Local kids. A run-down park. An opportunity to make a difference.

Parks are democracy.  They evolved out of a tradition of town squares and church greens.  In days past, long before they were ‘parks’ they were outdoor marketplaces, shared grazing lands, public commons, or parade grounds.  These were community spaces, places for the people.  Nearly 300 years ago civic leaders in early American cities recognized the importance of parks spaces for “the Recreation & Delight of the Inhabitants of this City."

Today they serve the same purpose.  Sometimes, though, they need a little help.

A non-profit called Public Achievement at the University of Colorado, Boulder matches college students as mentors for at-risk K-12 youth.  They identify problems in their community and create a project to overcome those issues.  When they reached out to Design Concepts a couple weeks back, we jumped at the chance.

We met with the kids on CU campus on an October afternoon, and had the opportunity to connect with them and discuss their project.  To us this is an issue of social justice.  But they just want a place to play.

Peace Park at Lafayette Gardens, a small private park in a mobile home neighborhood, serves many low-income families in town.  But the park itself is falling apart.  The kids we met with had grand visions for what it could be—what it should be.  They were excited to imagine the possibilities: volcanos, zip lines, trampolines.  But the basketball hoops also need nets.  And the only shade shelter was vandalized and had been removed.  And the merry-go-round was broken.

Our role in all of this was to help keep them moving.  We shared our ideas about what makes a park successful: gathering spaces, access, connectivity, usability, nature, and fun.  We put them in touch with entities that might help, including the Colorado Center for Community Development and City of Lafayette Parks and Recreation Department.  And we offered to stay involved as the project moves forward.  At least, we helped a group of kids work to make their park better.  At best, we continued the democratic tradition that led to the ‘park’ in the first place.

Winning Big with Colorado Lottery Money at SDA Colorado 2016

Ever play the lottery? If so, I sure hope you won big bucks! Besides the joy of cash winnings, did you get a warm and fuzzy feeling just for playing?

Here’s the good part.  Even if you lost a buck or more; you helped fund some incredible outdoor experiences for kids and adults. When you play the lottery in Colorado part of the proceeds go to Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) used to fund projects that get people outdoors for a healthier lifestyle.

Colorado is the only state with such a program. Take a moment to appreciate the potential of this program, it's pretty remarkable. GOCO has helped bring to life some of the most incredible and unique outdoor experiences from open spaces to parks to school yards.

Even if you already knew about GOCO, did you know that you don't need to be a public agency to receive matched funds from them?

We're finding more special districts building their own parks, either in partnership with a public agency or on their own. Last month at the Special Districts Associations of Colorado conference we helped district managers realize just how attainable GOCO funds are for them.

Money for Planning & Built Projects

Grant funds may even be obtained for planning efforts, not just built work. The list of grant opportunities is much broader than most people know—you just might need to get creative with it.

Rather than thinking about it as a specific effort to fund a single project, think about it as building your community. What builds a community?

Building Community with GOCO Funds

What is your community missing? What is it your community needs? Don't know? That's ok, there’s experts to help with the process of figuring that out. You just need to have the desire to add value to your community. Essentially, making your community a place your neighbors will envy.

There’s a lot of resources out there to help along the way, including the GOCO team themselves who offer technical assistance for specific projects. The first step may be to reach out to them just to let them know you're interested but not sure what to do next. It can be as simple as that. Visit GOCO's website for a list of specialists who can work with you towards success.

If you not multiplying your funds with grant resources, why not?

Knock it out of the park! GIS helps improve quality of life for park users

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The May issue of Parks & Rec Magazine features an article by our own Dave Peterson and Carter Marshall. Stafford County, VA needed to understand current demand and capacity of their athletic facilities, and specialized GIS applications were used to help the county make justifiable, evidence-based decisions. The study also determined target locations for new fields based on user access and population density. Ultimately  GIS analysis was used as justification to secure additional funding for needed ballfield improvements.

Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is a powerful tool for mapping our world and understanding spatial relationships.  GIS applications allow users to create a digital model of the real world that may be used to answer real world questions.  Utilized in a wide range of industries and disciplines, GIS can be a valuable analysis and planning tool for park and recreation professionals as well.

GIS analysis provides more robust evidence for action than traditional master planning techniques and yields decisions based on customizable factors specific to an agency or community. GIS datasets may be used to identify gaps and allow service providers to prioritize improvements based on evidence based decisions.  Click here to learn more.

“Prioritizing projects and their locations based on the data collected and the results of the study, we are now confident in our investment choices, knowing we are addressing actual needs,” says Jamie Porter, now Former Director of Stafford County Parks. That’s a home run in our book!

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Dave and Carter "Knock It Out Of The Park" at CPRA

Dave Peterson | Associate | Dir. of Specialized Planning

Dave Peterson, PLA, Director of Specialized Planning and Carter Marshall, Project Manager, will be presenting Knock It Out of the Park! Using GIS Technology to Meet Your Goaaaaaallls!!! at Colorado Parks and Recreation Association’s annual conference in Breckenridge on October 15th.

Currently there are no nationally accepted standards for measuring quality or public access to athletic field facilities.  In Stafford County, VA, we recently helped this public agency use advanced GIS technology to map sports field locations and analyze quality of facilities and public access.  The session is designed to address:

Carter Marshall | Landscape Designer/Planner

• How to use GIS technology to inform future recreation planning for individual agencies

• Tools and concepts to assist agencies in planning and assessment of recreation assets such as sports fields

• Identifying necessary requirements for an agency to develop GIS proficiency and begin to leverage this powerful technology