Parks Administration

Contents

• Management-Related Topics
• Safety Topics
• Purchasing
• Concessions
• Park Rules, Regulations, and Policies
• Park Code Enforcement - Exclusion of Violators
• Recreation Program Guides Online - Examples
• Registration/Application Forms - Liability Waivers
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Creating Volunteer Opportunities
  • Intergovernmental Cooperation in Parks and Recreation
  • Parks and Recreation Finance

Management-Related Topics

• City Parks Forum Briefing Papers, American Planning Association
• Benefits of Parks and Recreation
  • The Benefits of State and Local Parks and Recreation: An NRPA Research Series, NRPA Express
  • Conservation: An Investment That Pays: The Economic Benefits for Parks and Open Space, by Erica Gies, Trust for Public Land, 07/09/2010
  • The Economic Benefits of Seattle’s Park and Recreation System (), Center for City Park Excellence, Trust for Public Land, March 2011
  • In My Opinion...Parks’ Value More than Just Aesthetic (), by Michael Kirschman, County News, 10/05/2009
  • Measuring the Economic Impact of Park and Recreation Services (), by John L. Crompton, Research Series 2010, National Recreation and Park Association 
  • Measuring the Economic Value of a City Park System, Trust for Public Lands, 04/02/2009 
• Best Practices
  • Practice Makes Perfect, by Elizabeth Beard, Parks and Recreation, 02/2011 – How best practices help agencies reach award-winning levels of performance 
• Levels of Service
  • City Park Facts Report 2010, Trust for Public Land – Database of park facts for the 85 largest U.S. cities based on annual survey by the Center for City Park Excellence 
  • Parks/Recreation Open Space/Facility Standards () in Level of Service Standards - Measures for Maintaining the Quality of Community Life (), Report No. 31, Municipal Research & Services Center, 09/2004
  • Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) 
    • Defining and Measuring Success: The Role of State Government in Outdoor Recreation, 2008 State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Planning (SCORP) document – See "5 Proposal for Measuring Success" regarding level of service
    • Statewide Level of Service Recommendation: A Report on the Testing and Applicability of the Recreation and Conservation Office’s Proposed Level of Service Tools, Draft, Prepared for the Washington RCO by AECOMM, 08/2010 
    • Level of Service Tool and Guide, Appendix C (), in Manual 2, Planning Policies and Guidelines, Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, 01/2011
    • Level of Service Recommendations, Recreation and Conservation Funding Board Briefing Memo, by Jim Eychaner, 03/2011
• Naming Policies for Park and Recreation Facilities, MRSC
• Performance Measurement
  • Parks and Recreation Community of Practice, Public Performance Network and Reporting Network, Rutgers University
  • Performance Measurement: It's A Benefit! by Jo An Zimmermann, Nelson Cooper, Lawrence R. Allen, Parks & Recreation, 06/2001 (provided by CBS Interactive)
  • Local Government Examples
    • King County KingStat 2009 Performance Report, Department of Natural Resources and Parks, 05/27/2010 
    • King County Performance Measures, Department of Natural Resources and Parks
    • Kirkland Performance Measure Packet 2008, Parks and Community Services ()
    • Snohomish County, Parks and Recreation in 2011 Snohomish County SnoStat Performance Measures by Citizen Priority Type (), 03/25/2011
    • Vancouver Performance Reports, 2011 Parks and Recreation Performance Snapshot ()

Safety Topics

• The Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) program – A program of the National Certification Board in coordination with the National Park and Recreation Association and the National Playground Safety Institute
• National Program for Playground Safety
• Park Safety and Physical Activity, Trust for Public Land
• Playground Safety, National Recreation and Park Association 
• Playground Safety Publications, National Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Pool and Safety Spa Act
  • Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, 15 U.S.C. §8001 – U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 
  • "Clogged by the Law," by Stacey Pine, Parks and Recreation, 02/2009 – Discusses difficulties complying with new law (Available through MRSC Library Loan)

Purchasing

• EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines – A key component of the government's "buy-recycled" program; see Park and Recreation Products
• Purchasing and Bidding for Washington State Local Governments, MRSC
• Small Works Roster Manual for Local Governments, MRSC

Concessions

• Edmonds Municipal Code Ch. 4.04 – Concessions Agreements
• Ephrata - Request for proposals for beverage/concessions contract for vending machines at various parks and recreation sites (), 03/2006 
• Kennewick RFQ Recreational Equipment Rental/Concession In Columbia Park, 2007 () 
• Kirkland Parks & Community Services Request For Proposals, 2010 Food and Beverage Concessions in Parks () 
• Seattle Request For Proposals (RRP) - Park Concession Permits, Department of Parks and Recreation, 03/2011
• Vancouver Municipal Code Sec. 15.08.100 – Concession agreements
  • Food Vendors at City Events, Guidelines and Procedures (), 2010 – Application form for concert series vendors
    

Park Rules, Regulations, and Policies

• Revised ADA Regulations Implementing Title II and Title III, U.S. Department of Justice, 07/2010
• Community Athletics Programs Nondiscrimination Policies, MRSC
• Comprehensive Park Rules and Regulations, MRSC
• Use of Public Facilities and Other Public Property – Rental of Community Centers, MRSC

Park Code Enforcement - Exclusion of Violators

• Seattle
  • Seattle Municipal Code Sec. 18.12.278 – Park Exclusion
  • Seattle Municipal Code Sec. 18.12.279 – Trespass in Parks—Definition—Punishment
  • Seattle Off Leash Area Rules
• Everett Municipal Code Sec. 9.06.235 – Park Exclusion
• Monroe
  • Monroe Municipal Code Sec. 9.28.255 – Park Exclusion
  • Monroe Municipal Code Sec. 9.28.225 – Trespass in Parks—Punishment
• Tenino Ordinance No. 712 (), passed 06/2005
• Vancouver Municipal Code Ch. 7.06 – Public Facility—Criminal Activity Exclusion Orders

Recreation Program Guides Online - Examples

• MyParksAndRecreation.com, Program Brochures – Collaborative effort of ten cities in King County's Eastside
• Redmond Recreation Guide
• Tukwila Recreation Brochure
• Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation Catalog

Registration/Application Forms - Liability Waivers

• Bothell, Park at Bothell Landing Reservation Request ()
• Roslyn Park Reservation Request ()
• Seattle Parks and Recreation Program Registration Form ()
• Tumwater Historical Park Shelter Reservation (), 2011
• University Place Adopt-A-Street (Park) Policy & Procedures () includes Exhibit A: Adopt-a-Street (Park) Volunteer Release and Hold Harmless, and Exhibit B: Adopt-a-Street (Park) Agreement
• Vashon Park District Agreement for Use of Facilities ()

Related MRSC Resources

MRSC Index - Administration