Citizen Survey for the Sycamore Park District n Questions on full range of usage, customer satisfaction, priorities, and funding issues n Questions based.

Citizen Survey for the Sycamore Park

District Questions on full range of usage, customer

satisfaction, priorities, and funding issues

Questions based on site visit to Sycamore and meetings with Park Board, staff, citizen stakeholders and citizen focus groups

Goal of 400 completed surveys. Actually completed 451 surveys. Results have 95% level of confidence with margin of error of +/-4.6%.

Good Representation By AGES

Under 5 years10%

5-9 years8%

10-14 years8%15-19 years

9%20-24 years

4%

25-34 years8%

35-44 years13%

45-54 years14%

55-64 years13%

65-74 years7%

75+ years5%

by percentage of household occupants

Q25. Demographics: Ages of People in Household

Source: Leisure Vision/ETC Institute (June 2011)

Sycamore Park District Today

Sycamore Park District “Community Vision” for the Future”

Funding for the “Community Vision”

OK

CA

AZ

COUT

WA

GA

CTMD

OH

MI

SD

IAMO MO

IL

TN

KS

VA

MS

Benchmarking Comparisons to National and Illinois Clients

ETC Institute- More than 600 Parks and Recreation Assessment Surveys in 46 States

VT ME

KYIN

MNWI

MA

SC

AR

AL

NV

MT

TX

FL

NYPANEWY

ORND

Leisure Vision Illinois Clients Include:

Wheeling Park Dist. Champaign Park Dist. Mundelein Park Dist. Schaumburg Park Dist. Elk Grove Park Dist. Highland Park District City of Rock Island Geneva Park District Winnetka Park Dist. Gurnee Park Dist. River Trails Park Dist. Hoffman Estates

Deerfield Park Dist. Lindenhurst Park Dist. Carol Stream Park Dist. Urbana Park Dist. Downers Grove Park Dist. Lisle Park Dist Freeport Park Dist. Northbrook Park District Park District of Oak Park Des Plaines Park Dist. Glenview Park District Sugar Grove Park Dist. Lake Bluff Park District

Household type (with children and without) Age of respondents Gender Program participation YMCA membership Level of satisfaction with value received Amount of additional taxes willing to pay Voting

Usage of the Parks is High

Trails and Playgrounds are Most Used Facilities

Over 80% of Households Rate Conditions of Parks as Excellent or Good

Opportunities Exist to Increase Program Participation

22% of Households are Members of the YMCA

Usage of the Hopkins and Sycamore Pools Are Fairly Equal

65%

43%

32%

18%

18%

12%

12%

12%

12%

10%

9%

9%

5%

3%

3%

3%

18%

Sycamore Community Park

Sycamore Park Sports Complex

Sycamore Lake Rotary Park

Wetzel Park

Charlie Laing Memorial Park

Kiwanis Prairie Park

Founders Park

Kiwanis East Park

Leon D. Larson Park

Elmer & Stanley Larson Playground

Old Mill Park

Parkside Preserve

Boynton Park

Brother's Park

Chief Black Partridge Nature Preserve

Emil Cassier Park

None, do not use any parks

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

by percentage of respondents (multiple choices could be made)


Q1. Sycamore Park District Parks That Households Have Used During the Past Year

Usage ratings are significantly higher than

national benchmark of 72%

and Ilinois benchmark of 77%

5%

68%

39%

30%

15%

13%

9%

8%

8%

8%

7%

6%

6%

3%

3%

2%

1%

Sycamore Community Park

Sycamore Park Sports Complex

Sycamore Lake Rotary Park

Charlie Laing Memorial Park

Wetzel Park

Leon D. Larson Park

Founders Park

Kiwanis East Park

Old Mill Park

Kiwanis Prairie Park

Parkside Preserve

Elmer & Stanley Larson Playground

Boynton Park

Brother's Park

Chief Black Partridge Nature Preserve

Emil Cassier Park

None, do not use any parks

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Most Often 2nd Most Often 3rd Most Often

Q2. Parks That Respondent Households Used the Most During the Past Year


by percentage of respondents who selected the item as one of their top three choices

For both households with

and without children the Sycamore

Community Park is the Park visited the

most often.

54%

49%

47%

34%

27%

27%

26%

25%

21%

20%

15%

12%

11%

10%

6%

5%

2%

Walking trails

Playgrounds

Shelters and picnic areas

18 hole golf course

Natural areas

Baseball fields

Swimming pool

Soccer fields

Softball fields

Climbing structures

Community Center

Tennis courts

Wading pool

Basketball courts

Football fields

Other

None

0% 20% 40% 60%



Q3. Recreation Facilities That Households Have Used or Visited in Sycamore Park District Parks During the Past Year

For households with young children ONLY under 10, playgrounds

is the facility visited the most often. For

households ONLY with children 10 to 19 and ALL households with only adults walking

trails are the facilities used or visited the most

often

Excellent29%

Good55%

Fair14%

Poor2%

Q4. How Respondents Rate the Physical Condition of All of the Parks and Recreation Facilities Visited in the

Sycamore Park Districtby percentage of respondents (excluding "don’t know" responses)


Excellent rating is comparable to

national benchmark of

31%

Excellent rating is lower than Illinois

benchmark of 31%

Yes35%

No65%

Q5. Whether Respondent Households Participated In Any Recreation or Sports Programs Offered by the

Sycamore Park District During the Past Yearby percentage of respondents (excluding "don’t know” responses)


Participation in programs is higher than

national benchmark of

30%

Participation in programs is lower

than Illinois benchmark of

39%

43% of households who are members of the Kishwaukee

YMCA participate in programs

53%

51%

22%

18%

Households with children 10 and under

Households with children 10-19 (none under 10)

Households with adults 20-54 (none under 20)

Households with adults 55+

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%Source: Leisure Vision/ETC Institute (June 2011)

Household Type


Sycamore Park District During the Past Year

Yes35%

No 65%

Excellent25%

Good62%

Fair12%

Poor1%

Q5a. How Would You Rate the Overall Quality of the Recreation or Sports Programs that You and Members of Your Household Have Participated

In?

by percentage of respondents (excluding "don’t know" responses)


Sycamore Park District During the Past Year


Excellent ratings are lower than

national benchmark of 34%

and Illinois benchmark of 37%

Quality of indoor facilities has

impact on participation and program quality

77%

39%

31%

28%

20%

18%

9%

8%

7%

7%

3%

1%

Sycamore Park District Brochure

Newspaper articles

From friends and neighbors

Sycamore Park District Web-site

Park District newsletters

Flyers distributed at school

Flyers at Park District facilities

E-mail Blasts

Conversations with Park District staff

Radio

Presentations by Park District staff

Cable access television

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%



Q6. ALL the Ways Respondents Learn About Sycamore Park District Programs and Activities

Usage of Park District Brochure

higher than national

benchmark of 53% and comparable

with Illinois benchmark of 76%

17%

16%

11%

10%

9%

8%

8%

7%

6%

5%

4%

4%

2%

2%

2%

2%

1%

1%

16%

Program times not convenient

Fees are too high

Program or facility not offered

Do not know locations of facilities

Use services of other agencies

Lack of quality programs

Facilities not well maintained

Don't know what is being offered

Use facilities in other communities

Facilities lack the right equipment

Poor customer service by staff

Facility operating hours not convenient

Lack of parking by facilities/parks

Too far from residence

Not accessible for people with disabilities

Registration for programs is difficult

Class full

Security is insufficient

Other

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%



Q7. ALL the Reasons that Prevent Respondent Households From Using Parks, Recreation, Golf Course, Aquatics and Sports Facilities or Programs of the Sycamore Park District More Often

Program fees are too high

comparable to Illinois benchmark of 18% and higher

than national benchmark of 12%

Yes22%

No78%

Q8. Whether Members of Respondent Household Are Members of the Kishwaukee YMCA?



33% of households with

children are members of the

YMCA

Only 9% of households with

no children and all adults 55 years of age or older are members of the

YMCA

Only 16% of households with

no children and all adults 20-54 years

of age are members of the

YMCA

Yes27%

No73%

Q12. Whether Respondent Households Used the Hopkins Pool in DeKalb During the Past Year



42% of households with children under

10 and 46% of households with

children 11-19 used the Hopkins

Pool

20% of households with no children

and all adults 20-54 and 6% of

households with no children and all adults 55 and over used the Hopkins

Pool

Yes26%

No74%

Q13. Whether Respondent Households Used the Sycamore Pool During the Past Year

by percentage of respondents (excluding "don’t know” responses)


42% of households with children under

10 and 40% of households with

children 11-19 used the Sycamore

Pool

18% of households with no children

and all adults 20-54 and 9% of

households with no children and all adults 55 and over used the Sycamore

Pool

Yes26%

No 74%

1-2 times23%

3-5 times22%

6-10 times26%

11-20 times16%

21 times13%

Q13. How many times have you or members of your household used the Sycamore Pool during

the past year?



Q13. Whether Respondent Households Used the Sycamore Pool During the Past Year

30%

16%

15%

12%

5%

46%

Members of household don't swim

Pool is old/in poor condition

Pool doesn't have play features we like

Fees are too high

We use the Hopkins Pool

Other

0% 20% 40% 60%

Q13a. ALL the Reasons Respondent Households Have NOT Used the Sycamore Pool


by percentage of respondents who indicated that they had not use the Sycamore Pool during the past year (multiple choices could be made)

37%

24%

22%

20%

20%

19%

13%

37%

37%

38%

29%

26%

22%

20%

17%

25%

31%

38%

39%

45%

43%

8%

9%

8%

8%

7%

10%

17%

2%

5%

2%

5%

8%

5%

7%

PDs efforts to keep residents informed

Image of the PD in the community

Quality of services provided by PD

Leadership provided by the Park Board

Leadership provided by PD Executive Director

Responsiveness of PD staff to requests

Level of public involvement in PD decision-making

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Very Satisfied Somewhat Satisfied Neutral

Somewhat Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied

Q11. Satisfaction with Various Services Provided by the Sycamore Park District


by percentage of respondents

Q24. Satisfaction With the Overall Value Respondent Households Receive From the Sycamore Park District


Very Satisfied14%

Somewhat Satisfied36%

Neutral26%

Somewhat Dissatisfied10%

Very Dissatisfied4%

Don't Know10%


50% of respondents are

very or somewhat satisfied with 14% very or somewhat dissatisfied. The

remainder indicated neutral or

don’t know

Very satisfied is lower than national benchmark of 26%

and Illinois benchmnark of

30%.

Neutral is higher than national

benchmark of 19% and Illinois

benchmnark of 17%.

Major Findings-Community’s Vision for the Future System Walking and biking trails are the facilities that households

have the most need for and are most important to households.

Outdoor swimming pools are most important to households with young children. An 18 hole golf course is most important for households with no children and all adults 55 and over.

A new outdoor swimming pool with features most desired by household respondents would substantially increase usage.

Over 80% of households would use an indoor community center with the features that are most important to them.

67%57%

55%53%

52%43%

42%41%40%

37%35%

34%27%

24%23%

22%21%21%21%

20%13%

12%9%

Walking and biking trailsLarge community parksNature center and trails

Greenspace and natural areasSmall neighborhood parks

Playground equipmentIndoor fitness/exercise facilities

Outdoor swimming pools18 hole golf course

Indoor running/walking trackSled Hill Toboggan Run

Indoor swimming pools/leisure poolIndoor lap lanes for exercise swimming

Youth baseball/softball fieldsOutdoor ice rink

Youth soccer fieldsOutdoor basketball courts

Indoor senior centerIndoor basketball/volleyball courts

Outdoor tennis courtsSkateboarding parkAdult softball fields

Youth football fields

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Q9. Households That Have a Need for Various Parks and Recreation Facilities



Respondent Households Have a Need for a Wide Range of Outdoor and Indoor Parks

and Facilities

4,3923,778

3,6273,501

3,4552,802

2,7562,6902,664

2,4662,328

2,2161,787

1,5761,517

1,4511,3781,3781,378

1,319844

765567

Walking and biking trailsLarge community parksNature center and trails

Greenspace and natural areasSmall neighborhood parks

Playground equipmentIndoor fitness/exercise facilities


Indoor running/walking trackSled Hill Toboggan Run

Indoor swimming pools/leisure poolIndoor lap lanes for exercise swimming

Youth baseball/softball fieldsOutdoor ice rink

Youth soccer fieldsOutdoor basketball courts

Indoor senior centerIndoor basketball/volleyball courts

Outdoor tennis courtsSkateboarding parkAdult softball fields

Youth football fields

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000

Q9a. Estimated Number of Households in the Sycamore Park District That Have a Need for Various Parks and Recreation Facilities


by number of households based on 6,594 households in Sycamore

Q9b. How Well Parks and Recreation Facilities in the Sycamore Park District Meet the Needs of Households

by percentage of respondents with a need for parks/facilities


62%

46%

51%

39%

36%

10%

7%

8%

3%

25%

38%

28%

38%

40%

10%

10%

4%

7%

9%

13%

13%

19%

20%

20%

12%

9%

17%

1%

1%

5%

2%

4%

25%

10%

17%

24%

3%

2%

3%

2%

35%

62%

62%

49%

Youth soccer fields

Youth baseball/softball fields

18 hole golf course

Playground equipment

Large community parks

Indoor fitness/exercise facilities

Indoor swimming pools/leisure pool

Indoor lap lanes for exercise swimming

Indoor running/walking track

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

100% Meets Needs 75% Meets Needs 50% Meets Needs 25% Meets Needs 0% Meets Needs

This chart shows some examples of how well the parks and recreation facilities in the

Sycamore Park District meet the needs of those households who have needs for each facility, i.e. 50% of playgrounds have needs for playgrounds and 77% indicated their needs are 100% or 75%

met


Q9c. Estimated Number of Households in the Sycamore Park District Whose Needs for Parks and Recreation Facilities

Are Only Being 50% Met or Lessby number of households based on 6,594 households in Sycamore

914

2,2662,262

2,2272,205

2,0931,850

1,6811,573

1,4291,208

1,1051,104

873784

644641629

543261258248

190

Walking and biking trailsNature center and trails

Indoor running/walking trackIndoor fitness/exercise facilities

Sled Hill Toboggan RunIndoor swimming pools/leisure pool

Outdoor swimming poolsIndoor lap lanes for exercise swimming

Outdoor ice rinkGreenspace and natural areas

Small neighborhood parksIndoor basketball/volleyball courts

Large community parksOutdoor tennis courts

Indoor senior centerPlayground equipment

Outdoor basketball courtsSkateboarding park18 hole golf courseAdult softball fields

Youth baseball/softball fieldsYouth football fieldsYouth soccer fields

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000

50% Meets Needs 25% Meet Needs 0% Meets Needs

Calculated by multiplying the number of households

having needs by the percentage of households

whose needs are being 50% met or less.

Unmet needs exist for a wide range of outdoor and indoor parks and facilities

15%

3%

49%23%

22%20%20%

18%17%

16%15%15%

14%13%

10%10%9%

7%7%

5%4%4%3%

1%3%

Walking and biking trailsSmall neighborhood parks


Nature center and trailsPlayground equipment

Large community parksIndoor fitness/exercise facilities

Indoor running/walking trackGreenspace and natural areas

Youth baseball/softball fieldsIndoor swimming pools/leisure pool

Sled Hill Toboggan RunYouth soccer fields

Indoor lap lanes for exercise swimmingIndoor senior center

Outdoor ice rinkOutdoor tennis courts

Indoor basketball/volleyball courtsAdult softball fields

Outdoor basketball courtsSkateboarding parkYouth football fields

OtherNone Chosen

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Most Important 2nd Most Important 3rd Most Important 4th Most Important

Q10. Parks and Recreation Facilities That Are Most Important to Households


by percentage of respondents who selected the item as one of their top four choices

Outdoor swimming pools most important for

households with children under 10

Walking and biking trails most important for

households with children 10-19 and households

without children and only adults 20-54

18 hole golf course most important for households without children and only

adults 55 and older

49%

43%

43%

40%

39%

37%

35%

33%

31%

20%

27%

Deck area

Concessions area

Bath house

Zero depth entry into wave pool

Large water slides

Water sprays for small children

Small water slides

Wading pool

Diving board

Other

None

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Q14. ALL the Aquatic Features Respondent Households Would Use At a New Sycamore Swimming Pool



Over 90% of households with youth under 10

indicated at least one feature

Over 50% of households with no children and all

adults 55 and over indicated at least one

feature

39%

34%

32%

31%

23%

23%

22%

22%

15%

14%

10%

Deck area

Zero depth entry into wave pool

Large water slides

Small water slides

Bath house

Water sprays for small children

Concessions area

Diving board

Wading pool

Other

None

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Most Important 2nd Most Important 3rd Most Important 4th Most Important

Q15. Which FOUR Aquatic Features Respondent Households Indicated Are Most Important to Their Household



0 times35%

1-9 times23%

10-20 times27%

21+ times15%

Q16. Approximate Number Of Times Per Year Respondent Household Would Visit Swimming Pool If the Sycamore Park District Built a New Swimming Pool

With Aquatic Features Most Important to Householdby percentage of respondents


65% of respondent households would

use a new swimming pool

with aquatic features most

important to their household

61%

42%

35%

31%

29%

25%

24%

23%

22%

22%

18%

16%

15%

9%

7%

7%

5%

16%

Walking/jogging track

Weight room/cardio equip. area

Aerobics/fitness/dance class space

Leisure pool

Lanes for lap swimming

Space for meetings/parties/banquets

Warm water for therapeutic purposes

Rock climbing/bouldering wall

Senior adult space

Multi-court gymnasium

Swim lesson area

Arts and crafts room

Teen center

Preschool program space

Classroom space

25 meter competition pool

Other

None

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Q17. ALL the Potential Indoor Programming Spaces Respondent Households Would Use If the Sycamore Park

District Developed New INDOOR Programming Spaces



84% of respondents households would use at

least one feature

92% of respondent households who are

members of the YMCA would use at least one

feature

21%

49%

26%

22%

20%

17%

12%

12%

9%

8%

8%

7%

7%

6%

3%

2%

2%

3%

Walking/jogging track

Weight room/cardio equip. area

Aerobics/fitness/dance class space

Leisure pool

Lanes for lap swimming

Warm water for therapeutic purposes

Senior adult space

Multi-court gymnasium

Rock climbing/bouldering wall

Space for meetings/parties/banquets

Swim lesson area

Arts and crafts room

Teen center

Preschool program space

25 meter competition pool

Classroom space

Other

None

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Most Often 2nd Most Often 3rd Most Often

Q18. Which THREE Indoor Spaces Respondent Households Indicated They Would Use the MOST OFTEN


by percentage of respondents who selected the item as one of their top three choices

By a large margin, respondent households

indicating they would vote in favor

of a tax increase favor the

walking/jogging track as the space they would use the

most often

Major Findings-Funding for the “Community Vision” Respondent households are supportive of partnering efforts,

particularly with the Sycamore School District.

Build a new Indoor Community Center, Improve Existing Parks, Develop Additional Walking/Biking Trails, and Build a New Sycamore Pool are Actions Respondent Households Would Be Most Willing to Fund With Park District Tax Dollars

58% of Respondent Households Would Pay Some Level of Tax Increase to Build and Operate the Types of Outdoor and Indoor Parks, Trails, Aquatics, Sports and Recreation Facilities Most Important to Their Household.

56% of Respondent Households Would Vote in Favor or Might Vote in Favor of Some Level of Tax Increase to Build and Operate the Types of Outdoor and Indoor Parks, Trails, Aquatics, Sports and Recreation Facilities Most Important to Their Household. 25% Would Vote Against and the Remaining 19% are Not Sure.

52%

32%

30%

22%

25%

28%

28%

30%

15%

24%

26%

27%

9%

16%

15%

21%

Sycamore School District 427

Kishwaukee YMCA

Kishwaukee Community Hospital

DeKalb Park District

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Very Important Somewhat Important Not Sure Not Important

Q19. How Important Respondents Think It Is for the Sycamore Park District to Partner with Various

Organizations in Providing Parks & Recreation Services



43%

44%

47%

39%

25%

26%

18%

17%

14%

37%

30%

25%

25%

36%

32%

23%

23%

25%

15%

19%

15%

19%

28%

25%

30%

37%

31%

5%

7%

14%

18%

12%

17%

29%

23%

31%

Improve existing parks

Develop additional walking/biking trails

Build new indoor community center

Build new Sycamore Pool

Improve existing sports fields

Develop additional neighborhood parks

Improve Sycamore Golf Course

Build new sports fields

Improve existing golf clubhouse

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Very Important Somewhat Important Not Sure Not Important

Q20. Respondent Level of Support of Actions that the Sycamore Park District Could Take to Improve the Parks

and Recreation System



20%

52%

43%

42%

42%

25%

20%

16%

12%

12%

9%

Build new indoor community center

Improve existing parks

Develop additional walking/biking trails

Build new Sycamore Pool

Develop additional neighborhood parks

Improve existing sports fields

Improve Sycamore Golf Course

Improve existing golf clubhouse

Build new sports fields

Other

None

0% 20% 40% 60%

Most Willing 2nd Most Willing 3rd Most Willing

4th Most Willing

Q21. Which FOUR of the Actions Respondents Would Be Most Willing to Fund with Park District Tax Dollars



Building a New Indoor Community Center and Build New Sycamore

Pool are the Actions

Respondents Would be Most Willing to Fund

with Park District Tax Dollars

$35+ per month4%

$30 per month2%

$25 per month10%

$20 per month14%

$15 per month28%

Nothing42%

Q22. The MAXIMUM Amount Respondents Indicated they Would Be Willing to Pay PER MONTH In Additional Property Taxes to Build

and Operate the Types of Parks, Trails, Aquatics, Sports and Recreation Facilities Most Important to Their Household



Vote in favor31%

Might vote in favor25%

Not sure19%

Vote against25%

Q23. How Respondents Indicated they Would Vote If a Tax Increase they Indicated they Would Be Willing to Support Was Included In a Future Vote and the Funds From the Tax Were to Be Used to Pay to Construct & Operate the Types of Parks, Trails, Aquatics, Sports,

and Recreation Facilities Their Household Most Prefersby percentage of respondents (excluding those who didn’t give a response)


Of Respondent Households Who Indicated “Vote in Favor” Build New

Sycamore Pool Was the Most

Supported Project

Need more info11%

36%

5%

48%

Q23a. What Is the Major Reason You Indicated that You are “Not Sure” or Would “Vote Against”

by percentage of respondents who indicated that they would vote “not sure" or would “vote against” (excluding "don’t know” responses)


I don’t support any tax increase

I would support a lesser tax increase

The timing with the economy isn’t right

Under 5 years10%

5-9 years8%

10-14 years8%15-19 years

9%20-24 years

4%

25-34 years8%

35-44 years13%

45-54 years14%

55-64 years13%

65-74 years7%

75+ years5%

by percentage of household occupants

Q25. Demographics: Ages of People in Household


Under 3514%

35 to 4421%

45 to 5424%

55 to 6418%

65+23%

Q26. Demographics: Age of Respondentsby percentage of respondents


Male44%

Female56%

Q27. Demographics: Genderby percentage of respondents


Citizen Survey for the Sycamore Park District n Questions on full range of usage, customer satisfaction, priorities, and funding issues n Questions based.

Documents

n lindenhurst park

n urbana park

n gurnee park

n schaumburg park

n wheeling park

n champaign park

n mundelein park

nd slide