Los Angeles
Recreation
and Parks
Citywide Parks Needs Assessment
Community Input -
The Foundation of LA Recreation and Parks
The first steps to identifying the current and future needs for parks and recreation in LA is to conduct a comprehensive program to gather input from community leaders, stakeholders, users and the general public regarding the future of the LA Recreation and Parks system. This information will be evaluated and disseminated to help gain consensus on key strategies. This process is broad, gathering both qualitative and quantitative information from which strategies will be developed. Specific tasks include:
Preparation of stakeholders database to manage communications process
Project website and communications to disseminate information
Key Leadership Interviews - one on one interviews with
Focus Groups with stakeholders, community leaders, user and special interest groups and geographically focused organizations
Fifteen (15) Community Workshops/Public Forums conducted across the City
Statistically Valid Citywide Mail Survey to gather quantified data
Community Values Model™ Development to translate the community input into a framework for establishing a vision, mission and strategic objectives for the recreation and park system
FOCUS GROUPS
A total of twenty-four (24) Focus Groups were held to identify visions, values, and key issues relating to the Needs Assessment Project and to provide insight into facility and program needs. Focus Groups were both geographic in nature and specific to an area of expertise relating to the Needs Assessment Project. The purpose of the Focus Groups was to bring together similar groups to explore common goals.
By Topic/Expertise
CD Key Staff - Higher Education - Neighboring Cities - At Risk - Seniors - Youth (Day-long youth event – over 300 youth completed the survey) - Arts, Park Committee - Youth Outreach (2) - Health Related - Park Friends (2) - LAUSD - Business/Professional - Cultural/Philanthropic - LA Chamber
By Geography
Boyle Heights (2) - Pico Union/Westlake - Harbor/Harbor Gateway - Hollywood - Sylmar
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS/PUBLIC FORUMS
A total of twenty-three (23) Needs Assessment Community Workshops acted as a forum for community input and provide information on the Needs Assessment Project to the community. The Workshops brought together local individuals, groups, and organizations to help identify visions, values and key issues of each community. The Workshops provided insight into facility and program needs, operational issues, and opportunities of each community.
By Council District
CD 1: Lincoln Park - CD 2: Studio City - CD 3: Woodland Hills - CD 4: Friendship Auditorium - CD 5: Westwood - CD 6: Sun Valley - CD 7: Ritchie Valens - CD 8: EPICC - CD 9: Ross Snyder - CD 10: Rancho Cienega - CD 11: Stoner RC - CD 12: Mason Park - CD 13: Glassell Park - CD 14: Ramona Hall - CD 15: Peck Park
By Geographic Location
Downtown - Mid-City - Koreatown - Watts - Wilmington - Westchester - Granada Hills - Sunland
MAILED SURVEY
Based upon input from the key person interviews, focus groups and community workshops, a citizen survey was designed to provide quantitative research of park needs in Los Angeles.
The survey was randomly distributed to households in Los Angeles in proportion to population within each of the seven (7) planning areas of the city.
The survey was five (5) pages in length, with 23 questions, many with multiple components.
A minimum of 2,800 completed surveys in Los Angeles were to be collected, including regional breakdowns of results for seven (7) planning areas within the City. 2,925 surveys received.
The overall results of the 2,800 households (approximately 400 completed within each of the 7 planning areas) will have a 95% level of confidence with a margin of error of +/-5.8%. 2,925 surveys has 95% level of confidence with a precision level of at least +/- 1.8%
The survey was distributed in both English and in Spanish.
INFRASTRUCTURE EVALUATIONS
The Department conducted an assessment of all major facilities/amenities in its inventory. Data was forwarded to the Consultant Team for evaluation.
Each major amenity was scored on a scale of 1-5
Evaluations included condition of park, sport fields, play areas, buildings, restrooms, special features, etc.
Data can be used to prioritize Capital Improvement Projects in the future.
PROGRAM EVALUATIONS
Information was collected by Department Staff on a representative sampling of core programs and forwarded to the Consultant Team for evaluation.
Evaluated programs included: youth programs, senior programs childcare programs, aquatic programs, CLASS programs, and adult sports league programs.
Program evaluations were completed by each region and represent programs throughout the City.
Results of Program Evaluations may be used to identify key issues and suggest areas of modifications.
PARK TOUR
The Team toured a representative sampling of recreation and parks system over a one day period. This tour was performed with members of the Departments Planning, O&M and Program Staff. The team toured the system and made general observations of park facilities/programs.