HILLTOWN TOWNSHIP 2009 PARKS, RECREATION & OPEN SPACE SURVEY RESULTS A Presentation to the Board of Supervisors William E. Wert III, CPRP Assistant Township Manager, Director of Parks, Recreation & Open Space July 13, 2009
November 10, 2008 BOS reconstituted the PROS Citizens Advisory Board and defined Department Goals & Objectives February 9, 2009 BOS unanimously approve the mailing of the PROS Survey with amendments March 18, 2009 PROS mails first park and recreation survey sine 1996 June 17, 2009 PROS Survey Results Completed
4,902 Surveys Mailed 1,049 Responses 21.4% Response Rate
16 Questions, 4 Sections: Parks General Info Recreation Open Space
Tamper Resistant Surveys Color Coded By Quadrant Color Ink Minimizes Chance of Duplication of Survey Form Prevents block interest responses Allows for more in depth analysis of responses by Quadrant
Quad 1 Northwest Yellow Paper Quad 2 Northeast Green Paper Quad 3 Southwest Tan Paper Quad 4 Southeast Purple Paper
SURVEYS MAILED SURVEYS RECEIVED 17% 15% 43% 19% 16% 39% 25% 26% Quad 1 Quad 2 Quad 3 Quad 4 Quad 1 Quad 2 Quad 3 Quad 4
Question 1: Which three (3) of the following age categories do you think Hilltown Township should provide organized recreation program opportunities? 650 450 250 50 Ages 0 2 3 5 6 12 13 19 20 35 36 55 56+
Question 2: Which three (3) of the following types of programs would you or your family consider participating in if they were offered by Hilltown Township? 600 400 200 0 Program Types Amusement Tickets Music Concert Trips Swimming Adult Exercises Summer Camps Pee Wee Sports Youth Programs Family Programs Adult Sports Senior Programs Science Programs
Question 3: If you or your family were to participate in recreation programs offered, how much would you be willing to pay per program? 10% 8% 7% 0 $10 28% $11 $19 $20 $29 26% 21% $30 $39 $40 $49 $50 or more
Question 4: Does your family participate in the existing organized recreation opportunities available in the region? 200 150 100 50 0 Ages Lacrosse Softball Basketball YMCA/YWCA Football Soccer School District Buck County Swimming Baseball CYO Other
Question 5: If any member of your family has special needs, could you please explain what they are? Autism Breathing Problems Disabled Vet Muscular Dystrophy Multiple Sclerosis Blind Spina Bifida Cerebral Palsy Arthritis Hearing Impaired Mentally Handicapped/Retardation
Question 6: How often do you visit Hilltown Township s Civic Park & Blooming Glen Park? 39% 5% 5%1% Don't Use 50% 1 5 Visits Per Month 1 5 Visits Per Week 5 10 Visits Per Month Daily
Question 7: How would you rate Hilltown Township s Park System? 11% 6% 21% 23% 39% Good Adequate Poor Unaware Don't Use
Question 8: 500 400 300 200 100 What type of recreation facilities are most needed and should be provided by Hilltown Township? Check top 5 needs. 0 Park Facilicities Trails Trails Hike Trails Bike Trails Horse Trails ATV Community Center Indoor Sports Playgrounds Athletic Fields Environmental Ed Center Skateboarding Volleyball Picnic Areas Golf Tennis Dog Parks Other
Question 9: Do you think Hilltown Township should develop larger regional parks or smaller neighborhood (community) parks? 11% 10% 21% Regional Neighborhood Both 27% 31% Neither No Opinion
Question 10: How important is the development of pedestrian and bicycle trails to connect the following? 600 400 200 0 Connect Parks Connect Neighborhoods Connect Neighborhoods to Parks Important Not Important
Question 11: Would you support a tax increase to fund future development and maintenance of parks in Hilltown Township? 36% 19% Yes No 45% Not Sure
Question 12: There are many reasons to preserve open space, which reasons are important to you? Check top 3 reasons. 10% 9% 24% Maintain Rural Character Conserve Forests & Farmlands 12% Conserve Natural Areas 21% 24% Conserve Scenic Vistas Historical/Botanic al/geological Recreation
Question 13: How do you prefer the Township spend the Open Space funds from your Earned Income Taxes? 20% 19% 37% Acquisition Wildlife/Natural Areas Acquisition Park Development Easements Farmland 24% Acquisition Open Space
Question 14: If you are interested in preserving your property, please provide your name, address and phone number so we may contact you to discuss. Of all respondents, 20 of 1,049 or 2% expressed interest in preserving their property. These respondents will be contacted and provided an Expression of Interest to Preserve Open Space Form to complete so their properties can be evaluated and incorporated into the 2009 Open Space Plan.
Question 15 & 15a: How many years have you lived in the Township? 17% 2% 38% Over 20 Years 10 20 Years 20% 1 5 Years 6 10 Years 23% < 1 Year
Length of residency: Sixty one percent (615 of 1,003 or 61.3%) have lived in the Township for more than ten (10) years. Of this group, more than sixty one percent (378 of 615 or 61.5%) have lived here over twenty (20) years. Thirty seven percent (388 of 1,003 or 37.7%) have lived in the Township for less than ten (10) years Recreation: Overall, the Township should offer organized recreation opportunities: Geared towards children under the age of nineteen (19). A majority of residents would be willing to spend up to thirty dollars ($30.00) per program. There should be music concerts in the park, bus trips/events/tours and discount amusement tickets available. Previously, residents were satisfying their organized recreation needs from other organizations such: Pennridge School District Bucks County Parks. Area volunteer youth sporting or non profit organizations.
Parks: Approximately half of the residents do not use the Civic or Blooming Glen Parks. However, a large majority rate the park system as good or adequate. Respondents are most interested in the development of a hike n bike system that connects neighborhoods to Township parks. Respondents are interested in having playgrounds and picnic areas as opposed to athletic facilities and are also interested in these facilities in or near their neighborhoods, as well as developed regionally within Hilltown Township. Open Space: The respondents are interested in preserving rural character, natural features and farmland. Respondents are interested to see the Township spend their open space funds on land acquisition for wildlife/natural area restoration and park development, not conservation easements. Based on the responses in the Open Space section of the survey, open space funds should be spent on passive recreation, natural resource based development, not athletic facilities. Respondents don t support a tax increase to fund future development or maintenance of parks. Approximately fifty six percent (56%) of residents said Yes or Not Sure to a tax increase.
HILLTOWN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS By approval of the Board of Supervisor, the results of this survey will further define and refine the Goals and Objectives established by the Board of Supervisors on November 10, 2008 for the PROS Department. Therefore, the details gleaned from this survey will become the foundation of the PROS Department for the next five to ten (5 10) years. These survey results will provide continued direction for: PARKS: Development of a Township park system including a trail system RECREATION: Assist in defining the offering of recreation programs; OPEN SPACE: Help define the open space preservation program.
Park Development Revisit Forest Road Park Master Plan To Include Beyer Property Develop Master Plan for Berry Brow Work with developers to create neighborhood parks Develop a Hike N Bike Trail Specific Plan
RECREATION: Define the offering of recreation programs Program Development for children ages 6 19 Program Development for adults 36 + Develop Concert Series, special events & trips
OPEN SPACE: Help define the open space preservation program Priority One: Target Parcels For Acquisition to Protect Wildlife/Natural Areas Priority Two: Target Parcels For Acquisition to Develop Park Land Priority Three: Target Farms To Protect Via Easement Priority Four: Target Parcels For Acquisition to Protect Open Spaces
The results of the 2009 Parks, Recreation & Open Space Survey conducted by Hilltown Township has provided: Valuable information that will assist in the development of the Township s Parks, Recreation & Open Space Department. Critical insight into the interests of the residents Allow the Board of Supervisors and the Administration to chart a clear path into the future of its park and open space system and recreational program offerings.
With Board of Supervisor s approval, this snapshot of the Hilltown Township resident will: Help further define and refine the Goals and Objectives established by the Board of Supervisors on November 10, 2008 Become the foundation for the Parks, Recreation & Open Space Department for the next five to ten (5 10) years.
QUESTIONS?