The Importance of Unique Park and Recreation Standards

Park types, facilities standards, and location criteria help park districts, cities and villages with park planning, land acquisition, and capital improvement planning. Establishing local standards establishes a “baseline” for development of a parks and recreation system while at the same time sets expectations for residents, user groups and athletic organizations. For decades, the agreed upon standards for park and recreation facilities have been those recommended by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), but these standards are 50 years old and there is no anytown USA. Unfortunately the new recommended approach for creating unique standards is expensive, cumbersome and intimidating. We suggest a community should take a blended approach and use the NRPA standards as a starting point, with tweaks and modifications to fit local conditions, organizational goals and resident aspirations.

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