CPRP Planning and Design 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A park agency wants to prioritize capital projects objectively. Which tool is most appropriate for ranking projects based on multiple weighted criteria?
- Gantt chart
- Weighted scoring matrix (Correct answer)
- PERT diagram
- Bubble diagram
Correct answer: Weighted scoring matrix
A weighted scoring matrix allows agencies to evaluate and rank capital projects against multiple criteria such as need, cost, equity, and community priority.
Question 2: Which planning approach emphasizes designing parks to manage stormwater on-site through infiltration, detention, and natural filtration?
- Low Impact Development (LID) (Correct answer)
- Traditional hardscape design
- Bioretention phasing
- Riparian buffer zoning
Correct answer: Low Impact Development (LID)
Low Impact Development (LID) uses site design techniques to manage stormwater at the source through infiltration, filtration, and detention rather than conventional piped drainage.
Question 3: A recreation planner is designing a trail system and must ensure connections between parks across multiple jurisdictions. This is an example of:
- Intra-agency coordination
- Regional greenway planning (Correct answer)
- Intergovernmental service agreement
- Trail amenity programming
Correct answer: Regional greenway planning
Regional greenway planning involves coordinating trail and open space connections across multiple jurisdictions to create a linked network.
Question 4: What does 'placemaking' mean in the context of park and recreation planning?
- Installing wayfinding signage throughout a park
- The process of creating meaningful public spaces that reflect community identity (Correct answer)
- Selecting the geographic location for a new park
- Naming parks after community donors
Correct answer: The process of creating meaningful public spaces that reflect community identity
Placemaking is a collaborative process of shaping public spaces to reflect community values, foster social interaction, and create a sense of belonging.
Question 5: A park agency is required to provide a 'Notice of Intent' before beginning an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Under which law is this requirement established?
- Clean Water Act
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (Correct answer)
- Endangered Species Act
- National Historic Preservation Act
Correct answer: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
NEPA requires federal agencies — and projects using federal funds or permits — to assess environmental impacts, including publishing a Notice of Intent before preparing an EIS.
Question 6: In park facility planning, a 'service area' is defined as:
- The area of a park reserved for maintenance operations
- The geographic zone from which a park or facility draws its primary users (Correct answer)
- The square footage of all indoor recreation space
- The designated vendor area within a park
Correct answer: The geographic zone from which a park or facility draws its primary users
A service area is the geographic catchment zone from which a park or facility primarily draws its users, often expressed as a radius or drive/walk time.
Question 7: Which of the following is the best example of an 'adaptive reuse' strategy in park planning?
- Building a new recreation center on undeveloped land
- Converting a closed school gymnasium into a community recreation center (Correct answer)
- Adding a splash pad to an existing park
- Replacing aging playground equipment with new equipment
Correct answer: Converting a closed school gymnasium into a community recreation center
Adaptive reuse repurposes existing buildings or infrastructure for new uses — converting a closed school gym into a recreation center is a classic example.
CPRP Planning and Design 5
A park agency wants to prioritize capital projects objectively.
Which tool is most appropriate for ranking projects based on multiple weighted criteria?