The Michigan Recreation Plan established eight park types. The criteria adopted to characterize park type included size, facilities provided, land use, population served, service area and administrative level of government. A ratio of number of acres per thousand persons was adopted for each park type. The ratio varied not only by park type but also by level of government and by population of the unit of government. Excerpts from the Open Space Plan.
I. Mini-Park/Play Lot
Description: Small areas located in high density residential area intended for use by children up to the early elementary grades. Play lots are generally recognized as a substitute for the absence of backyards. These facilities should be located so that children are not required to cross major streets. Play lots are most valuable in conjunction with townhouses, trailer park development, and apartment complexes.
Contents: Play apparatus, swings, slides, sand boxes, paved areas for wheeled toys and skating, benches, wading or spray pools, landscape treatment.
Other Criteria Sometimes Mentioned: Pedestrian access for service area, "safe" access.
Comments: Practical minimum sizes often depend on the economics of maintenance. With mechanized labor, very small areas are often inordinately expensive to maintain except in neighborhoods having very high residential densities and/or a higher than normal percentage of young families with pre-school children. Shopping areas catering to parents of young children occasionally provide tot lot facilities as a convenience to the shopper.
In the majority of cases, tot lots cannot be provided economically as separate facilities and are therefore included with the recently advocated "vest pocket parks" which are of small size, but are usually intended for a different age group.
II. Neighborhood Playground
Description: Designed to provide both active and passive short-term activities. Neighborhood playgrounds are, quite often, adjacent to public school sites.
Contents: Distinct play areas for both preschoolers and school age children, storage and shelter structure, some open space for spontaneous play, multiple use paved areas for court games, areas for field games with possible limited seating for spectators, wading and spray pool, games area for adults such as shuffleboard or horseshoes, etc., possible outdoor ice rinks, landscaped perimeter buffers, some off-street parking and lighting.
Other Criteria Sometimes Mentioned: 10 acres recommended when combined with adjacent school or 20 acres when separate; 15 acres for park-school site with 5 acres for educational purposes, such as school buildings and parking, and 10 acres for community recreation; one per elementary school.
Comments: It is common practice to include these facilities with an elementary school since the age groups using the facilities and the service areas are similar. However, there is a dance that expansions to school facilities over time will reduce the surrounding open space to less than desirable levels.
III. Neighborhood Park
Description: A landscaped natural park of limited size primarily for passive recreational needs of all ages but with designated active areas. Provides some scenic and aesthetic value. Should be strategically located in center of multiple family dwelling neighborhood, or nearby site.
Contents: Open lawn area, small picnic areas, drinking fountain, miniature scenic paths or nature walks, area for court games (tennis) if not provided at a nearby recreation facility, off street parking, lighting. Some program potential.
Comments: The comments made for playgrounds generally apply for neighborhood parks as well. While neighborhood parks and playgrounds are commonly combined in one facility for economies of scale arising from maintenance costs and the overlapping of activities accommodated by both, there is the danger that areas intended for more passive uses will develop into active play areas in response to the demands from increasing numbers of young people and/or the reduction of existing play space by the construction of school facilities or other non-play facilities.
IV. Community Playfield
Description: A large outdoor recreation area primarily athletic complex-designed to serve the active recreational needs of junior and senior high schoolers and adults. Provides for a greater variety of recreational activities with some spectator seating capacity. Usually, it is recommended to have one per community. In cases where the size of population is excessive, community is cut by barriers or sufficient acreage cannot be obtained, it is recommended that two or more playfields be provided.
Content: Athletic complex-lighted court and field games, community center or indoor recreation facility, swimming pool, ice rink, lawn areas, adequate parking, possible picnic facilities and children's play areas, capacity for special events, adult game areas, sanitary facilities. May be a portion of a major community park. Has high program potential.
Other Criteria Sometimes Mentioned: Location adjacent to high-school property; at or near the intersection of major or secondary thoroughfares.
Comments: These facilities are often located in conjunction with junior high or high schools since the facilities required, the age of the majority of users and the service areas are generally similar. The extremes in minimum and maximum sizes shown here [see Open Space Plan] as recommended across the country seem partially due to the lack of agreement on the distinctions between community parks and playfields. As mentioned in the comments on playgrounds and neighborhood parks, the larger figures may well be from agencies that do not distinguish between park and playground area activities. Part of the wide variance may also be due to difference in the climate, topography, and land availability in various communities across the country.
In addition to the criteria mentioned above, special community play facilities are often located on sites having unique natural features offering potentials for a specific, less conventional, recreation activity, water sports, winter sports, etc.
V. Major Community Park
Description: A large natural and/or landscaped area to provide the urban dweller with a pleasurable reprieve from the congestion of the city without having to travel a great distance. Designed to accommodate large numbers of people for a wide variety of day uses. Provides for both intensive uses and passive pursuits.
Contents: Provides for combinations of intensive and non-intensive development ranging from play apparatus to bicycle trails. Some typical facilities include swimming beach or pool, picnic tables, paths, game courts, gardens and natural areas, ice skating, winter sanitary facilities. May include nature trails, trails for the physical and visually disabled as well as bicycle trails internally or as part of a larger system. May also be a feature along a larger trail system.
Other Criteria Sometimes Mentioned: 20 acres when adjoining a school, 40 acres when separate: within walking distance or having access to public transportation.
Comments: The comments made for community playfields generally apply to community parks as well. In addition to the size and location criteria given above, community parks are often located at sites of unique natural or historical interest to the community.
VI. Single/Special Purpose Facility
Description: The chief feature may be uniqueness such as a marina, zoo, concert bowl (Hollywood Bowl) or some other special characteristics. Included may be festivals (Tulip, Cherry Blossom) also, items of historical significance such as Greenfield Village and Mackinac Island.
Contents: All age groups depending upon function and purpose, e.g., a children's zoo (Potters Park) is primarily for ages toddler to nine whereas candle making, such as may be seen at Greenfield Village, is for ages probably over 15 without an upper limit. Size varies depending upon the unit. Usually includes sanitary facilities. May be a feature or event along a trail, a linear or historical segment of a trail or function as an integral part of a trail.
VII. Urban Greenspace or Open Space
Description: Passive areas in landscaped or natural state in or near urban areas. May be planned for conversion to m ore intensive recreational uses when needed. May provide recreational experiences, provide environmental quality, or act as buffers. Main recreational purpose is to break up atmosphere of congestion and provide aesthetic experience. Also can act as a land bank system (see below).
Contents: Natural lands, watershed and waterfront forests, landscaped borders, parkways and boulevards, corner parks, medians, downtown aesthetic parks, plazas, malls, sanitary facilities. Can provide bicycle, hiking, nature or bridle trail systems as part of a larger system.
VII. Regional
Description: Serves multi governmental units and usually administered by counties or regional bodies. Many recreation activities are associated with experiencing the natural environment. Located for good access from major roads. Normally available for both day and overnight use. Some of the purposes served is the preservation of portions of the natural landscape, the provision of extensive recreational facilities in urban areas, and to serve as greenbelts in metropolitan regions.
Contents: Parking, picnic areas, nature centers, trail systems, scenic drives, campgrounds, water areas for swimming and boating, golf courses, botanical gardens, possible overnight trail camping, or may contain the entire trail. May also function as a trail feature. |
