“recreation” Archives
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City’s Park and Recreation Master Plan On-line Survey
Press Release Dec 9 2009The consulting firm that is developing the City’s Park and Recreation Master Plan created an on-line survey for area residents to complete.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. There is a text link near the bottom of the website page that will direct you to the survey.
http://www.communityredesigned.com/norfolkparks/index.html
There is a specific survey question that asks whether you support the NorthFork Riverwalk Development Project (Strongly Agree, Agree, No Opinion, Disagree, Strongly Disagree). We would appreciate your Strongly Agree vote. :-))
Here are a couple interesting references you might think about during this holiday season.
1. Imagine transforming Johnson Park using public art and nature http://tinyurl.com/PublicArtinPark http://tinyurl.com/IslandGarden
2. Improve the accessibility, quality, and quantity of play and play spaces for children http://tinyurl.com/PlayMatters
3. Expansion of trails in existing park generating lots of dialogue on the pros and cons http://tinyurl.com/ParkTrails
4. Trend--Cities closing recreation facilities that traditional lose money. http://tinyurl.com/RecreationDrainingBudgets
5. How can we encourage innovation on a local level? What is your idea? An Innovation Agenda - http://bit.ly/4IEKGf
6. Annual Board Meeting Slide Presentation http://www.visioning2026.com/NorthFork/2009AnnualBoardMtg.pdf
7. Weak signal on economic development and "new workforce" http://bit.ly/1ETRlo
8. Recreation is more than a field of dreams, facilities+hosting tournaments= economic development http://tinyurl.com/FieldsofDreams
9. Joining Forces, Community effort matches uses to needs http://tinyurl.com/JoiningForces
10. Helping students to ask good questions http://tinyurl.com/PowerofWhy -
Visioning Session Slide Presentation
Press Release Apr 19 2009
From Visioning Sessions NorthFork Riverwalk Development project completed two 3 hour visioning sessions that include 88 people in attendance on April 16, 2009.
HDR Engineering Inc. presented a NorthFork Riverwalk information slide presentation (9.7 MB PDF file) to help kick-off the session and what has been doneup up to this point. The presenetation included the results from the,
- Interview Sessions that were held February 9th and 10th were over 60 individuals being interviewed,
- Economic analysis of the current trends and possible development opportunities, and
- Case studies of other communities and how their redevelopment activities relate to the NorthFork project.
The visioning session participant then completed a Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) Analysis which was a community driven collection of ideas followed by a community consensous on the ideas presented through a voting process. The results were shared with the participants which will be included in a report.
The final step of the Visioning Sessions was a Geomapping Exercise were participants were able to annotate and existing map of the study area with possible redevelopment activities.
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threat (SWOT) Analysis is a good method to collect community input in small groups and then build consensus between the different participants. Each group had 4 sheets of butcher paper that they included ideas on the 4 different areas relative to the project. Each group shared with the facilitator those ideas which were consolidated. Then the individuals where given 4 sets of color dots (3 each) to correspond to the 4 areas and then asked to vote on the idea they felt was the most important. An individual could put on three dots on one ideas if they felt strongly about it.
A photo album is posted at the Picasa NorthFork Riverwalk website.
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Interview Session Summary Report
Press Release Mar 26 2009The following Interview Session Summary Report was compiled by HDR Engineering Inc. staff members, released March 26, 2009.
On February 23rd and 24th, the North Fork Development Project hosted a series of small group interviews to identify opportunities for development along the north branch of the Elkhorn River through the City of Norfolk. Interview participants represented a cross section of the Norfolk community, including business and property owners, artists, teenagers, young professionals, tourism representatives, educators and interested community members. Each group responded to the same questions about the river and the future of Norfolk. Responses varied from group to group, but over the two days, several common themes emerged.
All respondents considered the river an underused asset. Primary users of the river were difficult to identify. Most commonly cited uses included children fishing and the Relay for Life duck race. It was generally believed that most people in Norfolk were unfamiliar with the stretch of river that runs through town, or if they were familiar with the river, they were unsure if the river could/should be used. Many participants felt that the river could become the signature or post card image for Norfolk. Ultimately, the development project should be more than just a landmark. It should also improve the overall quality of life in Norfolk to benefit everyone in the city, help attract and retain jobs, and make Norfolk a regional destination for visitors.
In order to be successful, interviewees suggested that the North Fork Development Project should build upon Norfolk’s genuine, hometown qualities and should strive to become a relaxed, friendly environment for families. Uses for the riverfront should focus on:
- Active and passive recreation – Walking/biking paths, picnic areas, play fields, natural open space, etc.
- Arts – Public art display opportunities, sculpture gardens, and arts-based activities
- Amphitheater – A venue for live performances such as the Comedy Festival acts or concerts
- Education – Science, environmental, and horticultural learning opportunities for students of all ages, school age to life-long learners
- Unique dining and shopping– Boutique or specialty dining and retail not found in other places in Norfolk, particularly independently owned businesses
- Housing – Nontraditional housing styles for Norfolk including rental properties for long-term professional placements and condominium or townhouses for purchase by young professionals, young families and empty nesters
- Civic building – City and county administrative offices
- Event and programming opportunities - Coordination and management of events was seen as particularly important as several events that had been held in the past had been scaled back or discontinued.
Engaging all ages in the community, from youth to senior, is critical for the North Fork Development Project. Also important for the success of the project are small, but highly visible projects that can be implemented quickly and inexpensively in order to build momentum and interest for larger, long-term investments. In the past, participants noted that the City has not been perceived as entrepreneurial or open to new ideas. All hoped the riverwalk development project would be a partnership building process for the City, local businesses, schools and community organizations.
http://picasaweb.google.com/NorthForkRiverwalk/InterviewSessionSummaryReport#
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Impacts of Trails and Trail Use
Press Release Feb 23 2009This website has a comprehensive list of research material on the impacts of trails and their use.
Studies of the impacts of trails and greenways, surveys of outdoor recreation activities, and research on adjacent landowner concerns and property values.
http://www.americantrails.org/resources/adjacent/index.html
Economic Impact of Trails
Business on the trails, economic impact studies, economic benefits, trails and tourism, valuing trails, and other ways that outdoor recreation and greenways contribute to the economy and livability of communities
http://www.americantrails.org/resources/economics/index.html
This particular slide presentation does a nice job of summarizing the data (rail to trail) on several surveys concerning Crime, Property Values, Trail Opposition, & Liability Issues.
http://atfiles.org/files/pdf/CrimeOppLiability.pdf
Here are a couple articles on surveys related to Nebraska. The Omaha survey included the following conclusions.
Omaha Recreational Trails: Their Effect on Property Values and Public Safety, Study completed 2001 by Project Director Donald L. Greer, Ph.D., of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Recreation and Leisure Studies Program.
- The Omaha recreational trails are used often by nearby residents. Over half (58.4%) of the responding used the trails daily or weekly.
- Omaha trails are generally perceived by nearby residents as an economic benefit. Almost two-thirds of those surveyed felt the trails would increase the selling price of their home.
- Property owners do not appear to have a widespread concern for their safety. Trespassing, theft and vandalism by trail users were relatively infrequent events.
- Very few residents in the sample had increased home security, considered moving or wanted the trail closed.
- Residents living along the trails appear to perceive there to be a positive relationship between the trails and neighborhood quality of life (75%).
- There are noticeable differences between trails (or neighborhoods) in residents' reaction to Omaha trails. All neighborhoods reacted positively to the trails, but the responses were higher among residents living near the West Papio Trail.
http://www.americantrails.org/resources/adjacent/OmahaStudy.html
http://www.americantrails.org/resources/adjacent/NebRuralTrStudy.html
Here’s an excerpt from one study that I found interesting.
In 1997 the Schenectady County Department of Planning surveyed property owners adjacent to the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail. The goal was to look for better documentation of possible impacts of the trail on adjoining neighbors as well as the larger community. The trail sees about 350,000 trail user trips a year.
Survey questionnaires were mailed to all 315 residential property owners immediately adjacent to the off-street portions of the trail route. Responses totalled 215, or 68%, of the owners. Most homes are located between 100 and 200 feet from the trail. Use of the trail is 44% bicycling, 31% walking, 18% running, and 7% in-line skating.
Overall, landowners feel that the trail has no effect on, or has improved their ability to sell their homes. Similarly, most feel the trail has no effect on, or has actually increased the value of their property.
Overall, respondents also reported that living near the trail is somewhat better than they had expected it to be and the quality of their neighborhood was improved modestly. The benefits considered most important by landowners were safe opportunities for recreation, health, and fitness pursuits. In fact, 40% of adjoining households used the trail daily or frequently. Only 14% never use the trail.
Landowners also overwhelmingly reported that development and management of trails such as the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail is a good use of public funds.
