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Garland Parks and Recreation

  • A program delivers recreation and leisure benefits to participants. High-quality programming is a dynamic process. Programming should be intentional and evidence- based to justify that resources are being used effectively and efficiently. A systematic and well-researched analysis determines what programs and services should be provided by the agency to deliver maximum coverage with a minimum of duplication, as well as to reduce competition. The public park and recreation program should be coordinated with related programs of other governmental, for-profit and non-profit organizations in the community, such as schools, voluntary agencies, and faith-based organizations.

     

    The primary responsibility of the park and recreation professional is to provide programs by which leisure and recreation experiences and environments enhance the well-being, health and quality of life for participants. Certain program and service determinants give direction to what is provided and assessed. These determinants are conceptual foundations of play, recreation, and leisure; agency philosophy, goals and objectives; constituent interests and desired needs; and community opportunities for the public. Program and service objectives are benefits focused. Many agencies put objectives in “SMART” format (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timed) to assure that objectives are measurable, and they use logic modeling to focus their objectives on outcomes and impacts.

     

    The Recreation Program Plan (RPP) includes all elements and services of the public park and recreation agency’s programming functions, including activity selection, type and scope of programs and outreach initiatives. While a master or comprehensive plan focuses on the equitable planning and development of parkland and recreation facilities, the RPP does the same for the planning and delivery of quality benefits-focused recreation and leisure experiences for the entire community. Programs cover the three

    (3) behavior domains: psychomotor (manipulation and coordination of physical skills and abilities), affective (interests, appreciations, attitudes and values) and cognitive (intellectual skills and abilities).

    Park and recreation agencies should have a program that educates the public about the intrinsic and extrinsic benefits of participation in self-directed and leader-directed recreation activities. A leisure education program consists of six (6) components:

     

    1. Awareness of self in leisure;

    2. Appreciation of leisure;

    3. Understanding self-determination in leisure;

    4. Making decisions regarding leisure participation;

    5. Knowledge and use of resources for facilitating leisure; and

    6. Promoting social interaction.


  • There shall be a designated position (individual) or team responsible for the agency's Recreation Programs and Services. This person/team shall provide strategies, community collaboration approaches, and technical expertise in relation to recreation programs offered to achieve predetermined agency goals and objectives.

     

    Required Evidence of Compliance

    • Provide the job description and relevant education/experience for the position(s) involved in recreation program management on behalf of the agency (municipal/agency staff and/or consultants)

  • Required Evidence of Compliance

    Ensure staff are trained to develop programs and services using a determinants system that is based on the six program and service determinants AND informed by regular public engagement or a needs assessment.

     

    EOC documents should show how staff can access this information and demonstrate recurring staff training with an outline and dated sign-in sheet for the most recent training.

     

    Provide documentation and examples demonstrating that six (6) program and service determinants are used in providing strategically managed programs and services. The actionable (practical and measurable) programs and services provided by the agency shall be based on (but not limited to) the following with some helpful examples:

    1. Conceptual foundations of play, recreation, and leisure, e.g., identify how recreational experiences include the pursuit of joy, pleasure, excitement and challenge; provide examples from agency programs. These may be referenced in the CAPRA Accreditation Policies and Procedures document.

    2. Organizational agency philosophy, mission and vision, and goals and objectives, e.g., identify how the agency philosophy, mission and vision are evidenced in the programs it produces; provide examples of how the agency ensures programs are meeting the stated goals and objectives of respective programs.

    3. Constituent interests and desired needs, including those of under-resourced communities and previously left out populations, e.g., identify how the agency gathers information on participants’ interests and needs; describe what programs have emerged from the participants’ suggestions.

    4. Creation of a constituent-centered culture, e.g., provide evaluations of at least 5 programs from a variety of program areas which identify the program benefits received by participants and how these evaluations impacted decision-making.

    5. Experiences desirable for clientele, e.g., describe what desirable outcomes the agency’s programs provide; provide recent examples of programming for persons with disabilities, under-resourced communities and previously left out populations.

    6. Community opportunities, e.g., document the cooperative events and programs the agency provides for both participants and volunteers to be involved.

     

    Note: Items 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 should be submitted in the form of a matrix.

  • Leisure and recreation are integral to a community’s health and wellness, and its social, cultural and economic development. The agency shall have a Recreation Program Plan (RPP) that furthers the implementation of the recreation and leisure objectives of the Park and Recreation Master Plan and Strategic Plan, that is reviewed and updated minimally every three (3) years, and that addresses the lifecycle (develop, assess, and improve or discontinue) of all leisure and recreation programs and services delivered by the agency.

     

     

     

    Required Evidence of Compliance

    • Provide Recreation Program Plan including:

      • cover page, date of approval, table of contents, introduction

      • matrix of current programs indicating the target audience

      • annual action plans showing program objectives in SMART format (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound) for each year

      • description or diagram of the processes used to plan, develop, assess and evaluate new and existing programs

  • The agency shall provide training on how to evaluate programs, services and facilities for personnel involved in managing facilities and delivering programs and services. Agencies shall review evaluations and make programmatic decisions based on evaluation results.

     

     

     

    Required Evidence of Compliance

    • Provide examples of recent evaluation trainings completed by the agency, including curriculum content, training dates and participant lists. (Examples of training subjects could include but are not limited to qualitative and quantitative measurement, identification of applicable evaluation tools, data analysis, and use of findings.)

    • Provide evidence that programs conducted are making progress toward outcomes desired.

    • Provide evidence that programmatic decision- making is informed by evaluation results.

  • Agencies often partner with other organizations to deliver programs or services to the community, i.e., youth sports organizations. Such collaboration or cooperation shall be documented via formal agreement.

     

     

     

    Required Evidence of Compliance

    • Provide current examples of cooperative programming with documentation, such as Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), Memoranda of Agreement (MOA), or partnership agreements. These documents are generally associated with governance of relationships with groups such as youth sports clubs, non- profit affinity groups with a leisure focus, private for-profit program providers, YMCAs, YWCAs, and the like.

  • Agencies shall seek to understand the community's needs and preferences for recreational programs and services by piloting new or trial programs. These piloted programs shall be evaluated to understand participant outcomes, satisfaction, and interest for continuing participation in similar programs and services.

     

    Examples can range from an agency testing interest in a new cricket program where the south Asian population is growing to an agency piloting a new evidence-based health and wellness program for active older adults or running a trial overnight outdoor experiential education program for fourth graders as a part of the local school district curriculum.

     

     

     

    Required Evidence of Compliance

    • Provide examples of new or trial programs or services employed by the agency.

    • Provide a narrative describing the evaluative process, results, and subsequent decision making informed by ongoing evaluation results.

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