2023 NRPA Agency Performance Review | 29 • Park and Recreation Agency-Foundation Relationships: Partnering for the Future Report: This study shares evidence-based best practices that optimize agency-foundation relationships and detailed snapshots of the benefits and challenges between these relationships. • Data and Mapping Resource Library: A wealth of more than 30 free data and mapping resources are available to assist your agency in broadening its impact on the community and operate more efficiently. The Data and Mapping Resource Library offers a collection of relevant, publicly available databases and visualizations curated for park and recreation professionals and advocates. • Evaluation Resource Hub: The NRPA Research team has created several tools that help park and recreation professionals collect and use data to identify new opportunities for amenities and services and pinpoint areas for improvement. The hub includes: o Health Impact Evaluation Framework: This framework helps local park and recreation agencies better measure the impact of their health and wellness programs and initiatives, by connecting agencies to a multitude of existing evaluation tools, data sources, data analysis, data collection tools and other resources. o Green Infrastructure Evaluation Framework: This resource helps local governments and park advocates measure the many benefits of green infrastructure in parks. Follow the framework’s three simple steps — define benefits and measures, collect data and use data — to improve green infrastructure projects and share the message about project benefits. o Customer Feedback Surveys: Obtaining customer feedback is challenging for many park and recreation agencies, especially those with resource constraints. This guide outlines fundamental principles of conducting effective customer satisfaction surveys, focusing on acting on the results while keeping your agency’s time, money, staffing and current survey skills in mind. o Community Needs Assessments: This resource guides park and recreation professionals through the entire community needs assessment lifecycle — from deciding clear goals to eliciting a high response rate from your community. Most importantly, it demonstrates how to use the survey data to strengthen your agency in both the short and long term. • Parks and Recreation Is Essential: A collection of five statements with supporting research that showcases the fundamental role of parks and recreation: o Parks and recreation promotes health and wellness. o Parks and recreation drives economic opportunity. o Parks and recreation’s programming and education activities are critical to childhood development. o Parks and recreation is everywhere, uniting people and strengthening communities. o Parks and recreation is essential and adaptable infrastructure that makes our communities resilient in the face of natural disasters and climate change. A child sleds during a snow day at Tilden Woods Local Park in Montgomery County, Maryland. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARILYN SKLAR, MONTGOMERY PARKS, MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION
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