NRPA Technology & Tools 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which tool would a parks planner use to calculate the walkability score of a neighborhood relative to park access?
- CMMS software
- GIS spatial analysis tools (Correct answer)
- Point-of-sale system
- Social media analytics dashboard
Correct answer: GIS spatial analysis tools
GIS spatial analysis tools can calculate distances, service areas, and accessibility metrics to evaluate walkability and park access equity.
Question 2: A recreation center installs self-check-in kiosks for members. What is the MAIN benefit of this technology?
- Reduces the need for any staff at the facility
- Speeds up entry and frees staff for higher-value tasks (Correct answer)
- Eliminates membership fees
- Automatically schedules maintenance
Correct answer: Speeds up entry and frees staff for higher-value tasks
Self-check-in kiosks reduce wait times and allow frontline staff to redirect their attention to programming, customer service, and facility supervision.
Question 3: Which approach best describes cloud-based software as it applies to parks and recreation agencies?
- Software installed on individual office computers only
- Software hosted on remote servers and accessed via the internet (Correct answer)
- Software used exclusively for weather monitoring
- Software that operates without internet connectivity
Correct answer: Software hosted on remote servers and accessed via the internet
Cloud-based software is hosted on remote servers and accessed through a web browser, allowing staff to use it from any location with internet access.
Question 4: What does the term 'open data' mean in the context of parks and recreation agencies?
- Data that is freely available to the public without restrictions (Correct answer)
- Encrypted internal staff data
- Real-time sensor data from park equipment
- Data shared only among government agencies
Correct answer: Data that is freely available to the public without restrictions
Open data refers to publicly available datasets that anyone can access, use, and share, often published by government agencies to promote transparency.
Question 5: Which technology enables parks staff to scan and track playground equipment inspections digitally in the field?
- Desktop spreadsheet software
- Mobile inspection apps with GPS and photo capture (Correct answer)
- Digital billboard systems
- Online survey platforms
Correct answer: Mobile inspection apps with GPS and photo capture
Mobile inspection apps allow field staff to record inspection results, capture photos, and log GPS locations directly from a smartphone or tablet.
Question 6: A parks agency wants to improve equity in park access. Which technology tool would BEST help identify underserved areas?
- Social media listening tools
- GIS mapping with demographic overlay (Correct answer)
- Online registration software
- Digital signage systems
Correct answer: GIS mapping with demographic overlay
GIS mapping with demographic overlays allows agencies to visualize park locations alongside population data to identify communities with inadequate access.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a park agency's customer relationship management (CRM) system?
- Managing maintenance schedules for park equipment
- Tracking interactions and relationships with community members and partners (Correct answer)
- Monitoring water quality in park facilities
- Scheduling automated drone flights
Correct answer: Tracking interactions and relationships with community members and partners
A CRM system centralizes contact information and communication history with residents, partners, and donors to strengthen community relationships.
NRPA Technology & Tools 3
Which tool would a parks planner use to calculate the walkability score of a neighborhood relative to park access?