Monday, September 21, 2015
Paved Trails Most Important Park Facility
On September 9, 2015, the Fairfax County Park Authority released its Needs Assessment Results. The countywide, statistically valid sample shows that walking and bicycle trails are the most important park facility.
Respondents were asked "Park, Play Areas, Gardens, Trails, Equestrian, Nature or Historic
Parks or Facilities that are MOST IMPORTANT to Households." Paved walking/biking trails were ranked the highest of any other possible options, above "Large regional parks, Small community parks, and Unpaved walking/biking trails, etc."
The Assessment is important as it will guide future spending decisions within parks. When respondents were asked which facilities they were "Willing to fund with county tax dollars," "Expand/renovate walking/biking trails" ranked highest. Trails were also the facilities that were used the most by respondents, and they ranked the highest in unmet needs.
According to the Park Authority, the Needs Assessment will be used to:
- Create a long term capital improvement plan for renovations, new facilities and land acquisition
- Guide capital funding allocation to County park resources that meet community needs
To learn more about this effort, visit the Parks Count! website. "Early 2016 we will invite you to a second public forum to share the study findings and recommendations to the Park Authority Board for their consideration. From then on through the next several years, we'll use the findings to guide investments in parks, facilities and services that count to our community."
Labels: park authority needs assessment
Comments:
We received the following info from one of our readers: "Starting on page 55 is the Working Draft of Park Bond Politics. Trail improvements are scheduled to get only 5% of the bond funds."
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