterized by an abandoned, elevated rail spur overlooking the Hudson River, has become a first-class urban amenity for the three neighborhoods it crosses • Lou Walker Park, a three-acre park located next to a stormwater drainage ditch in DeKalb County, Georgia, was renovated for use as a playground site with “playground graduates” moving on to attend a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program during the summer months Inspiration and Information for Revitalizing Parks and Neighborhoods The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) created this toolkit in support of citizens living in communities across the country, advocates supporting the public park movement, and public park and recreation agencies All these groups can play a significant role in park renovation and neighborhood revitalization Recognizing the uniqueness of each neighborhood and community as well as the variations in the roles of citizens, advocates, and agencies, this toolkit is intended to provide both inspiration for moving park projects forward and information related to techniques and strategies that help assure the success of such efforts This toolkit is organized into seven sections • Recalling the Concept. There was a time when parks and community centers played a key role in neighborhood and community well-being This section recalls that role and provides evidence of the renewed impact of parks and open space in today’s society • From Concept to Catalyst. This section explores various roles that individuals, community groups, and professionals can play—serving as catalysts for park projects that result in community revitalization • Information as Foundation and Springboard. Gathering information about a neighborhood and its residents serves as a foundation for making better choices and provides a basis for securing funding and resources for the project This section focuses on securing information from existing sources • Neighborhood Insights and Ideas. The potential for a park project to bring community revitalization is closely related to the genuine involvement of people living in the area Both more traditional methods as well as newer approaches to insight gathering are included in this section • Input to Implementation Integrating the information, input, and ideas into a workable plan for resource development and implementation of the project is naturally a key aspect for success This section addresses that process
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 2 • Outcomes to Impact Today’s emphasis on making optimal use of resources leads to a requirement to assess and demonstrate the impact of any park or project on important needs or issues Techniques for outcomes assessment are included in this section • Cycle of Success. This section addresses the wide range of actions and activities necessary to ensure that the initial success of the effort is continued throughout the life span of the park or project Recognition and Appreciation for the Parks Build Community Partners Much of the information and many of the insights in this toolkit are based on their collective experiences and expertise in connection with the Marvin Gaye Park project in Washington, D C In 2008 NRPA launched a community revitalization program, Parks Build Community, to revive inner-city communities through purposeful park restoration and sustainability, with the understanding that the health of a park is directly connected to the health and beauty of its surrounding neighborhoods NRPA’s initial program effort was Marvin Gaye Park It resulted in a sustainable model for restoring blighted urban areas around the country The Marvin Gaye Park project and its success are due in large part to the leadership of Washington Parks & People—most especially Steve Coleman and Autumn Saxton-Ross, working in partnership with NRPA The generosity of other national partners, Playworld Systems, PlayCore, Landscape Structures, and Kompan, led to the revitalization of Marvin Gaye Park It was rededicated and reopened as a place where children can play and experience their community like never before || A RENOVATED MARVIN GAYE PARK
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 3 NRPA’s Vision: Parks Build Community Beginning in 2008, at the impetus of new CEO Barbara Tulipane, NRPA began to explore the idea of working on an urban park project that would exemplify the theme of how “Parks Build Community ” That “parks build community” is a concept intuitively understood by every professional in the field of parks and recreation From the smallest urban pocket park up through the largest urban parks, having a park enriches the life of every community However, there is often little empirical evidence to show just how a park tangibly contributes to the building of community NRPA saw how valuable it would be to complete such a project in a community that had none, and to use the example to demonstrate why parks are so important to every community’s sense of itself For a number of reasons, NRPA chose to look for a park-build project in or close to the District of Columbia And it was not difficult to find any number of communities and neighborhoods in need—communities that had no parks or playgrounds, or if they had them, they were in dire need of repair and rehabilitation Partnering with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation and the non-profit group Washington Parks and People, an established park advocacy group that had completed a highly successful park renovation with the National Park Service at Meridian Hill Park in NW D C , NRPA identified a park rehabilitation project in an underserved community that would be an ideal candidate for proving the hypothesis that parks do build community—Marvin Gaye Park in Northeast D C The need for a park and playground in this underserved community could not have been more apparent Ward 7 has the second highest concentration of children of any Ward in the city, and there had been no public playground here for the past 25 years In fact, local civic leaders had asked the city to remove old and dilapidated playground equipment because they did not want children to be attracted to it since it was now a known open-air drug market Under the Administration of Mayor Adrian Fenty, the city had committed to an ambitious redevelopment of the former Watts Branch Stream Valley Park, but did not have the funds to complete the planned redevelopment of the entire park Working with the office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and Washington Parks and People, NRPA proposed to take responsibility for securing the equipment and materials for a new playground, which would be the heart of the park redevelopment project Over the next two years, NRPA sought and received an outstanding level of donations—over a quarter million dollars in value—from suppliers, manufacturers, and businesses, to support this park rebuild The project efforts and results was widely featured in local and national media, including documentation in Parks and Recreation Magazine in September, 2010. In addition to the park-rebuilding project, NRPA also committed to a research project in cooperation with George Mason University to show how people’s perceptions of their health and wellness were improved by using the park, and how park visitation increased one there was a safe place to play for children and youth However, the larger purpose of the Marvin Gaye Park project was more than play equipment, pavers, and landscaping The Parks Build Community initiative demonstrates how parks connect to and enhance the life of a community It is as much about what takes place in the community outside the park as it is about what takes place inside the park Marvin Gaye Park resulted in a community that now had a safe place for children to play and residents to socialize The spillover effect of Marvin Gaye Park has led to the closure of a drug rehabilitation clinic adjacent to the park formerly referred to as “needle park” and the infusion of community development investment from the City for the neighborhood || VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED IN CLEAN UP EFFORT
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 4 Parks are such an essential component of livable, sustainable, communities that it is difficult to imagine a truly livable sustainable community without parks, trails, and other recreational resources and the positive changes such parks create for the entire neighborhood The Parks Build Community project at Marvin Gaye Park has begun to serve as a national model for any community to use in the restoration and rehabilitation of deteriorated urban parks This toolkit, which was assembled with the intention of deconstructing the valuable lessons learned from the Marvin Gaye project, can serve as a guide for other agencies, non-profits, and communities There are a number of essential steps that can point the way to successfully completing similar projects Every component might not apply to every project, but the outreach and partnership building examples of this project and other similar projects around the country can help any agency to link results to outcomes in a way that brings credit to the partners and ensures a high probability of success NRPA is pleased to share not just the vision, but also the nuts-and-bolts of how Parks Build Community can work in your community
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 5 Section 1: Recalling the Concept The information and insights in this section are intended to: • Remind citizens, advocates, and professionals of the role open spaces and parks play in creating, supporting, and sustaining the well-being of a neighborhood or community • Remind the reader that a park or section of open space holds potential beyond its obvious existence as a parcel of land • Provide an example of the “before” and “after” circumstances where a park renovation contributes to the revitalization of a neighborhood • Identify ways in which a renovated park serves as a community asset • Reference opportunities for parks that tie into collaborating with other emerging community efforts and initiatives Defining a Park When people are asked to define a park, most of their answers are similar in focus but cite differing outcomes For example, the bird-watcher may define a park as open space left in its natural state to support the habitat of local birds and provide him or her with untold hours of education and enjoyment A child might refer to a neighborhood park as a place where to go climb on playground equipment Still another individual may immediately define parks as athletic fields Beyond what parks do to fulfill individuals, they address important community and societal needs. Aside from what parks mean to individuals, parks can surpass an individual’s preference to address important community and societal needs The component parts of a park—grass, trees, open space, benches, and play equipment—can come together to result in more than just another public place When is a park more than a park? A park assumes more widespread and important roles for communities when it: • Serves as an impetus to revitalize or rejuvenate the neighborhood or community in which it is located • Plays an integral role in the life of a neighborhood and the lives of the people who reside there • Serves as a touchstone for sense of community for those who live, work, and play there A park can be a vehicle for creating social organization and community. If it doesn’t catalyze something else, it’s not going to be a great contribution to the neighborhood. GREGORY D. SQUIRES, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY AND PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 6 Back to the Future The concept of parks as an anchor for revitalizing neighborhoods and communities is not entirely new The origins of park and recreation services grew out of the societal needs of the early 20th century, when cities in the United States were undergoing radical changes People were relocating from the farms to the cities or emigrating from other countries, and both groups were attempting to acclimate to a new way of life The early creation and use of parks and places during this time of change played a role in the successful transitions of individuals, families, neighborhoods, and entire communities into a new era in American life Imagine … • There would have been no need for Central Park in New York City if it were not for urban growth • There would have been little need for Chicago’s Hull House if immigrant families were not experiencing difficulties assimilating • Joseph Lee would not have created sand gardens and play areas in Boston had there not been unsupervised children playing in the streets Today’s changes in how we live, work, live, and play are once again creating a foundation for parks and recreation as a source of renewal and revitalization for neighborhoods, communities, and society The situations that communities today face are remarkably similar to the challenges facing cities at the turn of the last century: overcrowding, unsupervised children, gangs, stress, crime, and other negative consequences of unprecedented change Today as we move further into the 21st century, equally important issues face our cities, seemingly regardless of location and population size Some of these issues include: • The flight of people and businesses from the cities to the suburbs or beyond • Drug usage, including prescription drugs • A rise in crime associated with gang activity • Growth in the proportion of people living in poverty • An increase in the number of people who do not speak English as a first language • The growth in the number of young people considered “at risk” • Challenges for adults seeking new employment pursuits • The aging of the population and increased longevity • Greater diversity in the population The economic changes and challenges facing the United States only intensify these circumstances || WATTS STREAM PARK/MARVIN GAYE PARK – EARLY PICTURE
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 7 When Is a Park More than a Park? Marvin Gaye Park of Washington, D.C. How can parks play a role in addressing important community issues? While no one would be naïve enough to suggest that public parks are the saving grace for urban areas, we would be remiss not to cite some of the many park and development projects that have enhanced the livability of our cities and addressed some of those critical issues for overall health and well-being One such park renovation that clearly demonstrates how a park can benefit a neighborhood is Marvin Gaye Park in Washington, D C This park illustrates the life cycle associated with many urban parks, because the conditions and subsequent use of the park follows the variations in the economy and the available funds for maintenance and improvements It was Marvin Gaye Park where the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) launched its initial community revitalization initiative, Parks Build Community Following is an overview of how the many uses and evolutions of this parcel of land eventually led to a revitalized neighborhood in this urban enclave From Tobacco Fields to Development to Linear Park Once the Federal City started to grow, the tobacco farmlands alongside the stream valleys of the Anacostia River gradually gave way to homes and businesses However, the development in that area was subject to unpredictable flooding, such that the area was designated as a floodplain, thereby restricting development By 1938, the buildings were demolished and residents relocated so that a park could be developed in the floodplain This linear park space, called Watts Branch Stream Valley Park, was completed and remained as park space until the urban renewal efforts of the 1950s and 1960s Urban renewal resulted in large public housing projects—such as this one—to provide living space for those displaced people by such efforts Watts Branch Stream Valley Park went through several stages of usage and later neglect It lay in disrepair until the first lady, Lady Bird Johnson, had eight acres of the park refurbished as part of her Capital Beautification Campaign, bringing about new flower beds, large grassy areas, and a cleanup of the Watts Branch tributary Once again the community flocked to this beautifully renovated park From Disrepair to Revitalization In 1970, the federal government turned the maintenance of the park over to the District of Columbia The district’s limited funds led to the gradual disrepair of the park once again: it fell victim to illegal dumping and criminal activity It became known as “Needle Park,” reflecting the drug sales and use within its boundaries Renamed in honor of a famous local resident, musician Marvin Gaye, who frequented the banks of the stream while writing his music, the park remained in disrepair and misuse Enter Washington Parks & People, a nonprofit citizens’ organization that spearheaded an effort to clean up the land and restore the park Over a five-year period beginning in 2001, this volunteer effort resulted in a multimillion dollar rejuvenation of the park, during which 24,000 volunteers removed more than 3 5 million pounds of trash Beginning in 2007, as part of NRPA’s first urban park project, it partnered with Washington Parks & People and the DC Department of Parks and Recreation This initial undertaking by NRPA resulted in improvements to Marvin Gaye Park—providing further evidence that the health of a park is directly connected to the health and beauty of its surrounding neighborhoods || MARVIN GAYE PARK REVITALIZATION PROJECT
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 8 Marvin Gaye Park, the former Watts Branch Stream Valley Park, was officially reopened in 2009 and featured state-of-the-art playground equipment, permanent mosaics honoring community heroes, and rebuilt hiking and biking trails Community Alive and Well The story of a park renovation project intended to revitalize a neighborhood does not stop with a successful dedication More changes and improvements were on the horizon, due to continued involvement by Washington Parks & People and the strong community leadership developed as part of this effort The renovated and reopened park indeed had ties to positive changes in a newly revitalized neighborhood, such as: • The closing of a nearby methadone clinic that attracted drug users to the area • More people, young and old, visiting the park • Visitors staying longer in the park • Youths being more active physically while visiting the park • Adults recalling childhood memories they recaptured by spending time in the park • People speaking about how the park has broken down barriers among residents Community was once again alive and well in the former Watts Branch Stream Valley Park after it was renamed and revitalized To conclude, in combination with the adjacent Riverside Center (owned and operated by Washington Parks & People), Marvin Gaye Park has become a community asset || MARVIN GAYE PARK, BEFORE MOST RECENT RENOVATION || MARVIN GAYE PARK, AFTER RENOVATION Marvin Gaye Park—A Community Asset The rejuvenation and revitalization of the Anacostia community is related to the restoration of Marvin Gaye Park, which has now assumed become a valuable asset to this community The many community assets accrued to this project include: • A safe community gathering spot. Prior to the renovation, local residents requested that D C government remove the unsafe play equipment, so that it would not attract children to the park, which not only was home to an open-air drug market with rampant drug usage but also was a frequent crime scene • Health and social interaction In earlier times, most people avoided the park, and parents warned their children to stay far away from its boundaries Today, however, young mothers push baby carriages through the park, and children of various ages attend programs and activities within the park The programming by Washington Parks & People changed people’s perception: the new perception is that Marvin Gaye Park is a safe place to go—one that offers activities and opportunities for improving one’s health as well as social interaction
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 9 • Environmental improvement. Environmental improvements benefiting the stream have occurred as a result of the restoration of the park and the removal of trash and hazardous materials • Community involvement. A farmers market was started by a group of neighborhood women committed to taking back the park from drug dealers Working with Washington Parks & People, these women and local farmers host a weekly market New ideas for community supported agriculture are emerging from this success • Increased opportunities for physical activity The repaving of paths through the park, combined with on-street improvements, connects the surrounding neighborhoods to places for increased physical activity Research conducted by George Mason University suggested there were increases in physical activity for children because of the playground and for adults because of the walking paths and connecting trails • Rebirth. Adjacent to the park, Woodson Senior High School is undergoing a total makeover, and new townhouses are under construction in the area … || RENOVATED MARVIN GAYE PARK AND WATTS BRANCH • Impetus for further improvements The revitalization of Marvin Gaye Park is a tangible example of how a park project can serve as an impetus for further improvements The District of Columbia has embarked on an ambitious community revitalization plan for this community that includes transportation improvements, streetscaping, business improvements, and neighborhood redevelopment • Conservation efforts The Washington Smart Growth Alliance, a group that promotes conservation initiatives that create quality of life in communities, named Marvin Gaye Park a 2009 regional conservation priority • Focal point for media. The renovated park drew media attention both at the local and national level Stories on the revitalization of the park and its effects have appeared in The Washington Post and USA Today and on National Public Radio Videos Bring the Park to Life Two videos are available on the NRPA Web site that further understanding and appreciation for the Marvin Gaye Park initiative. One video relates to the park, while the second features the park dedication. These videos can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/v/Z1GFLf3inio&hl=en&fs=1& http://www.nrpa.org/media/parkday/default.html.
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 10 Revisiting the Question: When Is a Park More Than Just Land? A series of five research papers commissioned by NRPA was released in 2010 They present evidence of the impact made by parks and recreation in local communities nationwide Moreover, they provide insight into the benefits important to individuals, communities, our economy, and society Lastly, these research papers help agencies adapt to increasing demands and quantify the benefits of their services to local and national decision-makers The five papers are: • The Benefits of Physical Activity: The Scientific Evidence • Measuring the Economic Impact of Park and Recreation Services • Parks and Other Green Environments: Essential Components of a Healthy Human Habitat • Air Quality Effects of Urban Parks and Trees • The Rationale for Recreation Services for Youth: An Evidence Based Approach Agencies are encouraged to make full use of these resources that enhance the credibility and effectiveness of our profession’s efforts This research series can be found at http://www nrpa org/2010researchpapers/ Small Parcels of Open Space With a Big Impact Parks and Other Green Environments: Essential Components of a Healthy Human Habitat details research examples in the NRPA Research Series that demonstrates the effects that even small amounts of green space can have on the lives of people and neighborhoods The Robert Taylor Homes in Chicago consist of two apartment buildings located in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the United States When people signed up for housing in this complex, they were randomly assigned to either of the two buildings The demographics of occupants in the two buildings were similar regarding age, education, employment, income, household size, marital status, number of children, health, and alcohol and drug usage However, there was one seemingly small but significant difference between the two identical buildings One building faced only concrete and asphalt, while the other building had a view of green: trees and grass Could social dysfunction be found among residents of apartment buildings, the human experience of overcrowding? The answer is yes, but: • The people living in the building with only the view of concrete and asphalt reported higher levels of aggression and violence than the residents of the other building, with its views of trees and grass • Similar differences were reported when residents of both buildings were asked about conflicts with their children Parents living in the building with the concrete view reported using a greater range of psychologically aggressive behaviors How could these results be explained? Were these findings tied to this one particular instance? Similar results were found in a later study conducted in another poor neighborhood, the Ida B Welles low-rise apartment developments Researchers examined two years of police reports from more than 98 of these apartment buildings and found more violent crimes in the buildings with the least amount of vegetation—again the “gray” versus the “green ” Source: Parks and Other Green Environments: Essential Components of a Healthy Human Habitat, by Ming F Kuo, NRPA Research Series, 2010
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 11 Related Initiatives With Potential for Parks The power that parks, open space, and public places have to affect the greater good of the community has been recognized by a number of other community activists as well There are many instances in which local parks have played a role in one or more of these initiatives Some of these initiatives that make particularly viable partners for parks and recreation include: • Community building. The intent and focus of community building are actions that increase the capacity of a neighborhood to identify needed changes, be involved in those changes, and sustain positive revitalization • Placemaking. Associated with the American Planning Association, this approach transforms public squares, parks, streets, and waterfronts as a means of attracting people and revitalizing a previously underutilized community asset • Environmental justice. Environmental justice refers to fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people—regardless of race, ethnicity, income, and national origin—in the development and implementation of environmental laws and policies The first wave of environmental justice focused on locally unwanted, nondesirable, and in some cases harmful uses of land such as landfills—the hazardous waste sites that disproportionately affected minority populations The second wave of environmental justice has shifted its attention to urban design, public health, and access to quality outdoor recreation spaces Such park access in underserved neighborhoods is tied to the Healthy People 2010 goals to increase health over the life span and eliminate health disparities We should recognize both the potential to collaborate on other initiatives and the value these other groups place on the role of parks in vital community outcomes These types of initiatives build on existing assets of park and recreation agencies In the case of placemaking, parks and a number of other public spaces are often the responsibility of public parks Community building relates to many strategies currently used in park and recreation programming opportunities In many instances, public parks and spaces are the only options available to underserved neighborhoods, which makes environmental justice a natural fit with public parks Sources of Information for Related Approaches Numerous sources examine these initiatives and suggest partnering potential for parks and recreation. Consult these Web sites. • The Community Building Initiative at http://www.communitybuildinginitiative.org • The Community Building Resource Exchange at http://www.commbuild.org • American Planning Association (articles, examples, and an outline) at http://www.pps.org/placemaking/articles/placemaker-profiles • The Townscape Institute at http://www.townscape.org/publications.htm • Soul of the Community Research at http://soulofthecommunity.org With respect to environmental justice, there is no specific organization for parks and recreation but some related projects are described at: • http://www.pacinst.org/reports/measuring_what_matters/issues/shoreline.pdf • http://www.ny4p.org/pdfs/planningforparks/Open_Space_Index_Report.pdf • www.uchastings.edu/public-law/docs/ejreport-fourthedition.pdf A Closing Thought The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life. — JANE ADDAMS
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 12 Section 3: Information as Foundation and Springboard The information and insights in this section are intended to: • Establish the significance for securing data and information • Provide examples of elements found within a community profile • Identify existing, widely available sources for such data and information • Provide an example of use of information as part of the planning process Data and Information Drive the Process and Project Two of the more compelling reasons for focusing on information gathering are (1) to ensure that the existing data related to specifics of the neighborhood are assessed as part of the planning process and (2) to secure partnerships and resources to bring the project to fruition Potential partners and funding agencies often requires data and statistics related to factors such as demographics, health behavior, and crime rates After an incident or request, it is easy enough to rush headlong into planning However, with transformational park projects, it is critical to gather information about the issues, the people, and the context before moving forward While this section focuses on information gathering, that is of no greater importance than collecting ideas and input from residents, neighborhoods, and other stakeholders. Both of these actions are critical to designing and bringing to fruition a park project that rejuvenates an area. Three major categories for gathering information associated with project development of this type are: • Community profile: Neighborhood and community data and statistics describing the demographic makeup of a community or neighborhood and established patterns of activity and behavior within that physical location • Issues identification: Analysis of the information and data to determine the issue, problem, or challenge intended to be addressed through this park project • Park assessment: A concise description of the conditions within the park area itself, along with potential opportunities and constraints Community Profile A community profile serves as the framework for the project It provides essential, valuable information for planning as well as securing resources and partners The four most common elements of a community profile are: History • The neighborhood • Parks or projects that already exist
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 13 Demographics • Current neighborhood makeup • Changes over time • Trend projections Key Issues Identification • Health data and trends • Crime data and patterns • Environmental issues • School attendance and success • Economic and employment Assessment of the Park and Neighborhood • Size and condition of the park • Issues or concerns of the neighborhood Issues Identification Analysis of the gathered data helps to determine the major issues within a community This analysis is particularly critical when the park project or renovation has as its intended outcome the rejuvenation of a community Often the data and statistics specific to the neighborhood under study can be compared with similar information and descriptors gathered from nearby neighborhoods or similar communities Data gathered nationwide suggests that neighborhoods and communities across the country are being challenged by a number of social issues, many of them with serious economic implications Some issues have their roots in national statistics related to high school dropout rates, levels of obesity among youth and adults, and the increasing costs of medical care for chronic diseases associated with obesity When national, state, and community data are reviewed in light of local issues around community safety and youth development, a picture of the issues within an area begins to take shape In other words, the identified issues, along with their underlying causes, form the basis for the park project One Park’s History—Discovery Green in Houston Every neighborhood and its parks have a history. By paying attention to these histories, we gain greater understanding of their condition as well as clearer understanding of the opportunities, strengths, constraints, and issues for the neighborhood and its parks. As an example, here is the history and timeline of one urban area and its green space. Discovery Green in Houston is a 12-acre urban park that functions similarly to a city green. The long history of this urban space is enlightening for envisioning its potential for that community. 19th Century The area now known as Discovery Green was high-end residential housing in Houston. 20th Century Residential housing gave way to the construction of a railroad station, which soon attracted industrial operations. The area remained industrial for many decades. 1970s A gas pipeline company, Texas Eastern, acquired 32 downtown blocks in east Houston. It then developed Houston Center, a mixed-use commercial complex with office buildings, a shopping complex, a luxury hotel, and substantial surface parking. The intent was to encourage businesses to relocate to the edge of downtown, but Houston Center struggled in this effort. 1980s The George Brown Convention Center opened in that area in 1987, again hoping to drive business and people to the area. 2000s The city of Houston purchased undeveloped land and green space as part of a legal arrangement not related to the site or the project. A portion of the green space was the Houston Center Gardens, which was owned by the Houston Center. By 2004, Houston Center announced plans to sell the undeveloped property including Houston Center Gardens. Concerned that the green space could be lost to the city forever, some foundations contacted Mayor Bill White in hopes that the land could be preserved as a permanent park. Funding from the Brown Foundation and the Kinder Foundation, coupled with city funds, was used to purchase nearly 12 acres to create this park. Today Both the mayor and the Houston City Council insisted that the public play a large role in the development of this space. The end result was Discovery Green, which serves as a village green for the city of Houston. As a result of this public-private partnership between the city of Houston and the nonprofit Discovery Green Conservancy, Discovery Green welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors and hosted more than 800 public and private events in its first two years of operation. Source: Discovery Green, www.discoverygreen.com
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 14 Community Profile and Issues Identification – Longview, Washington Located on the Columbia River, rural Longview is the largest and most influential city in Washington’s Cowlitz County and serves as a hub for as many as 40 smaller communities. In 2007, Longview had 37,584 residents, and the county had 104,400 residents. Almost 85 percent of residents are Caucasian, 10 percent are Hispanic/Latin, 2 percent are Asian, and 1 percent are of another race. Nearly 9 percent of the households speak a language other than English at home. With a struggling local economy long dependent on mills, two of which have closed in recent years, Longview has a high unemployment rate–nearly 15 percent in 2010. Issue Identification Risk factors for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease are common among county adults. Primary risks are high rates for overweight and obesity (67 percent), insufficient physical activity (37 percent), high cholesterol (30 percent), hypertension (20 percent), and smoking (24 percent, including 28 percent of pregnant women). With an environment affected by air pollution and tobacco smoke, 22 percent of youth are being treated for asthma, one of the highest rates in the state. The overall impacts of chronic health problems on Longview and Cowlitz County are higher healthcare costs and an average life span that is three years less than the state average. Deaths due to chronic disease, as well as accidents and suicides, are also higher in Cowlitz County than state averages. Source: NRPA ACHIEVE Park Assessment A thorough park assessment gives insights not revealed through a review of acreage and other statistics A park assessment answers the question “What are the conditions within the park area itself, along with potential opportunities and constraints?” There are some agencies that perform periodic park assessments as part of their ongoing operations, while other agencies use of assessments as the need arises In either case, there are a number of areas that should be addressed through a park assessment including: • Existing landscape • Conditions of facilities • Access for user groups • Available working utilities • Inventory of specific amenities and conditions of those amenities • Maintenance reports • Police complaints and records, if any Data and statistics about your community are critical They are likely to be requested for annual budget reviews, capital improvement requests, and foundation or grant proposals The good news is not only that such data is available in greater depth than previously but also that most of it can easily be secured through public information sources or via online sites
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 15 Data Available Within Communities Certain department and agencies within a community can be sources for information important to your project These include: • Planning departments. Local, regional, or state agencies can provide historical patterns as well as future projections • School districts Tracking the demographics of specific neighborhoods and communities within districts is critical—for examples, for schools that need to plan ahead to purchase land for additional schools or to renovate buildings In addition, school districts are required to maintain records of student attendance, standardized test results, and graduation rates This information can create a picture of the well-being of young people in various neighborhoods or sections of your community • Economic development agencies These agencies may be publicly operated or overseen by a private group, but either way, they already have community profile information • Health departments. City, county, and state health departments compile data on various chronic diseases, level of obesity, amount of physical activity, and health disparities • Law enforcement agencies. The overall safety of various sections of the community as well as issues related to juvenile behavior can be secured from local or county officials or both Census Data The Census Bureau makes substantial demographic data available at no cost and online, including mapping capability using its TIGER data A community planning department may already have such mapping available Two good starting places for information useful for park plans are available online at www census gov • American Community Survey. This ongoing survey provides updated data between the 10-year census cycles It includes such factors as age, sex, race, family and relationships, benefit, health insurance, education, veteran status, income, disabilities, location of work and commute time, and amount of money directed toward essential expenditures • The American FactFinder. This interactive application supports the Economic Census, the American Community Survey, and the latest Population Estimates Maps reflecting various demographic areas be refined down to ZIP code or street address A Park Assessment Checklist The following checklist may be useful for conducting a future park assessment. Park Specifics • Acreage (total) • Acreage developed • Acreage open • Acreage paved Existing Landscape • Natural to area • Planted/developed • Condition of each type • Features that contribute/detract to development • Landscape and safety features: ways in which the current landscape restricts safety or contributes to perceptions of safety Current Facilities • List the existing facilities of this park. • State the condition of each facility, such as “usable,” “not functioning,” and “could use repairs.” Current Equipment • List the existing equipment of this park (play equipment, picnic tables, and so on). • State the condition of each equipment category, such as “usable,” “not functioning,” and “could use repairs.” User Groups • State the intended user groups of this park when it was developed. • Describe the current user groups of this park. • Describe accessibility for all potential users, such as sidewalks, safety, mass transportation, and proximity to schools or housing. Available Working Utilities • Extent of availability of water, gas, and electricity • Description of current availability, usage, and costs Maintenance Practices • Current maintenance schedule (time and specific activities) • Quarterly maintenance schedule • Annual maintenance recommendations • Maintenance requests from staff • Maintenance requests from user groups • Maintenance requests from neighbors Complaints and Requests • Neighbors • Area businesses • Law enforcement
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 16 Other Sources of Data Other sources of data and information are available from government sources, nonprofit organizations, and even a few private endeavors Most of this data is available to the general public—and most often online Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) It is difficult to summarize the vast amounts of information and data that are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the Web site www.cdc.gov. The data covers health disparities and various health conditions as well as risk behaviors In addition, the site contains position papers that highlight the need for community action in a number of areas including healthy communities, walkability, and physical activity In short, the CDC Web site has an outstanding compilation of information for park projects School Statistics High school graduation rates reflect the overall well-being of a neighborhood, and this information can be secured at http://www edweek org/apps/gmap Editorial Projects in Education is the independent, nonprofit publisher of Education Week and provides reliable data on graduation rates for every school district and high school in the country Crime Statistics The Bureau of Justice Statistics is designated by the federal government to collect, analyze, publish, and disseminate information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of government The focus areas include corrections, violent crimes, gangs, drugs, and crimes http://bjs ojp usdoj gov The Kids Count Data Center This national project of the Annie E Casey Foundation is a prime source of information for specifics on children The data is available on a state basis and the Web site helps an agency not only to obtain community-level data but also to use it to create maps and graphs of findings and then conduct comparisons to other states or communities http://datacenter kidscount org/?gclid=CLOgxP_a66UCFQ915Qod6mSsqQ Comparisons on Health Status The County Health Rankings are a key component of the Mobilizing Action Toward Community Health project MATCH is collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute For this report, researchers pulled together federal and state health-related data on 3,016 U S counties The Web site posts the 50 state reports, ranking each county within each state according to its health outcomes Each county receives a summary ranking for its health outcomes and health factors, as well as for the four different types of health factors included in the MATCH program: health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and the physical environment A researcher can drill down to county-level data (as well as state benchmarks) for the measures on which the rankings are based http://www countyhealthrankings org Measure of America The American Human Development Project, a program of the Social Science Research Council, created the American Human Development Index This index serves as a tool to track progress in communities in important areas such as health, education, and income The Conrad N Hilton Foundation and the Lincy Foundation support the project http://www measureofamerica org/maps Well-Being Index The Gallup–Healthways Well-Being Index is the result of a 25-year partnership agreement between these two companies It combines data related to health leadership and behavioral economics to create a monthly portrait of
Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 17 the well-being of Americans as a whole and for specific states It truly and broadly defines wellness by tracking such categories as life evaluation, emotional and physical health, healthy behaviors, the work environment, and basic access to healthcare Please note that only overall data about the United States can be accessed by the general public http://www well-beingindex com PARKScore and the Trust for Public Land as Resources PARKScore, an online resource funded by a grant from the California Endowment, displays park and other health-related information in the form of interactive maps. These maps can help the agency make the case for increasing park and open space within certain communities. Another resource is the Park Equity and Health Toolkit of the Trust for Public Land. It offers techniques and tools for agencies wishing to address health-related problems by creating, improving, and funding public parks, playgrounds, community gardens, and other settings for physical activity. These resources can be viewed at: http://www.parkscore.org http://www.tpl.org/tier2_kad.cfm?folder_id=3548 Analyzing Information for Planning Information is of limited value without analysis of how it relates to the lives of people who live in a particular neighborhood or area This same information and data has limited value to the planning process and the project, until it is incorporated into a concise set of statements identifying community issues and describing the roles that park development or renovation will play in the future of the neighborhood or community The Catalyst for Neighborhood Parks, which is a joint endeavor of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and the City Parks Foundation, creates a profile for each area or neighborhood before starting on a project It gathers such information as demographics (labeled “context”); assets of the area; challenges for the park revitalization project; and potential strategies for moving the project forward The Catalyst for Neighborhood Parks initiative uses the profile, demographics, and assets of the affected neighborhood to identify challenges and strategies—which is really the overall purpose of gathering data It is interesting to note that within the following profile, the strategies for engaging the most essential partners refer to the people who live and work in the area The following profile was developed for the Astoria/Long Island City neighborhood as part of the Catalyst for Neighborhood Parks Context Population of 147,000 • 48% of local population foreign born, compared to 36% of New York City’s population overall • Several large public housing projects adjacent to waterfront parks Assets • Seven waterfront parks with great views of the East River and Manhattan • 121 acres of lawn, esplanades, and sports amenities
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