Analysis of Demand and Needs

This chapter presents an analysis of how well the City’s existing park and recreational facilities satisfy current needs in the community. The adequacy of the City’s existing park and recreation system are evaluated using the following methods:

• Quantitative Analysis – a comparison of existing parkland acreage and population projections versus park and recreational facility service standards, including a review of the types and amount of parkland available to City residents.

• Geographic Analysis – an analysis of the geographic distribution and accessibility of park facilities in the City.

• Qualitative Analysis – a summary of public input regarding City parks and recreational facilities gathered through the on-line community survey.

• Regional & State Trends – a summary of the demand or trends in recreational amenities at the county and state level.

4.1 QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

An analysis of existing recreational land area is provided to determine if the recreational needs of residents are being met. This analysis is limited to an evaluation of the space, or land, devoted to recreational use.

Currently the City is providing approximately 288 acres of parkland, not counting school facilities, county facilities, or private facilities. This translates to .017 acres of parkland per person, or 17.2 acres per 1,000 residents.

Table 4.1 summarizes the current and projected supply and demand for total parkland acreage based on City population.

For the purpose of calculating anticipated parkland demand, a level of service of 6 and 12 acres per 1,000 residents was assumed. Using a level of service standard of 12 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents the City currently has surplus of 87.8 acres. Assuming the population projections are correct, and the City does not add additional parkland, the total surplus will shrink to 69.8 acres by the year 2040. This would translate to a approximately 15 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents by 2040 if no additional parkland is acquired.

Figure 4.1 (pg. 20) shows the existing acreage per 1,000 residents for Beaver Dam compared with other jurisdictions of similar size (<20,000 residents) across the United States. The graph shows that the City is between the median and upper quartile in parkland availability when considering either total acreage or developed acreage.

While the City is providing a net surplus of developed parkland, it is important to continue to plat new residential neighborhoods with dedicated public parks. Proximity to parks is a factor for quality of life, which is important for retaining existing and attracting new residents. Smaller parks fill the deficit for neighborhoods parks and provide structured recreational opportunities for surrounding residents.