Community Parks
typical acreage
15 - 100 acres; typically, 20 -30 acres
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service area description
1 mile radius. This type of park may also draw residents from the entire community.
Supports bicycle and pedestrian access for nearby neighbors, and incorporates bus and transit access for residents living farther away. Driving access should be made available from a collector or arterial street. |
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existing community park
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definition
Community parks provide both active and passive recreational opportunities that appeal to the entire community. Typically 20-30 acres, these sites draw residents from throughout the community. Community parks accommodate large numbers of people and offer a wide variety of facilities, such as group picnic areas and shelters, sport fields and courts, children’s play areas, horseshoes, gardens, trail or pathway systems, community festival or event space and green space or natural areas.
Community parks require additional support facilities, such as off-street parking and restrooms. The size of these parks also provides opportunities for indoor facilities and structured recreation activities for young people and adults because the service area is much broader and therefore can meet a wider range of interests.
Community parks require additional support facilities, such as off-street parking and restrooms. The size of these parks also provides opportunities for indoor facilities and structured recreation activities for young people and adults because the service area is much broader and therefore can meet a wider range of interests.
Benefits of a Community park
- Provides a variety of accessible recreation opportunities for all ages.
- Provides opportunities for social and cultural activities.
- Contributes to community identity.
- Serves recreation needs of individual, families, small and large groups.
- Provides green space within neighborhoods.
- Protects and enhance the City’s tree canopy.
- Contributes to health and wellness.
- Connects residents to nature.
- Provides green space within neighborhoods.
Design criteria for community parks
Approximately two-thirds of a community park should be reserved for active recreation uses such as: ball fields, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, open grass area for free play, children’s playgrounds and space for outdoor events. Viewsheds should be highlighted by the placement of picnic areas (some should be reserveable), benches, gardens and natural areas. Vegetation can be thinned or planted on the site to accentuate or hide scenes of the surrounding valley. Paved pathways should direct users to areas within the park as well as to adjacent trails, greenways, streets and sidewalks.
Housing developments should to create access to neighborhood parks if they are located on the boundary of a park or adjacent to other neighborhoods with parks.
Housing developments should to create access to neighborhood parks if they are located on the boundary of a park or adjacent to other neighborhoods with parks.
