CPRE Park Planning and Design 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An environmental impact assessment for a new park facility is required under NEPA when:
- Any park employee raises a concern
- A federal nexus such as funding or permits exists (Correct answer)
- The local newspaper requests one
- Visitor counts exceed 10,000 per year
Correct answer: A federal nexus such as funding or permits exists
NEPA triggers an environmental review whenever a proposed action involves federal funding, permits, or land, requiring assessment of environmental effects.
Question 2: Which green infrastructure element is specifically designed to capture and filter stormwater runoff in park settings?
- Sports field lighting
- Bioswale (Correct answer)
- Concession stand
- Perimeter fencing
Correct answer: Bioswale
Bioswales are vegetated channels designed to slow, filter, and absorb stormwater runoff, improving water quality and reducing flooding.
Question 3: A community needs assessment for park planning should gather data from which combination of sources?
- Only elected officials and board members
- Only demographic census data
- A mix of community surveys, focus groups, usage data, and stakeholder interviews (Correct answer)
- Only staff observations
Correct answer: A mix of community surveys, focus groups, usage data, and stakeholder interviews
A comprehensive needs assessment triangulates quantitative data with qualitative input for a complete picture of community needs.
Question 4: Joint-use agreements with schools benefit park agencies primarily by:
- Transferring all liability to the school district
- Expanding public access to facilities without requiring the park agency to build or own them (Correct answer)
- Reducing programming requirements
- Eliminating the need for park maintenance staff
Correct answer: Expanding public access to facilities without requiring the park agency to build or own them
Joint-use agreements allow communities to share facilities like gyms and fields, increasing public access to recreation space at lower capital cost.
Question 5: CPTED principles applied to parks include:
- Installing surveillance cameras only
- Designing open sight lines, adequate lighting, and clear boundaries that naturally deter criminal activity (Correct answer)
- Restricting all evening access to parks
- Hiring uniformed security for all park areas
Correct answer: Designing open sight lines, adequate lighting, and clear boundaries that naturally deter criminal activity
CPTED uses physical design strategies — visibility, lighting, defined spaces — to reduce opportunities for crime without relying solely on enforcement.
Question 6: A trail feasibility study should primarily assess:
- The color scheme of trail signage
- Connectivity to destinations, user demand, terrain, environmental impacts, and cost (Correct answer)
- Staff preferences for trail maintenance methods
- Social media trends related to hiking
Correct answer: Connectivity to destinations, user demand, terrain, environmental impacts, and cost
Trail feasibility studies evaluate connectivity, user demand, topography, environmental constraints, and development costs to determine viability.
CPRE Park Planning and Design 2
An environmental impact assessment for a new park facility is required under NEPA when: