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9—2
<br />Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan
<br /> CHAPTER 9 - What Does It All Mean: Summary and Findings from Inventories, Research, and Input 9
<br />These changed conditions and needs, along with the
<br />community needs assessment and inventories of
<br />existing facilities and programs, are major driving
<br />factors for future parks and recreation program
<br />provision, and determinants for the nature of what
<br />the parks system both has become, and will evolve
<br />into over the coming years. All of these past and
<br />current plans and activities, and the assessment of
<br />what has changed and what community needs and
<br />priorities are, help the county determine the type
<br />and style of future parks needs and how these
<br />services should be delivered.
<br />
<br />
<br />B Park Classifications, Standards, Service Delivery
<br />
<br />Local, regional and state parks and recreation
<br />providers across the nation regularly engage in
<br />master planning efforts such as this one. A key
<br />question for all of these plans is – how to translate
<br />the existing facilities, prior plans and expressed com-
<br />munity needs into a formula for determining how
<br />these needs should be met.
<br />
<br />Historically, one of the most common methods of
<br />quantifying these needs has been through the use of
<br />park standards. As we shall see in this chapter, the
<br />very nature of that process has undergone
<br />significant change in the last 25 years, leading away
<br />from more of a community needs-based approach.
<br />
<br />Type of Park Acreage
<br />Needs
<br />Population
<br />Served
<br />Service Area Example Amenities/Facilities
<br />(designs)
<br />Mini-Parks Less than 1
<br />acre
<br />500-2,500 Sub-neighborhood Picnic table, game tables, benches
<br />Neighborhood Park 5-20 acres 2,000 – 8,000 ¼ to ½ Mile One ballfield, courts, picnic shelter, play-
<br />ground
<br />Community Park 25-74 acres 10,000 – 50,000 1 to 2 Miles 2 ballfields, trail, courts, picnic shelter,
<br />playground, concessions,
<br />amphitheater
<br />District Park 75-199 acres Up to 50,000 Within 30 minute
<br />drive time
<br />Community park plus multi-ballfield com-
<br />plex, trails, nature center, camping
<br />Regional Park 200 acres + Entire population
<br />small community
<br />Within 60 minute
<br />drive time
<br />Multiple trails and picnic areas, water
<br />features, boating, camping, Fishing
<br />Unique or Special Areas No standard * * *
<br />Table 9-1: below shows the park classification system from the 1988 Master Plan (found in Table 5 -1 of the 1988 Plan).
<br />Type of Park Acreage
<br />Needs
<br />Population
<br />Served
<br />Service Area Types of facilities or amenities
<br />School Park As available 10,000* School district Playing fields, picnic shelters, trails, play-
<br />grounds, walking track
<br />Community Park 40-75 acres Up to 10,000 Approx. 5 mile radius Playing fields, picnic shelters, trails, play-
<br />grounds, courts, outdoor classroom
<br />District Park 75-125 acres Average 30,000 10-mile radius Community park plus multi-field complex,
<br />nature kiosk, amphitheater, water fea-
<br />tures May include a community center.
<br />Regional Park 150 acres plus Average 75,000 20-mile radius Multiple trails and picnic areas, water
<br />features, boating, camping, fishing, nature
<br />center, special exhibits
<br />Nature Preserve
<br />Access Areas
<br />Case by case NA NA Camping, hiking, wildlife viewing, exhibits.
<br />*Based on elementary school average population in rural Orange County.
<br />The basic framework of the types of parks is still valid in 2013, and consistent with the park classifications seen
<br />in other jurisdictions. However, some changes are needed for flexibility and changed in priorities, needs and
<br />existing conditions of the parks system.
<br />
<br />Table 9-2: shows recommended changes based on the data, inventory and information gathered.
<br />96
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