Does Your Park Need a Wellness Checkup

Just like people, parks need regular checkups to stay healthy and vibrant. Parks are the heartbeats of our communities—places where people connect, play, and recharge. But what happens when your parks are not thriving? How can you tell if your park system is under the weather? Does your park system need a wellness checkup?

A comprehensive parks and recreation master plan or master plan update acts as a wellness checkup for your park system. It evaluates the current state of parks, identifies symptoms of decline, and prescribes a customized action plan to restore vitality and ensure long-term health.

Symptoms of Sick Parks

• Low Usage Rates: If community members are not using a park, it is a clear sign that something isn’t working. A lack of amenities, safety concerns, or simply changing community needs might be the cause.
• Worn or Outdated Equipment and Programming: Playground structures past their prime, broken benches, and cracked pathways can deter visitors and pose safety risks. A park may be well loved and worn out or it can be ignored and neglected, both of these are opportunities to revamp the park and/or its programming.
• Safety Issues: Parks should be welcoming to everyone, but vandalism and refuse in parks can make them uninviting and even unsafe. Parks that are unsafe or perceived to be unsafe can create challenges for safety, maintenance, and equitable access.
• Environmental Issues: Erosion, invasive species, or poor stormwater management can damage the natural features that make parks beautiful and functional.

The Checkup Process

A parks and recreation master plan begins with a thorough assessment—just like a doctor gathering medical history and performing diagnostic tests. This process includes:
• Community Engagement: Listening to residents to understand what they love about their parks and what needs improvement.
• Facility Audits: Inspecting equipment, infrastructure, and environmental conditions.
• Program Analysis: Reviewing recreation programs to ensure they meet current and future community needs.
• Equity and Accessibility Review: Identifying gaps in access for different populations.

Ongoing Care for Long-Term Health

A master plan is not just a one-time treatment—it’s a long-term care plan. It is also not a one-size-fits-all process. Regular updates, performance monitoring, and continued community input keep parks healthy and responsive to changing needs.

Investing in a parks and recreation master plan shows a commitment to the well-being of both parks and the communities they serve. With the right care, parks can thrive—providing beauty, recreation, and connection for generations to come. In North Carolina, a parks and recreation plan is also necessary to be eligible for grants from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

Is it time for you to schedule a wellness checkup for your park system? If so call us today at 844.448.4333 or email us at info@mcgillassociates.com to discuss developing or updating your parks and recreation master plan.