Community survey shows little support for a fall parks levy
Farmington residents voice support to maintain trails, parks
by Kara Hildreth
Thisweek Newspapers
When Farmington voters head to polls in November, they will not vote on whether to invest in city parks via a levy because survey results showed a lack of support.
Ron Vine of Leisure Vision presented community survey results of 623 residents at an Aug. 9 joint City Council, Parks Commission and Planning Commission workshop.
The community survey asked residents about their personal and family park and facility usage, customer satisfaction, park needs, and city parks and recreation priorities.
“The survey was a way of asking without having people vote on it,” said Randy Distad, director of Farmington parks and recreation.
“We know now that –first of all – people like to use the trail system and our neighborhood parks, and they like those to be maintained,” Distad said.
Survey results
Twenty-five percent of residents rated the quality of city parks and facilities as excellent. Fifty-four percent rated the quality as good.
When asked if residents have a specific need for parks or facilities, results showed:
• 85 percent need paved walking and biking trails;
• 71 percent need small neighborhood parks;
• 51 percent want more natural areas;
• 53 percent need park playgrounds;
• 25 percent support more youth baseball facilities.
Unmet needs
Top categories for unmet needs are natural areas, off-leash dog areas, a nature center, an outdoor pool, paved walking and biking trails, a municipal golf course and city campgrounds.
But 65 percent wanted more paved walking and biking trails, while 50 percent said neighborhood parks priorities were the most important.
“Paved trails are most important in all demographic groups except for households with children under 10 years, of which playgrounds are one of the first priorities,” Vine said.
Residents said the highest ranked city park programs are the farmers’ market, youth sports programs, adult fitness and special events.
Financial support
Regarding financial support, the survey found 59 percent of respondents would support maintaining trails and neighborhood parks. Fifty percent said they have no use for outdoor sports facilities.
Residents ranked top financial priorities as completing connections for existing trails, pedestrian bridges, underpasses, neighborhood park playgrounds, and outdoor aquatic facilities.
Sixty-four percent reported they would contribute some dollars toward upgrades, but 34 percent said they would not put any additional money toward park or trail improvements.
“It would be extremely difficult to pass a referendum today,” Vine said.
Survey feedback
Mike Haley, chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, said the survey was a good barometer.
“We did learn a lot, and it was very clear trails are very important, and that we need to repair, maintain, connect and build new,” Haley said.
The commission needs to determine the minimum it can spend to make repairs and improvements.
“We have to see if there is something that will cost them (taxpayers) $1 or $2, rather than $10 or $12, and sell that,” said Haley.
The city has about $125,000 in its parks improvement fund, Distad said. Trail repair and improvement could mean filling in cracks in the park pathways or sealcoating some paths and trails.
Jerry Ristow, Farmington resident and former mayor, said 12 to 14 years ago the city conducted a similar survey and the results came back with similar sentiments on taxpayers’ priorities and wishes.
“So we funded more playground equipment,” Ristow said, adding he would like to see the Rambling River Trail upgraded and maintained.
The city owns 42.8 miles of paved trails, 1.2 miles of nature trail, and a quarter mile of various boardwalk, Distad said.
John Franceschelli, Planning Commission member, said he thought the community survey did not ask residents about what they do for recreation when there is no green grass in the winter.
“The survey does not go far enough; it does not do us justice,” Franceschelli said, adding that he thinks the survey was a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“Our people do not sit inside when the snow falls. They are snowmobiling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing,” Franceschelli said.
Leisure Vision will provide additional analysis of survey questions in the next year at no charge.
Discussion will continue between commission members and the City Council to determine what direction to take on park and trail upgrades.
Kara Hildreth is at farmington.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
