July 2015 - Parks & Recreation - 57

The (Enhanced) Power
of PRORAGIS 2.0
By David Kurtz

arlier this year, NRPA announced that the park and recreation field
could expect some changes to PRORAGIS in the future. Well, we
are happy to announce that the future is now. Using the feedback we
received from PRORAGIS users, NRPA has spent the last several
months assessing and redesigning the system, and we are now able to introduce
PRORAGIS 2.0. But the big question is: What does this mean for your agency?
NRPA developed PRORAGIS to
serve as the preeminent database for
park and recreation agency operational
information from which industry professionals would have access to tools to
improve their organizations' efficiency.
With PRORAGIS 2.0, our original
intent to provide a comprehensive database has not changed, but our implementation of the evaluative tools has
evolved based on agencies' needs.
For agencies that currently have a
PRORAGIS profile, one of the changes is a shift in the type of information
that is collected through the database. Probably the most noticeable
change to the original legacy version

is the use of a uniform survey, rather than two separate forms for small
and large agencies. The transition to
a single form for agencies of all sizes
and types allows a more streamlined,
user-friendly, data input experience.
Another important upgrade found in
PRORAGIS 2.0 is the functionality of
the reporting tools. From the feedback
we received, it was clear you desired a
resource that would increase your performance-management capabilities. In
response, we redesigned the survey so
that it has a more focused approach,
specific to the functions (such as programs and facilities offered) of your
agency. For example, agencies that

Table 1

Lower
Quartile

Median

Upper
Quartile

Average

Acres of Parks per 1,000
Residents

4.9

8.5

15.9

119.3

Number of residents per park

1,411

2,405

4,128

53,848

Number of acres per park

11.5

21.5

47.3

75.2

Park operating costs per park

$45,014

$63,831

$122,727

$148,574

Park operating costs per acre

$2,271

$3,226

$7,792

$5,009

Park operating costs per FTE

$63,218

$96,567

$123,392

$160,497

Acres per staff FTE

13.1

31.3

53.4

42.1

Park operating costs per visitor

$15

$21

Acres mowed per park

4.0

9.4

18.8

14.3

Percentage of acres mowed
by staff

46.7%

98.0%

100.0%

83.2%

Percentage of acres mowed
by contractors

3.3%

18.5%

70.2%

37.7%

are interested in evaluating the cost to
manage park acreage can use PRORAGIS 2.0 to run custom effectiveness
reports on the operational efficiency of
such facilities (see Table 1).
The ultimate goal of PRORAGIS
2.0 is to equip you with resources to
make it easier to manage your agency. By focusing questions on areas
specific to your agency's day-to-day
operations, the reporting tools can be
tailored to your needs. Whether your
agency is looking for a resource that
will allow you to monitor and track
operational information, equip you
with actionable data to justify your
budget to decision-makers, or provide
you with additional data for planning
for new programs or facilities, PRORAGIS 2.0 can facilitate those needs.
For more details about all the exciting features of PRORAGIS 2.0,
attend or plan to host a PRORAGIS
2.0 Magnet Session. Even if your location has hosted a Magnet Session
in the past, with the sweeping, innovative additions to this database, now
is a perfect time to consider hosting
another session to learn about all
the new features it provides. Contact
Dave Kurtz for more information
about hosting or attending an upcoming Magnet Session, or if you have
questions about PRORAGIS 2.0.
We also encourage you to visit www.
NRPAPRORAGIS.com to check out
the new tools available through PRORAGIS 2.0. Be on the lookout for more
exciting news about upcoming changes
to GIS 2.0, coming soon!
David Kurtz is NRPA's Research Specialist
(dkurtz@nrpa.org).

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July 2015 - Parks & Recreation

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