February 2014 - Parks & Recreation - 63

Consultants Share Opinions on How to
Improve PRORAGIS
By Daina Ajayi

ow can we further enrich our user experience to expand the collective
impact of PRORAGIS™? NRPA sought answers to these questions
and others at a meeting held in early January. Industry consultants
recognized for their expertise in the fields of design and planning were invited
to meet with NRPA to discuss increasing user engagement to generate a national dataset, improving the functionality of PRORAGIS and expanding the
developing database's impact.
Representatives included Larry Orman (GreenInfo Network), Barbara
Heller (Heller and Heller Consulting),
Jana McKenzie (Logan Simpson Design), Leon Younger and Neelay Bhatt
(PROS Consulting), Chris Dropinski
(GreenPlay LLC), Ryan Mottau (MIG
Inc.), Jim Carrillo (Halff Associates
Inc.), Greg Manns (Industry Insights),
Brie Hensold (Sasaki), Ron Vine (Leisure Vision) and David Barth (David
L. Barth LLC). Prior to the meeting,
each attendee was invited to evaluate
PRORAGIS, NRPA's online database
that collects, compiles and reports on
park and recreation department operating and geographic information.
Barbara Tulipane, NRPA's president
and CEO, addressed the group, emphasizing the importance of outside input
on increasing user engagement and
expanding the database's impact. Tulipane stated that the input gathered from
the advisory meeting would be used to
refine PRORAGIS. NRPA introduced
four current projects to the attendees
and solicited expert advice on how
these projects could be used to benefit
the department's three main objectives.
Current projects include:
6XUYH\ UHYLVLRQ One streamlined
survey requiring less than two hours
to complete, supported by less frequent, targeted surveys

,PSURYHG *,6 IXQFWLRQDOLW\ Improved Census-layer selection usability with the addition of measurement and search functionality
,QFUHDVHG JUDSKLFDO UHSRUWLQJ RXWSXWV Increased graphical outputs
to improve understanding and user
experience
([SDQGHG (FR%HQHILW FDOFXODWRU
VXLWH New calculator tools to showcase the benefits of parks to communities and developing partnerships to
leverage existing tools
Consultants were asked to identify strategies for each of the meeting's
three key points.
8VHU (QJDJHPHQW Participants
were asked to identify how NRPA can
increase agency participation, strengthen its " value proposition, " add missed
data and use changes to the interface
to drive engagement, in addition to defining its critical mass and definition
of success. Attendees shared opinions
on these topics and pointed directly to
survey revision, increasing ease of use
and providing better examples of how
PRORAGIS can apply to specific situations as likely drivers of future success.
,PSURYLQJ WKH IXQFWLRQDOLW\ RI
3525$*,6 Consultants advised that
NRPA should focus on simplifying
what PRORAGIS does well to improve

the functionality and use of PRORAGIS. An efficient database will assist
agencies in accessing the information
that is needed to help run their agencies
more effectively. Consultants also supported the development efforts for the
Eco-Benefit Calculator tools.
([SDQGLQJ WKH LPSDFW RI 3525$*,6 Discussions for expanding the
impact of PRORAGIS focused on understanding the collective impact of a
national dataset, and effectively using
the data obtained to advance the interests of our members as well as parks
and recreation in general. The panel of
experts advised that collaborating with
other groups to gain additional parks'
operating and GIS data will assist in
building the dataset in a cost-effective
manner, and advised that future cooperation with interested stakeholders could
help drive PRORAGIS success and
benefit the industry as a whole
At the conclusion of the meeting,
consultant input identified areas that
NRPA can pursue to achieve the association's goals. This valuable input will
assist NRPA in its efforts to generate
a national dataset that will benefit the
park and recreation industry.
NRPA is continuously seeking feedback on how PRORAGIS can improve
and better serve the park and recreation
professional. Do you have an idea, or an
experience that can help NRPA evaluate the current system or plan for future
improvements? If so, please take the
time to share your thoughts with us by
emailing proragis@nrpa.org. We look
forward to receiving your feedback!
Daina Ajayi is NRPA's Research Specialist
(dajayi@nrpa.org).

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