Parks Master Plan: An Element of the Durango Comprehensive Plan: Durango, Colorado

• Description: Durango RICD
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 10/16/2001
• Author: Department of Planning and Community Development, Department of Parks and Recreations, Winston Associates, Ciavonne & Asscoiates
• Title: Parks Master Plan: An Element of the Durango Comprehensive Plan: Durango, Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) as objectives. These
"standards" were a composite of the levels -of- service calculations of several large
cities throughout the U.S. Table 4 shows the national standards and associated
levels -of- service that were recommended in 1987.
Table 4: National Standards
Activity /Facility
Recommended Units
Level of
Recommended
per Population Base
Service
Service Area
Radius
Basketball
1 per 5,000
.20
/4 to 1 /2 mile
Indoor Ice Hockey
1 per 100,000
.01
%z to 1 hour
travel time
Tennis
1 court per 2,000
.50
'/4 to % mile
Volleyball
1 court per 5,000
.20
'/4 to 1 /2 mile
Baseball
1 per 5,000
.20
'/4 to ' /2 mile
lighted — 1 per 30,000
.04
Little League
1 per 5,000
.20
' /4 to '/2 mile
Football
1 per 20,000
.05
15 -30 minutes
travel time
Soccer
1 per 10,000
.10
1 -2 miles
Golf (18 hole golf
1 per 50,000
.02
'/2 to 1 hour
course )
travel time
Running Track
1 per 20,000
.05
15 -30 minutes
travel time
Softball
1 per 5,000
.20
'/4 to %2 mile
Multiple Recreation
1 per 10,000
.10
1 -2 miles
Court (basketball,
volleyball, tennis)
Swimming Pools
1 per 20,000 (Pools
.05
15 -30 minutes
should accommodate
travel time
3 -5% of total
o ulation at a time
Neighborhood Park
2.5 acres per 1,000
2.5
'/2 mile
0 -15 acres
District /Community
2.5 acres per 1,000
2.5
3 miles
Park 16 -100 acres)
Regional Park
5 acres per 1,000
5.0
3 miles
100+ acres
Over time, many communities recognized that national standards did not account
for unique local circumstances, especially for smaller communities. In recent
years the "one size fits all" approach of national standards has not been widely
used. In addressing national standards the NRPA stated "it was the firm conviction
of the revision team that we should provide the best guidance possible for all
communities regardless of size so that they may work within their own unique
social, economic, and institutional structure to provide the park, recreation, and
open space system that is best for their community and within their economic and
financial capability ". Therefore, the NRPA (and most communities) believes that
a customized approach to setting levels -of- service provides for better plannin, and
allows level -of- service to be tailored to the unique needs of each community. °
10 Preface, Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenway Guidelines, 1996. NRPA