Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Update (2016) parks_and_recreation_system_master_plan_update_oct | Page 86

IV. PARK AND RECREATIONAL
FACILITY NEEDS ANALYSIS
For the 1995 Parks and Open Space Master Plan Louisville’s future needs for park and
recreational facilities were analyzed through the following steps:
1. Existing parks and recreational facilities within Louisville and Jefferson County were
inventoried.
2. Park and recreational facility standards in place in Louisville and other communities, as
well as those published by national organizations, were compared. Two organizations,
the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI),
have published standards recommended to serve as guidelines in the development and
expansion of park and recreation systems. The NRPA standards address parkland
acreage and selected types of recreational facilities while the ULI standards address
parkland acreage only. The standards were developed as a general guide to the
minimum amount of acreage and/or number of facilities a community should strive to
provide. They were intended to be applied in a flexible manner so as to accommodate
local development issues.
3. Current levels of facility use and special conditions within Louisville were evaluated
through public meetings, a questionnaire survey of and interviews with special interest
groups, and interviews with then Louisville/Jefferson County Parks Department (L/JCPD)
(now Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation Department (LMPRD) personnel.) The Parks
and Open Space Executive Committee contributed through their understanding of local
recreation needs. The purpose of this evaluation was to identify issues such as facilities
which are in high demand, facilities and services provided by the private sector which
may reduce the demand for a particular facility, etc.
4. Population ratio standards (i.e., acres or number of facilities per 1,000 people) were
developed to guide the quantity of parkland and selected types of recreational facilities
to be provided by the L/JCPD.
5. Louisville was divided into seven recreational planning service areas to provide a basis
for determining the general distribution of parkland and recreational facilities. (See
Figure IV.A.1: Recreational Planning Service Areas). (Note: Because these service areas
were based on census tracts and tract boundaries have changed since 1990 it is not
possible to compare location of 2016 facilities by the 1995 service areas.)
Parks and Recreation System Master Plan | IV. PARK AND RECREATIONAL FACILITY NEEDS
ANALYSIS
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