|  | Resources | No.53 May 2008 |
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Book Information Anneliese Goslin & Darlene Kluka |
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 analyzing information in 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, emphasise 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: (1) The layout of the book might be reconsidered. Tables are not numbered, examples are without headings, paragraph headings start at the bottom of pages (pp 24, 39, 43), open spaces at end of page and numbers without text (p17). The amount of detail provided under each element requires focused structuring of content. The reader might get lost in the number of steps and sub-steps as most of the information is presented in prose format. Ease of reading and comprehension might be enhanced by numbering steps and sub-steps. Although examples are provided within the text, a workbook type of addendum might enhance the value of the book, especially for professionals working outside the American Parks and Recreation model. AAPAR might consider re-visiting the cover to show diversity – it seems as if only whites are portrayed. 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. Anneliese Goslin & Prof. Darlene Kluka, University of Pretoria Pretoria, South Africa. Email: anneliese.goslin@up.ac.za & eyesport@aol.com / darlene.kluka@up.ac.za http://www.icsspe.org/portal/index.php?w=1&z=5 Book Information Master Plan Process for Parks and Recreation (3rd Ed) Anneliese Goslin & Darlene Kluka