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PARKS, RECREATION & COMMUNITY SERVICES NEEDS ASSESSMENT | 39 <br />NEEDS <br />EMERGING TRENDS BENCH MARKS COMMUNITY OPINION <br />The population is estimated to increase by 13,405 <br />residents by 2035. The City will need to add 60.05 <br />acres of parkland by 2035 to reach the Quimby <br />standard of 3 acres per 1,000 residents. <br />The Quimby standard <br />calls for 3 acres of <br />parkland per 1,000 <br />residents. <br />Interview and focus group participants indicated a <br />desire for new parks. <br />The growing presence of very-low-, low-, and <br />moderate-income households suggests a need for <br />free and low-cost recreation services and services <br />that contribute to health and wellness. <br />The National Recreation <br />and Park Association, <br />Trust for Public Land, <br />and Urban Land Institute <br />recommend ensuring <br />there is a park within a <br />10-minute walk of every <br />residence. <br />Many interview and focus group participants <br />considered parks and recreation services to be <br />very aff ordable, especially given the increasing <br />cost of living in the region. Some noted that many <br />community members would benefi t from having <br />more free recreation opportunities. <br />N/A N/A The Department’s essential services represent the <br />community’s priorities for park and recreation <br />improvements identifi ed in this Needs Assessment. <br />Research has connected neighborhood park <br />amenities with an increase in physical activity. <br />Walking loops increase overall usage by 80%, <br />senior activity by 100%, and higher levels of <br />exercise by 90%. Every play element added to a <br />playground increases its use by 50%. Cities are <br />no longer limiting play to large neighborhood <br />and community parks; new approaches to park <br />design layer many uses in small areas. Adding play <br />elements, social seating, art, and activities with <br />small footprints can activate its under-used mini <br />parks. <br />Interview and focus group participants identifi ed <br />a need for additional amenities at existing parks, <br />including but not limited to more spaces for bounce <br />houses and secure bicycle parking in popular <br />locations. <br />Participants across all three research activities <br />noted that the popularity of certain activities such <br />as the spaces for bounce house make reserving and <br />accessing these amenities diffi cult. <br />Cities are getting more out of their parks and <br />public spaces by providing programming and <br />off ering mobile recreation programs. Especially in <br />land constricted urban areas or areas with limited <br />resources, bringing programming to existing parks, <br />plazas and streets can help serve growing and <br />diversifying communities. <br />Participants across all three primary research <br />activities expressed a desire for programming <br />located in neighborhood parks. Interview and focus <br />group participants explained that programming in <br />neighborhood parks would help people to stay active <br />and connect with their neighbors. Interview and <br />focus group participants also emphasized the need <br />for senior programming in neighborhood parks, as <br />many seniors are limited by transportation and would <br />benefi t from activities held closer to home. <br />7.A. - Page 57 of 66 <br />169