2.2 Program Assessments and Recommendations
Within the context of Tillsonburg, the public consultation process revealed that there is a growing demand for increased capacity in existing programs, modest demand for expanded recreation opportunities, desire for more opportunities for multi- generational programs and events, and interest in using existing natural assets (e.g. trails and Lake Lisgar) for recreation activities. Moreover, as detailed in Section 1.0, the population of Tillsonburg is projected to increase by 41% (or 8,011 residents) in the next ten-year period. In consideration of this, it is important for the Town of Tillsonburg to not only enhance existing program offerings, but to also develop a strategic approach to program planning that works to fill service gaps and prepares for future program growth and expansion.
planning can also help to understand residents’ areas of interest, identify local partners, offer an approach to ‘piloting’ new programs, understand the needs associated with offering programs (e.g., equipment, specialty program facilitators), tracking participation rates, and evaluating participant feedback. In recent years, the Town of Tillsonburg has issued the Tillsonburg Recreation Survey (2022) which sought to collect general feedback relating to program and event offerings, general community recreation interests, and accessibility of event and program information. In addition to this, the Town should consider issuing and collecting program evaluations from participants after programs to further identify potential improvements for specific programs/ activities. Ongoing service monitoring and evaluation will inform planning to address needs as they evolve and to gauge the success of programs, events, and services after-the-fact. Program and event participation information should be collected and tracked over time. As appropriate to the intended outcomes of individual programs/events, variables such as registration, attendance, program completion, age(s) of participants and location of residence, resident/non-resident participants, etc., should be documented and used for planning/designing services and to identify trends over time.
2.2.1 General Program Recommendations
Program Planning: Program Tracking and Evaluation
As program interests and trends change, engaging in a cyclical program planning process can be a valuable strategy to help guide future program development and growth. The primary goal of planning, monitoring and evaluating programs is to contribute to informed decision-making that works to distinguish between community ‘needs’ and ‘wants’, respond to ‘needs’ in the most judicious way, and to monitor the efficacy of the response. Program
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Town of Tillsonburg | DRAFT Parks and Recreation Master Plan
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