HomeMy WebLinkAboutNRPA SUMMARYCity of Lakeville NRPA Metrics Draft Summary
September 2018
In early 2018, Staff at the request of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee (PRNRC)
completed a National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) 2017 Agency Performance Survey. By
participating in the survey, cities throughout the country can compare one another’s Parks and
Recreation departments in 8 categories: Agency Responsibilities, Facilities, Workload, Activities, Agency
Operations, Personnel, Capital Budget and Effectiveness.
Within these 8 categories, Staff and the PRNRC reviewed metrics on Parks/Facilities, Classes/Programs,
Staffing and Budget information which was compared to surrounding similar metropolitan area
communities including, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Owatonna, Plymouth, Shakopee and Woodbury.
The metrics were also compared to comparable cities throughout the country. The following are the 8
categories.
RESPONSIBILITIES
In comparison to comparable metro/regional communities and on the national level, Lakeville Parks
and Recreation performs as well or better in the operation of its park facilities, management of trails,
Recreation programming and management of outdoor sports complexes. Areas that were found to be
lacking are tourism attractions, large performance outdoor Amphitheatre and indoor sports complex.
METRO/REGIONAL
NATIONAL
STRENGTHS
o Operate and maintain park sites and facilities
o Provide Recreation programming and
services
o Operate, maintain, or manage trails,
greenways and or blueways
o Administer or manage tournament/event
quality outdoor sports complexes
OPPORTUNITIES
o Operate, maintain, or contract tourism
attractions
o Administer community gardens
o Manage large performance outdoor
amphitheaters
o Administer or manage tournament/event quality
indoor sports complexes
STRENGTHS
o Operate and maintain park sites and facilities
o Provide Recreation programming and services
o Operate, maintain, or manage trails, greenways
and or blueways
o Administer or manage tournament/event quality
outdoor sports complexes
OPPORTUNITIES
o Operate, maintain, or contract tourism
attractions
o Administer community gardens
o Manage large performance outdoor
amphitheaters
o Administer or manage tournament/event quality
FACILITIES
The variety and number of facilities that Lakeville provides sets it above its peers however, in
comparison to surrounding communities there were several facilities that were identified as needs. A
community center, performance amphitheater and community gardens are some of the facilities that
the community is currently lacking. While there is an existing Environmental Learning Center, it’s
limited in it’s ability to support programs and classes.
METRO/REGIONAL
NATIONAL
STRENGTHS
o Community Art Center
o Senior Centers
o Ice Rinks
o Playgrounds
o Diamond fields: baseball – adult
o Dog park
OPPORTUNITIES
o Community Centers
o Performance Amphitheatre
o Nature Centers
o Community Gardens
STRENGTHS
o Community Art Center
o Senior Centers
o Ice Rink
o Playgrounds
o Diamond fields: baseball – adult
o Dog park
OPPORTUNITIES
o Community Centers
o Performance Amphitheatre
o Nature Centers
o Community Gardens
o Senior Centers
WORKLOAD
A need for more facilities for classes, programming and recreation was again identified as an
opportunity in this section. While there is a disparity between Lakeville and its peers on
number of programs being offered and fee-based programs, the shortage of facilities was
identified as a contributing factor. Lakeville performs strongly when it comes to number of
parks, trails and outdoor recreation spaces.
METRO/REGIONAL
NATIONAL
STRENGTHS
o Total number of parks
o Number of acres of developed open space for
which the department has management
responsibility over or maintains
o Number of acres of undeveloped open space
for which the department has management
responsibility over or maintains
o Total number of trail miles managed or
maintained by the agency
o Total Park Facility contacts
o Total facilities and parks contacts
OPPORTUNITIES
o Number of operated buildings
o Square footage of operated buildings
o Total number of programs offered
o Number of fee-based programs
STRENGTHS
o Total number of parks
o Total park acres
o Number of acres of developed open space
for which the department has management
responsibility over or maintains
o Number of acres of undeveloped open space
for which the department has management
responsibility over or maintains
o Total number of trail miles managed or
maintained by the agency
o Total number of programs offered
OPPORTUNITIES
In comparison to national metrics, no opportunities
were identified.
ACTIVITIES
While Lakeville does not currently have a pool for aquatics programming, department staff
fosters strong working relationships with community partners to ensure that the community
has access to these programs. Something that was identified as potential future need as the
community’s youth population continues to grow is access to before and after school
programs. More targeted programs for teens and individuals with disabilities are both
opportunities for Lakeville as programming for these groups falls short on both the local and
national average.
METRO/REGIONAL
NATIONAL
STRENGTHS
o Aquatics
OPPORTUNITIES
o Before school programs
o After school programs
o Preschool
o Specific teen programs
o Programs for people with disabilities
STRENGTHS
o Aquatics
OPPORTUNITIES
o Before school programs
o After school programs
o Preschool
o Specific teen programs
o Programs for people with disabilities
OPERATIONS
The total annual operating expenditures were listed as both a strength and an opportunity, it
is apparent that Lakeville Parks and Recreation is able to offer well-maintained park spaces,
athletic facilities and a variety of popular programming but could potentially benefit from
increased access to funding. At the local level, the department relies more heavily on general
fund tax support versus program generated revenue but is in line with the national average.
METRO/REGIONAL
NATIONAL
STRENGTHS
o Agency’s total annual operating
expenditures
o Percentage of agency’s total operating
expenditures from grants
OPPORTUNITIES
o Agency’s total annual operating
expenditures
o Expenditures for recreation
o Percentage of agency’s total operating
expenditures from general fund tax
support
STRENGTHS
o Agency’s total annual operating
expenditures
o Expenditures for parks and recreation
o Percentage of agency’s total operating
expenditures from; general fund tax
support, dedicated levies,
earned/generated revenue, other
dedicated taxes, sponsorships and grants.
o Agency’s total annual non-tax revenues
OPPORTUNITIES
In comparison to national metrics, no
opportunities were identified.
PERSONNEL
Again, this section indicated the department’s ability to use resources wisely but increase in
number of employees could benefit the organization. Staff is effective at recruiting and
leveraging volunteers to assist with running programs and major events.
METRO/REGIONAL
NATIONAL
STRENGTHS
o Number of full-time employees
o Total number of full-time equivalent
employees
o Number of volunteers
o Total hours worked by volunteers
OPPORTUNITIES
o Number of full-time employees
o Total number of full-time equivalent
employees
STRENGTHS
o Number of full-time employees
o Total number of full-time equivalent
employees
o Percentage of total full-time equivalents
involved in the following operational areas:
administration, operations/maintenance,
programmers and capital development
o Number of volunteers
o Total hours worked by volunteers
OPPORTUNITIES
In comparison to national metrics, no
opportunities were identified.
CAPITAL BUDGET
The lack of general obligation bonds that the organization relies on was viewed as another
strength as well as opportunity. Some committee members felt that the lack of debt should
be viewed as a positive while others feel that there is a need to pursue additional funding
through bonds.
METRO/REGIONAL
NATIONAL
STRENGTHS
o Percentage of agency’s current fiscal year’s
capital budget designated for new
development and acquisition.
o Value of general obligation bonds
authorized
OPPORTUNITIES
o Value of general obligation bonds
authorized
STRENGTHS
o Percentage of agency’s current fiscal year’s
capital budget designated for new
development and acquisition.
o Value of general obligation bonds authorized
OPPORTUNITIES
o Value of general obligation bonds
authorized
EFFECTIVENESS
Lakeville Parks and Recreation exceeds at providing park spaces for the community but fell
short in its number of employees that service these amenities and total acreage when
compared to its peers.
METRO/REGIONAL
NATIONAL
STRENGTHS
o Operating expenditures per capita
o Park operating expenditures per acre of
park land
o Number of residents per park
OPPORTUNITIES
o Operating expenditures per capita
o Revenue per capita
o FTE’s per 10,000 population
o Acres of parks per 1,000 residents
STRENGTHS
o Operating expenditures per capita
o Park operating expenditures per acre of park
land
o Number of residents per park
OPPORTUNITIES
o Operating expenditures per capita
o Revenue per capita
o FTE’s per 10,000 population
o Acres of parks per 1,000 residents