Office of Recreation and Park Resources

As part of a team led by Williams Architects, we conducted resident focus groups, developed and administered an indoor recreation space needs assessment survey, and participated in public input open house events. The resident survey, which included a series of open and closed-ended questions, assessed indoor recreation space needs, preferences, use of existing facilities, and willingness to pay for a potential future new multi-purpose activity center. In addition, residents rated the condition, cleanliness and upkeep of current indoor recreation facilities, the overall performance and value of the Park District, and they reported constraints to indoor recreation facility use and other agencies they utilize for recreation, fitness and health activities. 

As a result of our work and the overall indoor recreation facility needs assessment, Naperville is pursuing several capital projects for potential development, such as an aquatic facility and a multi-purpose recreation center.  

We worked with the Jackson County (Illinois) Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee to assess existing outdoor recreation sites (both public and private) in the county and examine resident and stakeholder values and opinions regarding outdoor recreation participation, planning for outdoor recreation and ecotourism, and determine preferences for prioritizing outdoor recreation sites for maintenance and development. Surveys, interviews, and focus groups with various stakeholder groups (e.g., local officials, residents, special interest groups) were conducted  key to understanding opinions, values, behaviors and preferences for outdoor recreation in Jackson County. We also designed infographics used to communicate key results and takeaways to residents and stakeholders.  

The results from this project informed a strategic plan for outdoor recreation sites in the county for the purposes of resident use, economic development, and outdoor recreation planning and marketing to current and future visitors. This project ensured residents and stakeholders have a voice in planning and assured residents’ needs and preferences are considered in the planning process. 

After the City of Iowa City completed a comprehensive parks and recreation master plan, they initiated a plan to rebuild City Park Pool, an outdoor pool that is cherished by the community and located in one of Iowa City’s most beautiful parks. Thus, we partnered with Williams Architects on a community-wide survey to assess preferences for one of three pool designs and facility amenities (e.g., locker room designs), and examine user activities and program needs and preferences.  

Results were key to informing the three outdoor pool designs and ensuring residents had a voice in the pool design and planning process. Iowa City is on the path to building their new City Park Pool.  

ORPR partnered with four municipal agencies (i.e., Village of Crete, Crete Park District, Crete Public Library District, and Crete Township) on a planning process that included:  

• Stakeholder Focus Groups with each municipal organization. 
• Planning Workshops with the four municipal agencies to identify community strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges/threats (i.e., SWOT analysis), shared values, goals, and community priorities (i.e., communication among the agencies, community livability and quality of life, facility engagement, and community connectivity and mobility).
• Communitywide Survey development and implementation that assessed:  
  • Community needs and assessment for recreation, enrichment, and educational programs and services that could be offered by the library, township, park district, village and school district.
  • The frequency of use of Crete park district parks, facilities, programs and services.
  • Participation in the library, township, park district, village and school district enrichment/educational programs, senior programs and other events.  
  • Satisfaction with programs, events, and services offered by the park district, township, library, village and township facilities and parks.  
  • Opinions about the condition of park district, library, and township facilities and parks.  
  • Areas that need improvement (i.e., facilities, parks, programs, services) within the park district, township, library and school district. 
  • Determine residents’ opinions regarding future capital projects that may be needed to meet the community’s needs for parks, recreation, education, and enrichment.
  • Where residents go for recreation and leisure programs and services in the area (i.e., assess likely competitors for residents’ leisure/recreation time and discretionary income). 
  • New programs and services needed and preferences.  

Results from this planning process resulted in each organization adding facilities (e.g., community garden, community center), initiatives to improve community connectivity and mobility (e.g., multi-use trails), and enhancing programs and services.  

Graduate Student Research: Aaron Hoyle-Katz also conducted research on stakeholder engaged trail development for his master’s thesis, thereby giving Crete evidence-informed insights and information for trail planning and development.  

ACAP is a nonprofit organization that provides adult children who are caring for aging parents with “resources, information, and support for parents and themselves” (ACAP, n.d. https://acapcommunity.org/) 

Program Module Development:  We developed a program module with evidence-based information and resources titled: “Reducing Loneliness and Isolation through Valued Recreation and Leisure Activities.” Participant learning objectives include:  

1. The challenges older adults face that can lead to loneliness and social isolation.
2. The relationship between social engagement, health and well-being, and thus the importance of keeping your loved ones socially engaged.
3. The signs & symptoms of loneliness and social isolation, and the context of their isolation (situational vs. structural).  

Resources to prevent and/or alleviate loneliness and/or social isolation among older adults were shared, including how to find community programs, events and resources both in one’s community and online to keep loved ones socially engaged as they age.  

• Ryan McGrath, Life Enrichment Manager, Givens Estates (Continuing Care Retirement Community), Asheville, North Carolina 
• Mitchell Fransen, Park Planner, Champaign Park District 
• Ryan Hancock, Planner, National Park Service, Colorado 
• Jarrod Scheunemann, Assistant Director, Champaign Park District 
• Tina Park, 3^rd Grade Teacher, Naperville Community Unit School District 203 
• Dr. Nathan Schaumleffel, Proprietor & Senior Consultant, Driven Strategic and Associate Professor of Political Science (i.e., Public Lands and Recreation Program and Director, Non-profit Leadership Alliance Certificate Program), Indiana State University 
• Daniel Andress, Senior Global Forwarding Agent, C.H. Robinson 
• Pamela Hernandez, Communications Specialist. United Way of Utah County 
• Dr. Liyuan Guo, Associate Professor and Visiting Scholar from Shanghai Normal University at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
• Dr. Katherine Broughton, Associate Professor Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration, Western Illinois University 
• Dr. Megan Owens, Assistant Professor, Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration, Western Illinois University 
• James McCombs, SNAP-Ed Educator, University of Illinois Extension, Cook County 
• Kim Dixon Chmielewski,  Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | Las Vegas, NV & Honolulu, HI 2020 – Present National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program (NEDCTP)   
• Andrew Kerins, Assistant Professor  
• Dr. Wonjin Jeong, Assistant Professor, University of Missouri School of Natural Resources 
• Dr. Jaesung An, Assistant Professor, Department of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism, California State University East Bay 
• Dr. Chungsup Lee, Associate Professor, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, California State University Long Beach 
• Dr. Damien Cavanaugh, Assistant Professor, Department of Recreation, Tourism and Therapeutic Recreation, Winona State University 
• Dr. Kerri Schiller, Experienced Teacher, Trainer and Health and Wellness Coach 
• Dr. Milae Lee 
• Dr. Jeff Farr, Assistant Professor of Sport Management, University of Alabama