2016’s Best & Worst Cities for Recreation
2:28 AMPosted by: Richie Bernardo
Main FindingsEmbed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/5144/geochart-recreation2.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2tk0erw;
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Overall Rank |
City |
Total Score |
“Entertainment & Recreational Facilities” Rank |
“Costs” Rank |
“Quality of Parks” Rank |
“Climate” Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
98 | San Antonio, TX | 33.72 | 73 | 57 | 91 | 74 |
99 | Charlotte, NC | 32.41 | 75 | 71 | 97 | 71 |
100 | Chula Vista, CA | 32.21 | 96 | 95 | 76 | 29 |
- Tania Santiago Instructor of Recreational Therapy in the Department of Leadership and Professional Studies at Florida International University
- Louis Hodges Associate Professor in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences and Associate Head for Undergraduate Programs at Texas A&M University
- M. Jean Keller Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation at the University of North Texas
- Heather Burket Instructor of Rehabilitation Sciences and Internship Co-Coordinator in the College of Public Health at Temple University
- Connie Edmonston Parks and Recreation Director in the City of Fayetteville Arkansas
- Bob Brookover Senior Lecturer in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at Clemson University
- Beth Erickson Associate Professor at California State University Sacramento
- Andrew J. Bobilya Associate Professor and Director of the Parks and Recreation Management Program at Western Carolina University
- Amy R. Hurd Director of Graduate School at Illinois State University
- Quality of parks and recreation facilities;
- Access to recreational facilities, and activities;
- Affordability;
- Leisure time of the population;
- Sense of community.
- Splash pads instead of community pools;
- Seasonal pop-up gardens (maintains equipment longer);
- Solar panels;
- Solunteer and volunteer programs;
- Grant funded programming;
- Partnerships with businesses in the communities and non-for-profits that serve underprivileged populations.
- Accessibility;
- Universal design;
- Indoor and outdoor space;
- Variety of programming options;
- Access to a certified therapeutic recreation specialist to lead programming for special populations.
- Participation fees;
- Rental/use fees;
- Tax/mileage increase for parks;
- Establishment of foundation and development practices;
- Grants, foundations, etc.;
- Establishment of a foundation or non-profit to support parks and recreation;
- Various levels of sponsorships -- local and regional;
- HMR tax dedicated for parks;
- Development fees and requirements, such as Park Land Dedication Ordinance (Green Space Ordinance), requirement of land or money in lieu to support parks as new homes and businesses come into a city;
- Development of a robust volunteer program to assist with maintenance, such as Adopt-A-Park or Trail, specialized maintenance projects, recreation coaches, special event assistance;
- Obtaining grant matches by using volunteer manpower or expertise on projects;
- Donation or memorial program for different park facilities including benches, art pieces, pavilions, etc.;
- Park facility naming program, in which donors could name a park or park amenity by giving a donation;
- Hosting special events, such as runs or bike rides, which have sponsors and entry fees;
- Hosting various tournaments at your facility that attract visitors and create an economic engine in the city.
- Parks with unique natural features that are capitalized with sustainable, creative and user-friendly designs.
- Parks with large water features, whether it be natural (lake or river) or man-made, such as a water park that provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities.
- Adequate funding that increases to update, renovate, and properly maintain new and existing parks and recreation programs.
- Balanced park facilities and recreational programs offered that meet the needs of the city's citizens, and obtaining the commitment and endorsement of parks and programs by the citizens.
- Professional, progressive, creative and dedicated staff that are focused on providing the best parks and programs to the citizens in a city.
- The numbers of acreage of greenspace preserved per acreage developed;
- The amount of space designated for off-leash dog areas;
- Bike trail development;
- The amount of money poured into recreation facility infrastructure and operations;
- Topography and geography of the area (the presence of mountains, rivers, lakes).
- Access to facilities and natural spaces to engage in formal programs and informal personal recreation;
- Appropriate planning for current and future bike and walking corridors;
- Green space proximal to population centers;
- Variety of recreation providers offering free and low cost options, in addition to more typical recreation programs;
- Recreation is clearly a priority when considering the city’s marketing efforts and budget priorities.
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