Park Planning, Design, and Open Space

About the Comprehensive Plan Park & Recreation Element
Benefits of Park and Recreation
Park Design and Standards
Programs
Open Space and Comprehensive Park Plans
Additional Information Resources
MRSC Related Pages
- Designing Transportation Facilities for Pedestrians and Bicycles (Trails)

About the Comprehensive Plan Park & Recreation Element

A mandatory requirement for a park and recreation element was added to the required GMA comprehensive plan elements during the 2002 legislative session. The new element must be consistent with the capital facilities plan element as it relates to park and recreation facilities. The element must include estimates of park and recreation demand for a ten-year period, an evaluation of facilities and service needs, and an evaluation of intergovernmental coordination opportunities to provide regional approaches for meeting park and recreational demand. (RCW 36.70A.070(8)). Although new or amended elements are to be adopted concurrent with the scheduled update provided in RCW 36.70A.130, that requirement is postponed until adequate state funding is available. The requirements to incorporate any such new or amended elements “shall be null and void until funds sufficient to cover applicable local government costs are appropriated and distributed by the state at least two years before local government must update comprehensive plans.” (RCW 36.70A.070(9)).

Benefits of Park and Recreation

The Economic Benefits of Parks and Open Space: How Land Conservation Helps Communities Grow Smart and Protect the Bottom Line, Trust for Public Lands Report
Economic Impacts of Protecting Rivers, Trails and Greenway Corridors: A Resource Book. Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance, National Park Service, 1995.
The Health Benefits of Parks: How Parks Help Keep Americans and Their Communities Fit and Healthy by Eric Gies, Trust for Public Lands, 2006
Measuring the Impact of Parks on Property Values, by Sarah Nicholls, Parks & Recreation, March 2004.

Park Design and Standards

General Reference

Guidelines for Developing Public Recreation Facility Standards, Ministry of Culture and Recreation, Sports and Fitness Division, Ontario, Canada
Planning for Parks, Recreation, and Open Space in Your Community ( 4.14 MB), text by Susan C. Enger, Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, February 2005.
Parks/ Open Space/ Recreation Facilities Standards ( 9.1 MB) in Level of Service Standards - Measures for Maintaining the Quality of Community Life, by Sue Enger, Report No. 31. Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington, September 1994.
Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenway Guidelines, James D. Mertes and James R. Hall, National Recreation and Park Association, 1996. Library Loan
Park Planning Guidelines, by George Fogg, 3rd ed. National Recreation and Park Association, 1990. Library Loan
State of Colorado Small Community Park and Recreation Standards ( 1.29 MB) prepared by RPI Consulting, 2003. On Rifle, CO Web site.