Table of Contents >
   Part G. Implementing Promising Community Interventions
      Chapter 26. Changing the Physical and Social Environment >
         Section 6. Improving Parks and Other Community Facilities >
             Tools & Checklists - A checklist that summarizes the major points contained in the section. >

Improving Parks and Other Community Facilities
  

Tools & Checklists

  

What do we mean by improving parks and other community facilities?

__ A community facility is a physical feature provided – either by the municipality as a public service, or by a private entity – in the community for the benefit of community members.

__ Improving community facilities comes down to determining what the community needs and wants, and working to provide those facilities that will enhance the quality of life – socially, intellectually, culturally, economically, politically, and psychologically – for everyone.

__ Examples of community facilities include:

  • Parks.
  • Libraries. 
  • Theaters, both stage and cinema.
  • Museums.
  • Auditoriums and concert venues.
  • Hospitals and other health providers, both public and private.
  • Educational facilities (schools, colleges, etc.)
  • Churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious entities.
  • Local, state, and federal government offices meant to serve the public.
  • Public and other sports and recreation facilities. 
  • Recycling facilities.
  • Community gardens.
  • Community art centers.
  • Child care facilities.
  • Playgrounds.
  • Transportation.

Why improve parks and other community facilities?

__ Good facilities contribute to the general quality of life in the community.

__ Good facilities provide exposure to and opportunities for a wide variety of intellectual, cultural, and physical activities.

__ Good facilities can instill a sense of ownership and community pride in residents.

__ Good facilities can provide services that help everyone.

__ Good facilities can help prevent crime and other dangerous behavior.                       

__ Good facilities can increase the level of fairness and equity in a community.

__ Good facilities can help to attract new residents.

__ Good facilities can improve the economic climate and prospects of the community, by attracting business and tourism.

__ Good facilities can make the community more attractive physically.

__ Good facilities can provide gathering places that improve the social character of community life.

When should you try to improve parks and other community facilities?

__ When there is a community need and facilities are simply lacking.

__ When facilities are in bad shape or inadequate.

__ When there’s a community development initiative under way.

__ When there’s money available – from grants or private sources – that can be used for it.

__ When the community, or at least a group of residents, is ready to take on the task.

__ When there’s a possibility of acquiring a piece of land or a building for community use.

__ When a major development is in the planning or early execution stage.                     

__ When there’s a possibility of historic preservation.

Who should be involved in improving parks and other community facilities?

__ Improving parks and other community facilities should be a participatory process, involving as many stakeholder groups as possible.  Stakeholders include:

__ Potential users of the facility.

__ Community leaders.

__ Public officials.

__ Architects, designers, engineers, developers, and planners.

__ Community based organizations. 

__ Community foundations. 

__ Community activists.

How do you improve parks and other community facilities?

__ Assess community assets and needs.

__ Assemble a participatory planning team representing the interests of all stakeholders.

__ Design the best facility possible, according to the results of your assessment and planning, the available resources, and the guidelines for creating a good community facility.

__ Guidelines for good community facilities:

  • Facilities should meet the needs of the community.
  • Facilities should involve the community in all aspects of their planning and development.
  • Facilities should take advantage of the assets and culture of the community.
  • Facilities should be designed to be as beautiful, exciting, and functional as they can be, rather than merely adequate, regardless of the resources available.
  • Facilities should be accessible and welcoming.
  • Facilities should be healthy and safe.
  • Facilities should be clean and well maintained.
  • Facilities should be marketed to potential users.
  • Facilities should be as flexible as possible.
  • Facilities should be sustainable over time.
  • Facilities should be well managed.
  • Facilities should seek to benefit the community in as many ways as possible.
  • Facilities should have a mechanism for regular monitoring and evaluation, and a mechanism to act on their results.

__ Assess and work to obtain potential resources.

__ Do what you can with the resources you have.

__ Collaborate with other organizations, local government, etc.

__ Enlist help from the media.

__ Advocate with policymakers, legislators, and the public.

__ Keep at it indefinitely.