APPENDIX I: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS NAPERVILLE PARK DISTRICT INDOOR RECREATION SPACE NEEDS ASSESSMENT
APPENDIX I: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why did the Naperville Park District conduct an indoor space needs assessment in 2024? Based on community input received from the 2022 Community Interest & Opinion Survey, additional indoor recreation space to provide community programs, activities, and services was identified as a need. Additionally, post-pandemic, the District had seen a tremendous increase in participation in many of its indoor programs. This needs assessment provides the District with a comprehensive and objective evaluation of its current spaces to ensure efficient facility utilization throughout the organization. In addition, the assessment assists with gathering community input and evaluating the level of support for the potential planning and construction of future indoor spaces to adequately serve the recreation needs of a still-expanding community. The goal of this initiative, as part of the 2023-2025 Naperville Park District Strategic Plan, is to develop a detailed plan based on community need for and support of further Naperville Park District indoor recreation space. What types of recreation spaces were assessed? Park District staff and board sought community input through the process to help determine what kinds of spaces are needed and supported by the community. Fort Hill Activity Center, which opened in 2016, is filled to near capacity in many respects, leading to challenges in accommodating everyone who wants to participate. A goal of the assessment was to identify the types of indoor spaces needed to address current needs and future growth. Examples included fitness, group exercise, gymnastics, gymnasium, turf, event, and aquatic spaces. How will recommendations made by residents, community leaders and others throughout this process be considered by the Park District? The District solicited feedback from the community in a variety of ways. A series of eight (8) focus groups were conducted in March and April. In spring and summer, the District hosted community open house events, and a community survey was launched in the summer to provide several feedback opportunities. The recommendations from residents, community leaders and others, along with information from existing programs and facility use, helped to develop the most comprehensive plan and direction regarding potential future indoor recreation space.
Does the Park District plan to propose a bond referendum for development of indoor recreation space? At the time of the assessment there were no plans for the Naperville Park District to propose a bond referendum. The Park District asked residents in the community survey to provide input on a bond referendum for the purpose of understanding the community’s interest to financially support the addition of indoor recreation space. Results from the survey provided key input to help develop recommendations within the Indoor Recreation Space Needs Assessment. A summary of the survey results is included later in this report. How did residents provide input on this initiative? Residents provided their input by participating in focus groups, attending open house events, and participating in a community survey. Information on community input opportunities was communicated to residents via email, on the District’s website, social media platforms, and through use of other media. What was the project timeline and next steps? The following project schedule highlights key steps in the indoor space needs assessment process: ɀ February 2024: Data Inventory and Analysis ɀ March 2024: Identification of Gaps and Inefficiencies ɀ March/April 2024: Community Engagement Process began via Focus Group (Wednesday, March 20 (various times); Wednesday, April 3 (various times)) ɀ June 2024: Community Open House #1 (Sunday, June 2, Frontier Sports Complex) and Community Open House #2 (Tuesday, June 11, Fort Hill Activity Center) ɀ June/July 2024: Community Surveys (both random/statistically-valid and community-wide surveys deployed) ɀ August 2024: Report Formulated ɀ October 2024: Presentation of Findings and Report to Park District Board of Commissioners
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