Parks and recreation systems have evolved in remarkable ways over the past two decades. No longer just playgrounds and ballfields, parks and open spaces have become recognized as essential green infrastructure with the potential to contribute to community resiliency and sustainability. To capitalize on this potential, the parks and recreation system planning process must evolve as well. In Parks and Recreation System Planning, David Barth provides a new, step-by-step approach to creating parks systems that generate greater economic, social, and environmental benefits. Barth first advocates that parks and recreation systems should no longer be regarded as isolated facilities, but as elements of an integrated public realm. Each space should be designed to generate multiple community benefits. Next, he presents a new approach for parks and recreation planning that is integrated into community-wide issues. Chapters outline each step—evaluating existing systems, implementing a carefully crafted plan, and more—necessary for creating a successful, adaptable system. Throughout the book, he describes initiatives that are creating more resilient, sustainable, and engaging parks and recreation facilities, drawing from his experience consulting in more than 100 communities across the U.S. Parks and Recreation System Planning meets the critical need to provide an up-to-date, comprehensive approach for planning parks and recreation systems across the country. This is essential reading for every parks and recreation professional, design professional, and public official who wants their community to thrive.

This Version II Summary Guide is intended to provide an affordable step-by-step outline manual for students or individual professionals wanting to learn how to prepare a master plan for smaller park and recreation agencies. The authors are professional parks and recreation planners who have conducted more than 450 successful community plans around the United States. This guide explains tasks can be completed by agencies and provides an overview of other tasks, such as a statistically valid survey, which may be most effectively and efficiently completed as contracted services, and why they are important. In addition, it provides an overview of the potential decision to contract with an independent third party, such as a professional park, recreation, and open space management consulting firm, which can provide unbiased credibility to the planning process. Suggestions for decision-making, community and stakeholder engagement, innovative inventory and programming analysis, financial review, technological tools, and an appropriate approval process are included. A full Version I Guide is also available separately, which includes 18 valuable appendix resources, such as questionnaires, matrices, invitation and inventory templates, and other sample documents to help fully implement a comprehensive planning process.