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6—7 <br />Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan <br /> CHAPTER 6 - Community Needs Assessment and Public Input 6 <br />4. Future Recreation Programs / Activities <br />In the next series of questions, participants were <br />asked to select their “Top 5” programs or activities <br />they would like to see offered or expanded for the <br />future. Combining all of the surveys, 775 of the 832 <br />respondents replied and selected the following Top <br />Ten: <br /> <br />1. Hiking (21%) <br />2. Swimming (20%) <br />3. Walking (20%) <br />4. Yoga (14%) <br />5. Biking (14%) <br />6. Summer Camps (14%) <br />7. Gardening (13%) <br />8. Tennis (12%) <br />9. Dog Obedience (12%) <br />10. Afterschool Programs (11%) <br />A significant number of persons were still unsure <br />whether the county needs more recreation <br />programs. Almost 57% said they were not sure, <br />followed by 28% who answered “Yes” and 15% <br />responding “No.” Excluding the “Don’t Know’ <br />responses, 65% answered “Yes” and 35% “No.” <br /> <br />5. Future Parks and Recreation Facilities <br />This section asked those surveyed about needs for <br />future parks and/or recreation facilities. When asked <br />“Does Orange County need additional parks?” 36% <br />answered “Yes,” with 18% “No” and 46% “Not <br />Sure.” Among those expressing an opinion, 67% <br />responded in the affirmative and 33% negative. <br /> <br />The survey also asked whether the county needed <br />additional recreation facilities and centers. This <br />question was inadvertently omitted from the online <br />survey, but of the 476 other respondents who did <br />weigh in, 24% said “Yes,” 23% said “No,” and 53% <br />answered “Don’t Know.” Among those expressing an <br />opinion, 52% indicated “Yes” and 48% “No.” <br /> <br />If new facilities were to be developed, the following <br />facilities were the highest rated – respondents were <br />asked to pick their “Top 5” facilities desired. Ninety- <br />four percent (94%) of respondents answered this <br />question, and they indicated the following <br />preferences: <br /> <br />1. Walking/Hiking Trails (45%) <br />2. Nature Trails (34%) <br />3. Swimming Pool (28%) <br />4. Greenways (28%) <br />5. Water Parks (22%) <br />6. Amphitheatre (22%) <br />7. Indoor Athletic Complex (18%) <br />8. Nature Center (14%) <br />9. Playgrounds (13%) <br />10. Tennis courts (13%) <br /> <br />Other facilities that got at least 10% listings include <br />picnic areas, dog parks, performing arts studio, teen <br />center, creative arts studio, and community centers. <br />Of note, many of the same facilities were chosen in <br />both the online and SRS surveys, though there is <br />Thirteen percent (13%) travel annually to for <br />programs, and less than 25% travel quarterly, <br />monthly or weekly. <br /> <br />Respondents who had tried and been unable to <br />participate in programs were asked about obstacles <br />to their participation. The most common reasons <br />were “inconvenient time/day” (33%), “not offered <br />for the needed age group I needed” (24%) and <br />“program was full” (15%). Only 6% of respondents <br />had been wait-listed and unable to participate in a <br />program. <br /> <br />The most popular camps participated in during the <br />past 12 months were Basketball, Soccer, Adventure <br />(Teen and Pre-Teen) and Creative Arts camps. The <br />most participated in Special Events were: <br /> <br /> 1. Egg Hunt (28%) <br /> 2. Halloween Spooktacular (25%) <br /> 3. Fishing Rodeo (16%) <br />71