November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 18

RESEARCH
Data-Driven Decision Making Strengthens
Parks and Recreation
By Melissa May
ark and recreation stories are the heart and soul of the field, but many
times these stories can only take an agency so far when discussing
budget, staffing and/or facility needs. Data serve as a powerful tool
for substantiating claims, bolstering support from leaders and informing
decisions across a wide range of initiatives and endeavors. More than 10
years ago, NRPA developed a comprehensive tool, known as NRPA Park Metrics
(nrpa.org/ParkMetrics), to effectively assess, manage and improve these
valuable assets. We continue to enhance this resource to ensure agencies improve
their operations and grow their impact on their communities.
NRPA Park Metrics is a data
collection and benchmarking tool
designed to help park and recreation
agencies measure their performance
and demonstrate
the
value they provide to their communities.
It is a comprehensive system
that covers a wide range of performance
indicators, allowing agencies
to assess their operations, plan
for improvements and compare
themselves to peers.
NRPA Park Metrics consists of
two main components: the Agency
Performance Survey and custom
Agency Performance Reports. Each
year, park and recreation agencies
across the country complete the
Agency Performance Survey within
NRPA Park Metrics. Because of
those contributions, park and recreation
professionals and their peers
can produce valuable benchmarking
reports within the tool that:
* Improve decision making - By
regularly assessing key performance
indicators, agencies can
allocate resources more effectively,
implement targeted improvements
and align their strategies with the
needs of their communities.
18 Parks & Recreation | NOVEMBER 2 0 2 3
* Identify peer groups - NRPA
Park Metrics allows agencies to
benchmark their performance
against peers locally, regionally
and nationally. By learning from
top-performing agencies,
and recreation departments can
set realistic goals and implement
best practices to improve their services
in a collaborative manner.
* Assist with accreditation and
certification goals - Data collected
through the Agency Performance
Survey can be invaluable
in meeting the criteria for
accreditation. Agencies that can
show they are using data to drive
improvements often are more
successful
in
achieving
prestigious designations.
* Facilitate long-term planning
discussions - Contributing to
the Agency Performance Survey
helps
agencies
and anticipate
identify
future
these
P
park
in NRPA Park Metrics inform the
annual Agency Performance Review
(APR) (nrpa.org/APR) - the most
comprehensive
resource of data
trends
needs.
This proactive approach allows
agencies to make strategic investments
that will benefit their communities
for years to come.
Agencies contributing to the
Agency Performance Survey with|
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
and insights for park and recreation
agencies in the United States. Using
the APR, its accompanying interactive
charts and graphs and the
reporting tools within NRPA Park
Metrics, agencies of all sizes, populations,
locales, budgets and more
can access powerful data customized
to meet their needs.
Long-time users of and contributors
to NRPA Park Metrics may
notice a few welcome changes to
the Agency Performance Survey in
2023. Beginning this year, NRPA's
Park Metrics and the Trust for Public
Land's ParkScore will begin to
align these individual surveys into
one. We will share more on this exciting
initiative soon.
The 2023 NRPA Park Metrics
Agency Performance Survey
campaign has begun! From now
through January 2024, we encourage
you and your agency's submission
of the Agency Performance
Survey within NRPA Park Metrics.
The more data we collect, the more
robust Park Metrics and the 2024
APR will be for you and your agency.
Agencies submitting their Agency
Performance Survey by January
26, 2024, will receive a custom
Agency Performance Report showcasing
their survey results alongside the
data from the national APR.
Melissa May is Senior Research Manager
at NRPA (mmay@nrpa.org).
http://www.nrpa.org/APR http://www.nrpa.org/ParkMetrics
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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