Putting People in Parks

Programming and Community Engagement for Public Open Spaces

Andy Wickens –City of MississaugaNational Parks and Recreation Conference

Sept. 27, 2007

Some Propositions• Parks and open spaces are important to cities

– Environmental, aesthetic and social benefits

• Outmoded attitudes in Parks and Recreation– Separate roles for Recreation and Parks– Recreation is a revenue centre; Parks is a cost centre– Recreation is about people; Parks are about grass

and trees– Managing Parks is about maintenance only– Once a park is designed and built our work is done

More Propositions

• Residents tend to feel ownership of open spaces (and should)

• Well used parks are safer, and build communities

• Parks and open spaces (designed and programmed well) provide venues for healthy activity and social interaction

• If we build beautiful parks and maintain them perfectly and no one uses them – we are not doing our job…

Changes at the City of Mississauga

• Rapid growth and tight budgets in Recreation and Parks

• Mississauga – operating cost per acre - $2750• Average – comparable Canadian Cities - $3417• Cuts to service levels in Parks – but…• Household Survey

– 98% of residents use parks and trails– Residents support more parkland and trails

Moving Forward - 2006

“Placemaking”

Other Initiatives

• Services Integration Report– Establishment of a Parks and Forestry

Section

• Environmental Advisory Committee of Council

• Building a City for the 21st Century

• Healthy Mississauga 2010

New Directions for Mississauga Parks

• Mississauga is taking a new direction with regard to parks, consistent with the City’s strategic priorities

• We want to move parks beyondjust “grass and trees”

• Mississauga R and P is actively raising the profile of parks in the City and improving strategic direction and operational planning

• Put people in parks through better marketing, events, programming and community/volunteer outreach

…and More

• Ensure that park designs address the new approach to parks– Port Credit Memorial– Waterfront Strategy– Civic Centre Precinct

• Future studies to ensure that operation structures and funding address the new way of doing business

What Else?

• Enhancing trails and natural areas– Tied into Healthy Cities Initiative and Active 2010– “Green infrastructure”

• Revenue Development– Fees – Sponsorships– Partnerships

• Parks has created a full time position to address community engagement, marketing and programming for parks

New Initiatives – The Concept in Action

• Community Gardens

• Community Engagement – Spruce Park– Staghorn Woods

• LitterVention

• Civic Centre Skate Park

• Cardio Core – fitness classes in the park

More New Initiatives

• Cherry Blossom Festival – Kariya Park

• BMX sites and Action Sports Coalition

• Parks Community Stewardship Program– Rotary Club – Richard’s Memorial– Rhododendron Gardens Group

For 2008…

• Programming – Port Credit Parks

• Outdoor Weddings

• School Engagement – shared sites

• Urban Adventure Race

• Bike Tours

• Joint Programs with Community Centres

• Rhododendron Event

Challenges

• People Resources – one dedicated staff person at present

• Money – building support and revenue takes time

• Sorting out roles – Events, Community Development, Marketing, Planning and Development

• Resistance from some staff – this just looks like more work…

Why Do All This?• Cities with attractive, well used, public

greenspace and trails attract investment• Successful parks are active, vibrant and

well used (year round and 24/7)– this means a different way of planning and operating parks– Year round use– Programming– New and different amenities

Why Do All This (Continued)

• This requires new staffing and resources• Acquiring these resources requires community

and political support• Raising the profile of parks, a high level of

community involvement and engagement with the public builds this support

• The end result is a better, more liveable city