8 | 2024 National Recreation and Park Association PARK FACILITIES To support the various needs, interests and lifestyles of community members, park and recreation agencies must offer a wide range of outdoor and indoor facilities. These facilities provide for programming, activities and other recreational events and serve as vital hubs for health and wellness. The typical park and recreation agency has one park for every 2,386 residents. In heavily populated jurisdictions, a single park may serve many thousands of residents. For jurisdictions with populations fewer than 20,000 people, 1,172 people are served per park. This number increases for populations of 50,000 to 99,000 people, with one park for every 2,346 people. For those jurisdictions with populations of more than 250,000 people, there are 6,120 people for every park. The typical park and recreation agency manages 10.6 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents in its area. “ParkChildren and families play outside during a community event in Asheville, North Carolina. PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHEVILLE (NORTH CAROLINA) PARKS AND RECREATION FIGURE 1: NUMBER OF RESIDENTS PER PARK (BY JURISDICTION POPULATION) All Agencies Less Than 20,000 20,000 to 49,999 50,000 to 99,999 100,000 to 250,000 More Than 250,000 All Agencies Less Than 20,000 20,000 to 49,999 50,000 to 99,999 100,000 to 250,000 More Than 250,000 Median 2,386 1,172 2,062 2,346 3,344 6,120 Lower Quartile 1,333 659 1,233 1,489 2,173 3,274 Upper Quartile 5,000 1,944 3,000 4,048 7,039 18,586 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 RESIDENTS PER PARK
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