SOCIAL EQUITY PLAN
TABLEOFCONTENTS SOCIAL EQUITY PLAN PAGE 2 3 4 5 ExecutiveSummary MissionandVision KeyFindings 8 9 Demographics ProgrammingGoals 10 ParksandFacilities 11 StaffingandOperations 12 ProgressReport
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Douglasville Parks and Recreation Department began addressing equity in 2020 in conjunction with the CAPRA accreditation process. While collecting data and information needed as evidence of compliance, several inequities were discovered These areas include; lack of access/accessibility for individuals with disabilities, budget inequities, gender and age-biased program offerings, and outreachtounderservedpopulations.
This Social Equity Plan will serve as an internal working document that will guide the Douglasville Parks and Recreation Department in the right direction to address these inequities and provide specific goals and objectives that will aid thedepartmentwithplanningforthefuture.
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MISSION & VISION
Mission
Ourmissionistoenhancethequalityoflifeinourcommunityandall whointeractwithourparksystem,programs,andservices.
Vision
Wewillprovideoptimumrecreationalfacilitiesandqualityprograms toensurethestandardofexcellenceforall.
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KEY FINDINGS
The City of Douglasville Parks and Recreation Department received feedback fromcommunityleaders,citizens,advisoryboard,andstafftoconcludethereisa growingissueinprovidingequitableprogramstounderservedpopulations.
Through community feedback via an online survey and community input meetings,thedisproportionaterepresentationoffemalesportsofferedwithinour athleticsdivisionwasevident.Thebiggestconcernsofthepublicwere:
Theneedforgirls’youthsportssuchassoftball.
Accessibilitytoparksforindividualswithdisabilities–addingrampsfor wheelchairs.
Providingsportsprogramsthatattractminorityyouth.
Providemorefreerecreationalopportunitiesforlow-incomeindividuals. Needforseniorprograms.
Developprogramsforindividualswithdisabilities. Lackofprogramsforteens.
Parksrepresentationinallwards.
Moreculturallyconsciousprogramsforalldemographics.
After speaking with the staff of Douglasville Parks and Recreation at an internal social equity work session, there was consensus that we should make sure to providemoresocialserviceprograms,addfitnessequipmenttotheCommunity Centers to allow a free and accessible gym, and utilize both indoor and outdoor facilities to impact the community. Also discussed was a fee analysis for programs, athletics, and rental fees to ensure we are providing the highest quality of service in the most equitable manner. The Douglasville Parks and Recreation department also concluded that more training regarding social equity needs to be implemented to disrupt certain biases employees may have wheninteractingwithco-workersorthecommunity.
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KEY FINDINGS
In addition to receiving feedback from citizens and community stakeholders, a park and facility assessment and ADA audit were conducted during the developmentoftheParksandRecreationMasterPlan.Thisassessmentidentified facilityandparkamenitiesthatneededtoberepairedorcompletelyreplaced.
TheADAAuditidentifiedseveralplaygroundsthathadaccessibilitychallenges.A gap analysis was also completed and identified clear gaps in the distribution of cityparksintheeasternportionofthecity.
Source:TheTrustforPublicLand10MinuteWalk
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KEY FINDINGS
Although the gap analysis determined there was adequate park access on the northernsideofthecity,theparkassessmentidentifiedthatalltheseparksarein need of renovation Some amenities in each park were inoperable (See DouglasvilleParkMasterPlanforfullassessment).
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DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
PopulationEstimates
PopulationCensusApril1,2020
PopulationCensusApril1,2010
RaceandHispanicOrgin
White
BlackorAfricanAmerican
AmericanIndianandAlaskaNative
Asian
TwoorMoreRaces
HispanicorLatino
Whitealone,notHispanicorLatino
AgeandSex
Personsunder5years
Personsunder18years
Personsunder65yearsandover
Females
Males
Education
Highschoolgraduateorhigher,percentofpersonsage25 years+2017-2021Bachelor'sdegreeorhigher
Health
Withadisability,underage65years,
Personswithouthealthinsurance,underage65years
IncomeandPoverty
Mediamhouseholdincome
Percapitaincomeinthepast12months
Personsinpoverty ComputerandInternetUse
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Householdwithacomputer HouseholdwithabroadbandInternetsubscription 35,561 34,650 30,961 31.5% 62.7% 0.1% 1.7% 2.9% 8.1% 25.7% 6.9% 24.2% 11.8% 55% 45% 95.6% 34.9% 7.5% 12% $61,729 $31,551 11.5% 95.6% 86.3%
GOALSANDOBJECTIVES
Programming
The Douglasville Parks and Recreation team recognizes there is a lack of programsforunderservedpopulationswhoareencompassedinthemissionand visionofourdepartment.
CreateandimplementaRecreationProgramPlanthatprioritizesthe developmentofprogramsforunderservedpopulations.
Therecreationprofessionalswillbetrainedinseniorfitness,therapeutic recreation,anddevelopingopportunitiesforteenprograms.The professionalswillbetaskedtoengagewithoutsideagenciesto promotethenewprogramstothedesiredspecialpopulation. Provideathleticopportunitiesforfemaleyouth.
Theathleticsdepartmentwillbetaskedwithidentifyingspecificsports inwhichfemaleathletescancompete.Suchactivitieswillinclude softball,flagfootball,girl'sbasketball,etc.Thisgoalwillrequire communityengagementandoutreachtopromoteandmarket athleticsforgirls.
PerformanceMeasure
%ofannualprogramsincreasetooutlineprogramsdesignedforspecific underservedpopulations.Also,documentationoftheincreasein participationwillalsodisplaytheimpactandengagementwithinthe programsforeachgroup.
%ofannualathleticprogramsaredesignedforfemaleathletes. Documentationoftheincreaseinparticipationwillalsodisplaytheimpact andengagementwithineachsportforfemaleathletes.
Accountability
The Recreation Program Manager and Athletic Program Manager will work togethertoaccomplishthedesiredoutcomes.
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GOALSANDOBJECTIVES
ParksandFacilities
The Douglasville Parks and Recreation team identified the need to address the level of service standards throughout all parks. Specifically, parks that scored poorlyintheParksMasterPlan.
DevelopaconceptplantoupgradeparkamenitiesatMillVillagePark, WillingWorkersPark,andJessieDavisPark.
Thethreeparksthatlieinthenorthernportionofthecitywereratedthe lowestintheparkassessment.Theyarealsolocatedinlow-income, at-riskneighborhoods.
DevelopaplantoaddforwardteesattheWestPinesGolfCourseinorder toexpandaccesstoseniors,women,andyouth.
Women,juniors,andsuper-seniorsoftenfindtheWestPinescoursetoo strenuousbecauseoftheuphillteeshotsandtheforcedcarriesover water.Becauseofthis,WestPinesstrugglestoattractthose demographics.
Upgradeallplaygroundstomeetaccessibilitystandards.
Allplaygroundscurrentlyusewoodchipsassurfacematerial. Replacingthewoodchipswithpouredrubberwouldallowwheelchair accessibility.Inadditiontoaddressingthesurfacematerial,newplay structureswithcognitive,social-emotional,andcreativecomponents forchildrenwithspecialneedsareneeded.
ConductaLandAcquisitiontoidentifypotentialparklandinWards1&5. TheresidentsintheseWardscurrentlydonothavewalkingaccesstoa citypark.
PerformanceMeasure
Increaseduseofparksidentifiedaspoor IncreaseduseofunderserveddemographicgroupsutilizingWestPinesGolf Course.
Accountability
TheParkManagerandHeadGolfProwillworktogethertoaccomplishthedesired outcomes. The Parks and Recreation Director will identify a plan to have new concepts developed for parks in need of renovations and conduct a land acquisitionassessment.
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GOALSANDOBJECTIVES
StaffingandOperations
Douglasville Parks and Recreation recognizes the need to address ADA requirementsthroughoutalloperations.
ConductanADATransitionPlan
This is an accreditation standard by the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies. This is the only standard the Douglasville Parks and Recreation team did not meet during the 2020 review.
Identifyfundingsourcesforparkrenovationsandlandacquisition
The city of Douglasville is currently using the 2016 SPLOST as the primary source of funding for its capital program. 20% of the SPLOST is allocated for Parks and Recreation. Although certain projects have been identified, the parks and recreation department will need to reallocatefundsbasedonpriorityanditscommitmenttoequity.
Developastaffingplantoaddresslevelsofserviceforfuturegrowth
Currently,theCityofDouglasvilleisconductingacompensationstudy. Alongwiththisstudyeachdepartmentisexpectedtodevelopaplanto add new positions that are needed for operations. Based on the key findings of this plan, the parks and recreation department will need to add additional programming staff for athletics, seniors, and therapeutics
PerformanceMeasure
ADATransitionPlaniscompletedwithadetailedimplementationplan. A5–10-yearCIPisdevelopedbasedonequitypriorities. Aneworganizationalchartisdevelopedbasedonfuturegrowth
Accountability
TheParksandRecreationSeniorLeadershipTeamwillberesponsibleforallareas identifiedinthestaffingandoperationsgoals.TheParksandRecreationDirector willleadtheseefforts.
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PROGRESSREPORTS
IdentifyFundingSources
March2020
The2016SPLOSTwasutilizedtorenovateMillVillageParkandWilling Workers.Thevotersapproveda25milliondollarGOBondforrenovationsat JessieDavisPark
RenovatedMillVillagePark
April2021
600KinSPLOSTfundswereusedtocompletelyrenovateMillVillagePark. Renovationsincludeanewwalkingtrail,anewplaygroundwithpoured rubberplaysurface,andnewparkpavilionsandbenches.
RenovatedWillingWorkersPark
April2022
1.6milliondollarsinSPLOSTfundswereusedtorenovateWillingWorkersPark. Therenovationincludesanewplaygroundwithpouredrubberplaysurface, walkingtrails,basketballcourts,restrooms,andnewpavilions
OfferAthleticProgramsforGirls
December2022
In2022weexperienceda60%increaseinregistrationforgirlsinyouth athletics.Anewvolleyballandsoftballleaguewasestablishedin2021.
DevelopNewOrganizationChart
Aneworganizationchartwasdevelopedandapprovedin2022.New positionsincludethreenewcoordinatorpositionstoassistwithrecreation andathleticprogramming.
UpgradedplaygroundstoADA standards
June2023
SPLOSTfundswerededicatedtorenovateplaygroundsatHunterParkand FowlerFieldPark.Thisincludedrubbersurfaceflooring,accessiblereach panelsandanadaptiveswingset.
ADATransitionPlan-Draft
December2023
LedbytheEngineeringDepartment,theADATransitionPlanimplementation involvedparkparticipationforcommunityfeedback.Thisplaniscurrentlyin draftandnextstepswillbeapprovalbyCityCouncil.
Increasedrecreationforunderservedgroups
December2023
TherapeuticRecreationreceivedanincreaseinparticipationwithdouble registrationforadaptivebaseball,newadaptivebasketballprogramand individualizedsummercampprogram.Teenparticipationincreasedby70% andover600seniorsserviced.
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