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48 Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan CHAPTER 6-Community Needs Assessment and Public Input 6 ment.The campers and their responses were broken programs and facilities. This survey yielded 520 into two categories, pre-teen (ages 7-12) and teen responses. There were, however, two important (13-16). In summary, the pre-teen youth listed Fair- shortcomings in the random-sample Community view Park among their favorite County parks, and Needs Assessment survey that warranted further they appreciated that park's diversity of equipment exploration and survey outreach: and amenities. The favorite activity among this 1. Many of the households sampled were group was basketball (many of those surveyed residents of the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, were in a basketball camp), followed by biking and and were largely unfamiliar with County parks and playing on "monkey bars."Among the park improve- programs (since these towns offer their own ments they would like to see, responders noted programs and facilities). A follow-up attempt was deemed desirable to solicit feedback from those newer volleyball nets and more basketball courts at persons who do frequent County parks and Fairview Park, and more trails at Efland-Cheeks Park. participate in county programs. The favorite recreation programs were basketball, 2. The random-sample survey responses received doll-making in arts camp, and field trips for bowling under-represented minority groups – African- and roller skating. Their wish list for the upcoming American, persons of Hispanic origin and Asians – year was more basketball scrimmages, more biking warranting further efforts to solicit feedback from and hiking in adventure camps, and more painting those cultural and/or ethnic communities. and drawing in creative arts camps. The following is a brief summary of the three survey The Teen youth surveyed listed Efland-Cheeks as the results that were eventually undertaken including County park closest to them. While many indicated the original random-sample survey. they did not go to the park much, their favorite C. Statistical Random-Sample Survey CNA activities were swimming, playing basketball and Note: The full report and results of the Community volleyball, ping-pong and picnics. Bike trails, athletic Needs Assessment statistical survey, and the survey fields and volleyball courts were the most-used park instrument,maybe found as Appendix 6-3. facilities in their estimation. There was little In the summer and fall of 2012, Orange County staff response to favorite recreation programs, except a worked with consultants from the University of desire for music classes at the Central Recreation North Carolina at Greensboro (UNC-G) to develop Center.The facilities these young people most want- and administer a statistical random-sample survey ed to see repaired or built included tennis and vol- of 4,200 households in Orange County leyball courts, soccer fields, playgrounds and moun- (approximately 10% of the total households in the tain bike trails. county). The survey was conducted by UNC-G via US B. Community Needs Assessment Survey mail with postage-paid return envelopes. A follow- The Community Needs Assessment Survey was up postcard was sent to survey recipients that had administered in three different manners, including a not responded within three weeks. The surveys statistical random-sample survey, between October were collected and analyzed by the consultants in 2012 and July 2013. This multi-pronged approach November 2012-January 2013, and the results re- was undertaken and deemed necessary due to the ported and evaluated in a report received on Janu- following factors: ary 31, 2013. After discussion with the consultant As indicated below, a statistical random-sample sur- and among staff, the decision was made not to vey was conducted and provided a valid statistical stratify the sample on the basis of geography (i.e., survey of community needs and interests about the random sampling for the surveys was of the en- current and possible future parks and recreation tirety of Orange County without adjusting for resi- dence). 6-2