![]() | Resources | No.52 January 2008 |
||
print / save view |
Kelsey, C.G. & DeFillippo III, G. (2007). Master
Plan Process for Parks and Recreation (3rd Ed). Reston, VA: American
Association for Physical Activity and Recreation.
ISBN: 978-0-88314-858-7 Cost: $20.00 USD As one of the few works on holistic planning in the parks and recreation
industry, Master Plan Process for Parks and Recreation provides a comprehensive,
step-by-step and hands-on perspective on master planning as a basic
management tool. The purpose of the text is to serve as a resource to
guide the recreation professional through the comprehensive master plan
process for parks, recreation, open space and trails. The authors approach
the process from an American perspective and although all examples refer
to parks and recreation agencies in a USA context, professionals should
be able to apply the fundamentals to other management contexts, e.g.
Europe and Africa.
In the introduction, the authors provide answers to the FAQ’s
on the what, why, who how, how much and when of the master plan process.
The remaining text is divided into two parts according to seven typical
key elements of master planning. The first part, chapters II through
VI, explains the importance of gathering and analysing information in
a community context on existing and potential recreation resources,
current and projected population profiles, unique public insights and
attitudes on recreation provision and the comparison thereof to similar
communities or national benchmarks. The theoretical framework, management
tools and techniques pertaining to the first five elements of master
planning are clarified by means of steps and sub-steps, guiding the
reader through the comprehensive master plan process. Ample practical
examples are provided to illustrate the concepts. The second part of
the text, chapters VII and VIII, emphasises the significance of transforming
gathered information into a community strategy (action plan) representing
the recommendations and strategies that the community agency should
take to meet the immediate and future needs of the citizenry. The purpose
and importance of a community strategy, ways and steps to prepare the
community strategy plan, performing a priority-ranking system, the significance
of the logic method as a tool to interpret gathered facts and to make
professional judgments based on logic as well as ways to cost and fund
the community strategy are the fundamentals issues discussed in the
latter part of the book.
A few critical remarks should be noted:
The value of the text lies in that it presents a step-by-step framework
on how to approach and manage the comprehensive process of master planning
in parks and recreation. Although the total process consists of seven
elements, each element of this process is discussed in sufficient detail
so that different elements can be used as separate planning studies.
The book could be useful as an undergraduate text for students in the
Recreation Sciences. The paperback cover and ring bounded format make
the book easy to handle.
Contact
Prof. Dr. Anneliese Goslin
University of Pretoria Center for Leisure Studies Department of Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences Pretoria, South Africa Email: anneliese.goslin@up.ac.za Prof. Dr. Darlene Kluka University of Pretoria Center for Leisure Studies Department of Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences Pretoria, South Africa Email: eyesport@aol.com darlene.kluka@up.ac.za ![]() http://www.icsspe.org/portal/index.php?w=1&z=5 |