Morrisville Active Kids Strategic Plan

Active Kids Strategic Plan

Facilities & Programming

Strategy: Develop recreation facilities and programs aimed at middle school and high school age youth

Currently facilities are geared toward children and adults. Middle school-aged youth age out of typical recreational and intramural programs and thus have limited opportunities. There is demand for facilities and recreational programming geared toward the interests of this age group.

Action Steps for Implementation

Task 2 

Task 1 

Incorporate a section of age-specific parks and recreation needs, challenges, and/or plans into the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Park and recreation needs and challenges vary among age groups. However, age-specific needs have not fully been addressed. Dedicated age-specific needs in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan demonstrate their priority.

Conduct focus groups or surveys of youth of different age groups, including middle school and high school. Focus groups provide detailed qualitative information that will frame priorities and challenges related to facilities and programming.

Resources CDC Youth Physical Activity Guidelines Toolkit, http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/toolkit/userguide_pa.pdf

Potential Partners:  Local schools 

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department Youth-based organizations

System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY), http://activelivingresearch.org/sites/default/files/SOPLAY_Protocols.pdf

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Engaging Community in Increasing Park-Based Physical Activity: Implementation Guide,

YMCA

http://rtips.cancer.gov/rtips/viewProduct.do? viewMode=preview&productId=26322188

Evaluation Measures: 

Incorporate age-specific considera- tions for recreation programming and facilities in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Dedicated programming for middle and high school-aged kids.

Kahn, E, (2002). The effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity: a systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine , 22(4S), 73-107. https://www.thecommunityguide.org/sites/default/files/publications/pa-ajpm- evrev.pdf

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April 25, 2017

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