Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / 33ft
Park and recreation providers are tasked with answering tough questions every day. How are we doing? How can we do better? Important resources, such as trails, playgrounds, and shelters, are critical to quality of life for users, yet no nationally accepted standards exist to evaluate these or other important assets. There are ways, however, to shed light on the level of service provided by a recreation system using GIS (Geographic Information System) technology.
Let’s consider sports fields. How might an agency determine the number of athletic fields it should provide? Are there enough fields currently available? Are they adequate? Are they properly distributed? Whom do they serve? Where are new fields needed?
GIS applications are used to create a digital model of the real world. This powerful technology is utilized in a wide range of industries to answer real-world questions, and can be a valuable analysis and planning tool for park and recreation professionals. GIS analysis provides more robust evidence for action than traditional master-planning techniques, and yields decisions based on customizable factors specific to an agency or community. It can identify gaps and allow service providers to prioritize improvements based on data.