Throughout much of 2006, commissioners, staff, residents, and local leaders shared what they value about the system, what they see as its strengths, and their ideas for enhancing it. Nearly 4,000 individuals provided input through focus groups, town meetings, questionnaires, workshops, and a phone survey. The vision, goals, and strategies put forth in this plan are guided by the thoughtful ideas shared in this outreach process.
Questionnaires
The questionnaire, mailed to 172,300 households and available online and at all park service centers, covered topics such as user and resident values, use of park facilities and services, non-park system recreational activities, barriers to participation, and ideas for the future. In addition, the questionnaire included information about household demographics, sources of information about the park system, and contact information for future updates. In total, 2,728 questionnaires were received and analyzed.
Town Meetings
Seven town meetings were held at the following locations: Folwell, Van Cleve, Powderhorn, Lynnhurst, Whittier, Nokomis, and Loring Park.
Accommodations were provided at each meeting for persons needing interpretation and for children and teens. Teens participated in focus groups while younger children completed art activities focused on parks. In total, 229 individuals participated in the town meetings with some participating in more than one meeting.
Prior to the town meetings held in the community, two pilot town meetings for Park Board staff were held at the end of August and the beginning of September at Park Board Headquarters. All full-time Park Board staff members were invited and 72 attended.
Community Leader Workshops
The Park Board also sought input from recognized leaders in the communities to discuss not only community needs but to provide input on some of the broad themes articulated in questionnaires and town meetings. Each commissioner appointed three leaders to this group.
Focus Groups
Groups or communities identified as poorly represented through the questionnaires or at town meetings, or who experience language, cultural or physical barriers to traditional community participation formats, were targeted for focus groups.
In total, 20 focus groups were conducted. These included teens (three focus groups held for this group), single parents, elected officials, racial and ethnic communities (as defined by US Census), foreign-born (as defined by US Census) communities, people with disabilities, Somali, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, vulnerable teens and adults, university students, environmental groups, history, arts community, active older adults, Lake Harriet sailing groups, local business owners, and downtown workers and residents.
An additional seven groups that had established Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board databases received questionnaires. These included the following groups: Rec Plus parents, coaches, sports councils, volunteers, park reservation groups, faith-based community groups, and neighborhood organizations.
Phone Survey
At the conclusion of these methods, a phone survey was undertaken, with questions developed from responses to questionnaires, town meetings, and focus groups.
Over a period of four weeks, 400 households were interviewed. The goal of the phone survey was to provide statistically valid information citywide, as well as by district. In addition, the attempt was made to reflect citywide demographics in two areas: renter versus owner households and percentage of foreign born. While the data ultimately collected for renter versus homeowner does not meet the city demographics, enough renters were reached to give a good account of renter needs. In regard to foreign born, calling quotas were reached in all requested categories (Europe, Southeast Asia, Eastern Africa, Western Africa, Other Africa, Latin America) except Eastern African.
The process included a questionnaire mailed to 172,300 Minneapolis households, seven town meetings, twenty focus groups, three appointed community leader workshops, and a statistically valid phone survey.
Community Needs
The following top community needs emerged through the community outreach efforts:
- Involving children and youth in positive activities
- Protecting and spending time in the natural environment
- Pursuing health and physical fitness needs
- Keeping parks clean and well maintained
- Providing safe parks
