Parks seek input from public

By Elise Franco | March 5, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

Youngstown

Mill Creek MetroParks staff has taken a vested interest in what residents want to see happen within the park system.

A 26-question survey recently was mailed to 5,000 randomly chosen Mahoning County residents, seeking their opinions on what they do and don’t like about the park.

The survey is meant to provide data park administrators want and need to create the next 10-year strategic plan, said Linda Kostka, marketing and development director.

Kostka said at least 600 surveys need to be returned to make the data viable. The park is working with Youngstown State University on the statistically valid survey, she said.

Kostka said YSU will tabulate all of the data and send the results to MetroParks staff.

“We want to know how people use the park, which facilities they visit the most, the programs and rec opportunities they use,” she said. “We want to know how much they know about the park and the types of amenities they do and don’t want.”

Kostka said the survey was sent via direct mail to the chosen residents, and those who send it back by March 9 will be entered to win one of four gasoline gift cards.

Those who didn’t receive an official survey but still want to contribute can download a copy on the MetroParks’ website under MetroParks News at www.millcreekmetroparks.com.

“Those who download the survey won’t be considered for the YSU statistical data because they’re not random recipients,” she said. “But their input will be considered in our planning process.”

Executive Director Clarke Johnson said it’s critical to have input from those who use the park.

“It gives everybody who received a survey the opportunity to help guide the park district for future improvements,” he said. “It gives us an idea of what the community is most interested in and lets us know where we’re succeeding or possibly not doing as well.”

Johnson said the park must have the new 10-year plan in place by the end of 2012 in order to apply for and receive federal grant funding. Collecting data from the survey will help the administration determine what to include in that plan.

“It is important to have a finger on the pulse of the community to see what they’re interested in,” he said.