December 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 42

PARKS BUILD COMMUNITY
users who live within a 10-minute
walk of the park. Our survey also
provided space for any additional
written comments. All respondents
were over the age of 18.
The survey asked the community
about the duration and frequency of
visits to Catherine Street Park. There
was no difference after the renovation
in the duration, or length,
of visits to the park. However, 100
percent of those surveyed after the
renovation stated they visited the
park at least four times per month,
compared to only 59 percent visiting
this frequently prior to the park
improvements. Renovations are inviting
people to the park more often,
which is the desired result. This is a
positive result, as one of the largest
barriers to park use is simply getting
families to the park in the first place.
What's more, participants reported
they were more likely to visit with
a friend in the park following the
renovation. This may suggest social
encouragement in going to the park
or perhaps even meeting new neighbors
once in the park.
Through the survey, we also asked
about opportunities for adults and
kids to learn or experience something
new and the opportunity to interact
with someone new. The results of
these questions were not statistically
different between 2019 and postrenovation,
though there were
slight improvements. There was a
9 percent increase in the number of
respondents stating the park gave
their child opportunities to learn or
experience something new and a 3
percent increase in the opportunity to
meet, interact and play with someone
new. In total, approximately twothirds
of respondents stated that
these opportunities existed within
Catherine
Street Park, again
supporting the positive benefits of the
play space.
In terms of satisfaction with park
amenities and facilities, 100 percent
of survey respondents reported
satisfaction with the playground
equipment following the updates,
compared to only 63 percent prior to
the installation of new equipment.
The five new pieces of playground
equipment are being enjoyed.
There also was an increase in the
satisfaction with adult supervision in
the park after renovations. We believe
this is related to two improvements.
First, adult fitness equipment placed
next to the playground equipment
allows parents and caretakers to
exercise while their children are
playing on the playground. Second,
the restroom and storage facility
were removed from the middle of
the play space and relocated to the
outer edge, allowing full sightlines
across the playground. During our
visits to Catherine Street Park, we
observed the improved sightlines
in action, especially during cooler
months. We spoke with parents who
stay in their vehicles while their kids
burn off post-school energy on the
playground. The parents remain nice
and warm in the car while the kids
enjoy the park.
There was an increase in the
satisfaction with water
fountains
and restrooms, but this satisfaction
only increased by 5 percent. Three
separate people brought up the
bathrooms being locked or water
fountains not working in their comments.
These amenities not being
open or on has been the case during
each of our own evaluation visits to
the park. It should be noted there
were delays in completing the restroom
facility, then the COVID-19
pandemic. However, the restrooms
remained
unopened
during
May 2022 visit to the park.
Additional areas of needed
improvement highlighted in
42 Parks & Recreation | DECEMBER 2 0 22 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
the survey include shade and
programming. To make room for the
expanded play spaces and basketball
court, two old growth oak trees
were removed from within the park.
There is now one covered picnic
table, but respondents still reported
reduced satisfaction in places to
picnic and relax after the playground
improvements.
Additionally,
eight
our
separate respondents mentioned the
lack of programming and events in
the notes section of the survey. It also
has been mentioned to the evaluation
team anecdotally that the playground
equipment is appreciated and used,
but the neighbors are now hopeful for
the return and expansion of programs
and events in the park space. This
desire is supported by the recent
Community Preventive Services Task
Force recommendation that " park,
trail and greenway infrastructure
improvements be combined
with additional improvements,
such as structured programs to
increase physical activity " (tinyurl.
com/4askxnpn). Again, this is a
noted opportunity for improvement.
The park equipment is nice, new
and well used. But, the other
pieces that make a park successful
- programming, bathrooms,
cleanliness (no change over time) -
have room for improvement.
The final section of the survey focused
on accessing the park. Overall,
there were significant reported
improvements in the condition of
the sidewalks around the park, improvements
in the perception of
safety related to crime, and reduced
concern about vehicular traffic near
the park. The sidewalks were improved
around the entrances to the
park, as well as new fencing near the
play spaces. Again, the redesign of
the park may have removed trees for
shade, but it improved sightlines, especially
near a four-way stop inter
https://www.tinyurl.com/4askxnpn https://www.tinyurl.com/4askxnpn
December 2022 - Parks & Recreation

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