Access digital copies of guides and regulations publications from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Issue link: http://digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1329139
How do I evaluate our existing facilities and create the right mix of recreation within the community? • Start by inventorying your existing infrastructure and maintenance items for that infrastructure. Use an Excel spreadsheet, Access database, or other technology to document the information in one place. • Conduct a condition assessment to understand what condition your infrastructure is in. The internet has a ton of examples. • Determine what items you need and those you can surplus, sell, transfer, repurpose or get rid of. • Identify gaps that exist within your infrastructure based on your assessment. • Do your research and identify trends and new outdoor recreation opportunities happening regionally, nationally, and even internationally. • When you are ready, reach out to your community to ask them pertinent questions about what they would like to see offered on the recreation landscape. Provide specific examples from your research that range from simple to complex ideas so that your users can give you feedback on what would align with their preferences. • Determine if what your users want is feasible given your budget and determine if you can provide something similar that will still satisfy your users (e.g., splash pad vs. pool). • To ensure you have the right mix of recreation, ensure your planning process involves reaching out to all user groups to determine what they want. • From here, you can look at what you have, determine where those gaps are, what your user groups want, and evaluate your financial situation. If your financial situation does not allow you to provide amenities the community wants, start building partnerships, which might lead to interested donors (see "How to start building partnerships" under Goal 2 for more information). You may also want to consider the funding opportunities discussed in the "LWCF Priorities" section at the end of this chapter. 84 2 0 2 1 - 2 0 2 5 S TAT E W I D E C O M P R E H E N S I V E O U T D O O R R E C R E AT I O N P L A N Don't forget to consider your older populations and the mental health benefits outdoor recreation can have on them. Being outdoors can increase physical and mental health, and increase social interaction. Retirement communities, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities are all great partners to think about. Birding and wildlife viewing at Ponca State Park. (Dixon County) HOW-TO DON'T FORGET!