Planning & Design Flashcards

Which planning document typically establishes the long-range vision for a park system over a 10–20 year horizon?

Answer: Comprehensive master plan

A comprehensive master plan sets the long-range vision, goals, and strategies for a park system over an extended planning horizon.

The Level of Service (LOS) standard in parks planning is most commonly expressed as:

Answer: Acres of parkland per 1,000 residents

LOS in parks planning is typically expressed as acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, allowing comparison to national benchmarks.

Which Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standard specifically addresses accessible routes within newly constructed park facilities?

Answer: 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design

The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design govern accessible routes and features in newly constructed and altered recreation facilities.

A park designer wants to minimize urban heat island effect in a new plaza. The BEST landscape strategy is to:

Answer: Plant shade trees and use light-colored permeable paving

Shade trees and light-colored permeable paving reduce heat absorption and allow stormwater infiltration, directly mitigating urban heat island effect.

In a needs assessment, gap analysis refers to:

Answer: The difference between existing service levels and desired standards

Gap analysis identifies the difference between the current level of service and the desired or standard level of service in a community.

Which site analysis tool uses geographic information to layer environmental, social, and infrastructure data for park planning decisions?

Answer: Geographic Information System (GIS)

GIS allows planners to spatially analyze and overlay multiple data layers—such as demographics, topography, and existing amenities—to inform siting decisions.

The primary purpose of a park classification system (e.g., mini-park, neighborhood park, community park, regional park) is to:

Answer: Guide equitable distribution of facilities by service area and scale

Classification systems define service areas, sizes, and facility types so parks are distributed equitably to serve all residents within appropriate distances.

Universal design in park facility planning goes beyond ADA compliance by aiming to:

Answer: Create environments usable by all people without adaptation

Universal design principles seek to create spaces and products usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without specialized adaptation.

A Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategy most applicable to park planning is:

Answer: Ensuring natural surveillance through clear sightlines and appropriate lighting

CPTED promotes natural surveillance—using lighting, vegetation management, and layout to maximize visibility and deter criminal activity.

During schematic design, the primary deliverable is:

Answer: A conceptual layout showing major elements and relationships

Schematic design produces conceptual layouts and diagrams that illustrate the overall design approach and spatial relationships before detailed drawings are developed.

Which stormwater management technique filters runoff through vegetation and soil media in a linear channel alongside paths or roads?

Answer: Bioswale

Bioswales are vegetated channels designed to slow, filter, and infiltrate stormwater runoff, commonly used alongside pathways and parking areas.

The NRPA PRORAGIS database is primarily used by park agencies to:

Answer: Benchmark park and recreation system performance against peer agencies

PRORAGIS (Park and Recreation Agency Resource and Information System) is NRPA's data tool that allows agencies to collect and compare operational data against national benchmarks.

In park master planning, a 'bubble diagram' is used to:

Answer: Illustrate relationships and adjacencies between program areas without exact dimensions

Bubble diagrams are conceptual sketches using circles or blobs to represent program areas and show their functional relationships and adjacencies.

When evaluating playground equipment for a new park, which safety standard published by ASTM International is most commonly referenced?

Answer: ASTM F1292 (impact attenuation)

ASTM F1292 establishes the standard specification for impact attenuation of surfacing materials in playground safety zones.

A phased development strategy in a capital improvement plan is most beneficial when:

Answer: Budget constraints require spreading construction over multiple years

Phased development allows agencies to begin construction with available funds while completing additional phases as future funding becomes available.

A park planner reviewing a site's soil percolation rate is primarily concerned with:

Answer: Assessing suitability for septic systems or stormwater infiltration

Percolation rate measures how fast water moves through soil, which is critical for siting septic systems and designing stormwater infiltration features.

Which design principle calls for organizing a park so that active recreation areas are buffered from quiet, passive areas?

Answer: Zoning or use separation

Use separation (zoning) clusters compatible activities together and buffers incompatible ones—such as separating noisy athletic fields from quiet nature areas.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is typically required in park development when:

Answer: Any federal funding or federal land is involved

Under NEPA, projects involving federal funding, permits, or land require an environmental review, which may include a full Environmental Impact Statement.

The concept of 'park equity' in modern planning most directly addresses:

Answer: Ensuring all residents have reasonable access to quality parks regardless of income or race

Park equity focuses on ensuring underserved communities—often low-income or minority neighborhoods—have access to quality park spaces and programming.

A park agency conducting a feasibility study for a new aquatic center would primarily use which financial analysis?

Answer: Break-even analysis and cost-recovery projections

Feasibility studies for recreation facilities typically include break-even analysis and cost-recovery projections to assess financial sustainability.