CPRP Planning & Design 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A phased development strategy in a capital improvement plan is most beneficial when:
- All funding is secured before any design begins
- Budget constraints require spreading construction over multiple years (Correct answer)
- Community demand for the facility is low
- Environmental permits are not required
Correct 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.
Question 2: A park planner reviewing a site's soil percolation rate is primarily concerned with:
- Determining appropriate turf grass species
- Assessing suitability for septic systems or stormwater infiltration (Correct answer)
- Measuring soil compaction for athletic fields
- Evaluating contamination from prior land uses
Correct 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.
Question 3: Which design principle calls for organizing a park so that active recreation areas are buffered from quiet, passive areas?
- Zoning or use separation (Correct answer)
- Centralized programming
- Universal access
- Ecological restoration
Correct 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.
Question 4: An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is typically required in park development when:
- Any federal funding or federal land is involved (Correct answer)
- The park is less than one acre in size
- Only private donations fund the project
- The facility is an indoor recreation center
Correct 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.
Question 5: The concept of 'park equity' in modern planning most directly addresses:
- Equal budgets for all parks regardless of size
- Ensuring all residents have reasonable access to quality parks regardless of income or race (Correct answer)
- Standardizing fees across all facilities
- Providing the same amenities at every park site
Correct 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.
Question 6: A park agency conducting a feasibility study for a new aquatic center would primarily use which financial analysis?
- Break-even analysis and cost-recovery projections (Correct answer)
- Parcel tax rate calculations
- Return-on-equity ratios
- Gross domestic product impact modeling
Correct 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.
Question 7: According to the NRPA, the recommended parkland standard for urban communities is approximately:
- 1 acre per 1,000 residents
- 10 acres per 1,000 residents (Correct answer)
- 25 acres per 1,000 residents
- 50 acres per 1,000 residents
Correct answer: 10 acres per 1,000 residents
NRPA historically cited 10 acres per 1,000 residents as a common benchmark, though modern guidance encourages agencies to set context-specific standards.
CPRP Planning & Design 4
A phased development strategy in a capital improvement plan is most beneficial when: