10.5.1 – Recreation and Leisure Trends Analysis
Standard: The agency shall assess periodically societal and local recreation and leisure trends and determine how those trends impact existing and projected user populations.
Suggested Evidence of Compliance: Provide trends analysis, describe frequency of updates, and describe linkage to agency goals and objectives.
Narrative:
PRC analyses the needs of its residents, usage of facilities and trends in the parks and recreation community and periodically accesses their impact through it Recreation and Leisure Trends Policy. The Policy outlines the importance of conducting a comprehensive survey every decade that will guide it in decision making and support its goals and objectives.
In 2022, PRC contracted WBA Research to conduct its latest comprehensive Residents Recreation Preferences Survey which presents information on uses of the park system and trends in types of recreational activities.
PRC also uses the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Top Trends in Parks and Recreation in assessing societal trends.
By using these two methods of analyzing trends and needs assessment, underutilized tennis courts were converted to new pickleball courts at Tibbetts Brook Park, and the County’s first full Cricket Pitch now resides on an underutilized ballfield in Croton Point Park. The Recreation Division now holds popular Pickleball Tournaments on the courts which is consistent with their Goal and Objective of “Demonstrate Results: Use Westchester County recent recreation survey. Identify and respond to results covering a wide variety of programming.”
ATV wheelchairs, through the program Trails without Limits, are now available to individuals with physical disabilities who can experience an outdoor hike that they would not otherwise have been able to before. Funded and administered through PRC’s not-for-profit the Westchester Parks Foundation, ATV wheelchairs were noted as an NRPA Top Trend in 2023.
Agency Evidence for Compliance:
10.5.1 – EOC 1 PRC Recreation and Leisure Trends Policy
10.5.1 – EOC 2 PRC Residents Recreation Preferences Survey 2022: Facilities Needed
10.5.1 – EOC 3 NRPA Top Trends in Parks and Recreation 2023 Webpage
Top Trends in Parks and Recreation for 2023 | Feature | Parks & Recreation Magazine | NRPA
10.5.1 – EOC 4 NRPA Top Trends in Parks and Recreation 2024 Webpage
10.5.1 – EOC 5 Pickleball Courts Open at Tibbetts Brooks Park – Facebook
10.5.1 – EOC 6 Pickleball Tournament Flyer
10.5.1 – EOC 7 Cricket Pitch Unveiling Invitation
10.5.1 – EOC 8 Cricket Pitch Opens at Croton Point Park – Media Release
10.5.1 – EOC 9 2024 PRC Goals and Objectives Recreation
10.5.1 – EOC 10 WPF 5 Trails Without Limits Flyer
COMMENT: Need: Describe the linkage of the Trend Analysis that are conducted and their linkage to agency goals and objectives.
RESPONSE:
Goal
- Provide excellent programs and services to meet community needs
Objective
- Using the Westchester County recent recreation survey, identify and respond to survey results covering a wide variety of programming for people of all ages, abilities and interests.
- Develop an annual programs and services plan that is responsive to changing demographics and supports accreditation standards.
Utilizing results from the 2022 Residents Recreation Preferences Survey and the recreation trend breakdown from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), we introduced new annual programming based off the top trends from the NRPA 2023 and 2024. New annual programming and services include: Trails without Limits program, which allows individuals with mobility issues to enjoy our parks and trailways utilizing ATV wheelchairs; installation of a new Cricket Pitch Field and Pickleball tournaments. (Please refer to EOC 3 and 4)
COMMENT: Question: Who reviews the Annual NRPA Trend Report? How are the results shared with staff? How is the info used?
RESPONSE: The NRPA Trend Report is reviewed by senior management. The results are shared to staff via email, management meetings, and mid-level management meetings. The info is used to meet the needs of our patrons throughout the County.
COMMENT: Question: The Needs Assessment is done every 10 years. How is the info shared with staff and if it is only done every 10 years, do trends change during that time? How is that identified and shared?
RESPONSE: Westchester County Resident Survey (Needs Assessment) is deployed every 10 years and the info is shared with staff via emails, senior management meetings, and mid-level management meetings. Trends do change in the timeframe between surveys and PRC’s after program reports and other feedback received from customers allows the department to identify changes. These changes are then shared with staff via emails, senior management meetings, and mid-level management meetings and a course of action to meet new needs can then be determined.