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Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment Experience NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEYS PRIOR TO MASTER PLAN (2002). FOLLOW-UP NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY (2004) (2007) Arlington County, Virginia Leisure Vision conducted a parks and recreation needs assessment survey for this County of 175,000 residents, as a key component of an internal parks and recreation master plan conducted by department staff. Leisure Vision worked closely with a community based steering committee on the design of the survey instrument and with staff of the agency in interpreting the results as a cornerstone of the master planning process. 800 household surveys were completed, including between 175-225 surveys in each of 4 planning districts for the County. Survey questions addressed issues relating to parks usage and satisfaction, recreation programming usage and satisfaction, sports program areas that were used by participants, facilities and parks that were most frequently used, priority importance for improvements to the current system, etc. The survey results were further compared to national benchmarks of citizen responses compiled by Leisure Vision from communities across the country. Leisure Vision additionally worked with the agency in developing a survey which was distributed through the schools to middle school and high school aged youngsters. In 2004, Leisure Vision worked with the Parks and Recreation Department on a follow-up survey effort regarding development of an indoor aquatic and community facility and other parks and recreation amenities. The initial need for the indoor aquatic center came out of the 2002 survey. Results from the 2004 survey were used to help pass a $75 million bond election for the indoor aquatic center and other parks and recreation projects. In 2007, Leisure Vision worked with Arlington County on an updated needs assessment survey, benchmarking of comparable counties and other strategic planning consulting services. "The Leisure Vision staff provided valuable support during all phases of the survey process, including setting directions, conducting focus group meetings, and interviews with stakeholders. The quality of their research, including the benchmarking information contained in the report, is very helpful in our strategic planning and resource allocation efforts. Our stakeholder groups can now focus their advocacy efforts based on a current and accurate data base. yl DENESH TIWARI, CPRP, Director Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Resources 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 414 Arlington, Virginia 22201 (703) 228-7529 Leisure Vision Needs Assessment Experience- 13