Greensboro Plan2Play Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2019

62 - FEBRUARY 2019

Recreation and Sports Programs, Trends, and Gaps

Program Trends Recreation Management releases an annual State of the Managed Recreation Industry Report which details the current trends in the recreation, sports, and fitness industry. The report utilizes survey responses from approximately 1,600 different parks and recreation departments, college/ universities, school districts, health clubs, YMCA’s, camps, and community sports/ recreation centers. This report was used to understand both what other communities offer and the direction of national trends. Nationally, the most commonly offered program in 2018 has been holidays/ special events: over 62% of respondents are offering this programming. The second most commonly offered programming is fitness programs, with 59% of respondents reporting they offer this type of programming. The next most commonly offered programming is youth teams sports, educational training, and day/summer

While the community is projected to grow and change over the coming decades, the world around Greensboro is also changing, including trends in parks and recreation. Understanding shifts in program demand and anticipating new programs will help project future program opportunities for Greensboro and the facilities needed to support them. Local community input is another important ingredient, and the statistically valid Community Survey offers direction that help tailor the city’s response to trends and demands.

camps, with approximately 58%, 57%, and 56% of survey respondents indicating they offer this type of programming, respectively. Furthermore, the report states that approximately 32% of survey respondents indicated that they have plans to add additional programs to their facilities over the next three years. The most common planned program addition is fitness programs with approximately 26% of respondents stating they plan to add this offering. The second most common program addition is educational programs with approximately 26% of respondents indicating this planned addition. The next most common program additions include mind-body/balance programs, teen programs, and environmental education with approximately 23%, 23%, and 21% of respondents stating they have plans to add this programming, respectively.