Park and Recreation Designs

This section is presented in the interest of assisting park and recreation agencies in the development of a
system of parks and recreation areas. A recreation system is composed of many different components, the
combination of which provide facilities and landscapes for outdoor recreation. Many entities are involved
in the development and management of recreational areas and facilities for a community or region.
Facilities provided by these entities should be complementary and serve a particular geographic area or
recreational need. For this plan, parks and recreation areas have been classified on the basis of their
service areas. They are described as the following:

Mini Park School Park

Neighborhood Park County Park
Community Park State Park
Special Use Park State Forest
terms of distance from population served is
Mini Park limited to less than a quarter mile, or within a
super block space, unless the playground is
1. Definition Summary: incorporated into a larger park. (*Stand-alone
A play lot or playground provides space for play lots require more land area than play lots
parental supervised recreation of toddlers and incorporated into larger parks.)
young children within a neighborhood, or as
part of a larger neighborhood or community 6. Orientation:
park and urban center, including retail Small geographic areas, sub-neighborhoods,
shopping areas. or neighborhoods, when combined with a
larger park unit, serves youth ranging in age
2. Size Objectives: from toddler to 12 years, with adult
0.5 to 1.5 acres. supervision. Playgrounds also serve
important needs in city business districts and
3. Service Area Objectives:
inner city areas where a mix of commercial
Generally within a neighborhood of a half
and recreation activity is desired.
mile radius or population of 2,000-3,000.
Mini parks may be included in parks that 7. Function:
serve a larger population or service area. Provides outdoor play experiences for youth
under parental supervision. Generates
4. Location Objectives:
neighborhood communication and provides
Located in protected areas with separation
diversion from work and domestic chores.
from street traffic and high visibility; serving
Promotes neighborhood solidarity.
local neighborhoods and adjoining schools,
libraries, or police and fire facilities.
Population Ratio to Acreage: 0.25 to 0.5 Neighborhood Park
acre per 1,000 population to achieve a
1. Definition Summary:
park unit size that serves 2,000 to 3,000
A neighborhood park, by size, program, and
people.
location, provides space and recreation
5. Space, Design, and Service Area: activities for the immediate neighborhood in
The size of a play lot or playground may which it is located. It is considered an
range from as small as 2,500 sq. ft. to 1.5 extension of neighborhood residents' "out-of-
acres.* Amenities offered by these facilities yard" and outdoor use area.
generally include sand play areas, play
2. Size Objectives:
apparatus, play equipment, and other special
5 to 25 acres.
child-oriented features. The service radius
for these parks in
3. Service Area Objectives: 6. Orientation:
Generally a one mile radius, but actually Serves all age groups, with an emphasis on youth
defined by collector street patterns which and families in neighborhood settings.
form the limits of a neighborhood or
recreation service area. Population served 7. Function:
may range from 2,000 up to 5,000. To provide a combination of active recreation
and passive activities, both outdoor and
4. Location Objectives: indoor facilities and special features as
Centrally located for equitable pedestrian required or needed.
access within a definable neighborhood
service area. Adjoining or adjacent to an 8. Space, Design and Service Area:
elementary school, middle school, high A minimum size of 5 to 25 acres with
school, fire station, or library, if possible. amenities including sports facilities, picnic
areas, swim facilities, cultural activities, arts,
5. Program Objectives: crafts, and individual passive activities. The
Compatible with the neighborhood setting park should primarily serve a defined
and park site constraints. Generally includes neighborhood area population of 2,000-
the following facilities, which are determined 5,000. Distance from this neighborhood will
with public input as to use and activities: vary depending on urban development
a. Parking for 10 to 20 vehicles. pattern, zoning, and densities in the
1) On-street parking is acceptable if respective neighborhoods being served.
negative impact to residential units Efforts should be made to allow easy
can be mitigated. On-site parking is pedestrian access to the park.
preferable as a planning objective.
2) Bike racks with Class II trail Community Park
connections where possible.
b. Restrooms 1. Definition Summary:
1) Men's restroom with 2 water closets, A community park, by size, program, and
2 urinals, 2 lavatories. location, provides space and recreation
2) Women's restroom with 3 water activities for a defined service area, the entire
closets and 2 lavatories. city, or significant geographic segment of the
3) Utility and minimum park janitorial city's population.
storage space.
2. Size Objectives:
c. Tot lot/children's play area
Usually more than 25 acres.
d. Family event/group picnic facility
e. Informal family picnic area with benches 3. Service Area Objectives:
and tables Generally a 2 to 5 mile radius within the city
f. Unstructured turf grass play area/play or and adjacent neighborhoods outside of city
practice field for children, young adults, limits.
and families.
g. Sport facilities—compatible with 4. Location Objectives:
neighborhood setting and park site Centrally located if planned to serve a
constraints. particular geographic segment of the city.
1) Basketball—half court, full court, or Located adjoining or immediately adjacent to
tri-court configuration a collector street providing community-wide
2) Volleyball area vehicular access, thereby reducing
3) Softball field/soccer practice or game neighborhood traffic impacts. Connected
overlay with Class II on-street and/or off-street
4) Other features as needs or site community trail and bike lane system.
conditions allow Adjoining or adjacent to an elementary,
middle, or high school if possible.
5. Program Objectives
Elements that fulfill the service area, park 8) Space, Design, and Service Area:
facilities and recreation program demands. The minimum space for a community park is
The following facilities may be compatible 15 acres. Facilities typically provide for
with community setting and park site some sports activities, through emphasis is on
constraints: passive cultural and community centers with
a. Off-street parking calculated to satisfy recreational programming and organized
demand of park and recreation activities activities. The community park may serve
provided. Includes bike racks and a populations within a 2 to 5 mile radius, a
public transit station at the site as well as scope that would allow residents of other
both on-site and street parking. communities to use the park as well.
b. Restrooms designed to accommodate the
level of park and recreation activities
Special Use Park
provided and the number of people
served. Restrooms should be located 1. Definition Summary:
within a reasonable walking distance A special use park is often designed as a
from children's play equipment and other revenue-generating enterprise created to
high-use areas. satisfy demand for a particular sport,
c. Community recreation center recreational activity, or special event. A
d. Park maintenance and equipment storage special use park may also be a sports park
building combined with enterprise activities and
e. Tot lot/children's play area administered as a community recreation
f. Group picnic shelters resource.
g. Family picnic facilities
h. Sport/recreation facility fulfilling the
2. Size Objective:
The actual size of a special use park is
overall city demand
determined by land availability and
Appropriate program elements include:
facility/market demand for special uses or
1) Community pool/water feature
recreation programs.
2) Soccer fields
3) Softball, little league baseball, junior 3. Service Area Objectives:
pony league baseball Community or area-wide and determined by
4) Football the type of recreation program, special events
5) Roller hockey/skateboard area or use activities.
6) Tennis courts
7) Basketball courts 4. Location Objectives:
8) Amphitheater/performing arts center Determined by the property opportunity,
9) Volleyball (indoor and outdoor) service area and size objectives.
10) Jogging trails
11) Other facilities as desired and as 5. Program Objectives:
permitted under park site plan Special use parks require facility
12) Concessions (food and beverage) programming that is user- or market-driven
and based on community needs or economic
6. Orientation: and service principles for public and private
Multi-purpose service area or community- partnerships. The magnitude and type of
wide recreation resource serving most or all special use facilities may include:
of the population. a. Water play park
b. Amphitheater
7. Function: c. Festival/swap meet/farmers market
Provides opportunities for a diverse mix of d. League/individual sports complex
indoor and outdoor recreation, including e. Fitness/entertainment center
walking and bicycling, outdoor f. Skateboard/in-line hockey park
performances, various programmed and non- g. Recreation programs and classes
programmed field sports, swimming, and
special events.
6. Orientation: 3. Service Area Objectives:
Provides recreation programming, sports and Neighborhood park and community park
special event attractions and activities for all classifications criteria should be used to
age groups. determine school park functions and area
served. For planning purposes, the degree to
7. Function: which school lands, including building or
Special events, fairs, festivals, expositions, facilities, meet community needs depends on
symposiums, sports, community gatherings, the specific inter-local agreements formed.
ethnic/cultural celebrations, plays and
numerous other recreational programs and 4. Location Objectives:
activities. The location of a school park site will be
determined by the school district based on
8. Space, Design, and Service Area: district policy. Coordinated city and school
The minimum size for special parks varies district planning allows for siting,
depending on intended use and programming. acquisition, and facility development to be
responsive to community needs. Service
School Park areas for school park sites will depend on the
type of use and facilities provided.
1. Definition Summary:
By combining the resources of two public 5. Program Objectives:
agencies, the school park classification The criteria established for neighborhood
allows for expanding the recreational, social, parks and community parks should be used to
and educational opportunities available to the determine how a school park site is
community in an efficient and cost-effective developed and programmed. If athletic fields
manner. are developed at a school park site, they
Depending on the circumstances, school park should, where feasible, be oriented toward
sites often complement other community youth rather than adult programs.
recreation or open lands. As an example, an Establishing a clearly defined joint-use
elementary/middle school site could also agreement between involved agencies is
serve as a neighborhood park. Likewise, critical to making school park relationships
middle or high school sports facilities could workable. This is particularly important with
do double duty as a community park or as respect to acquisition, development,
youth athletic fields. Depending on its size, maintenance, liability, use, and programming
one school park site may serve in a number of facility issues.
of capacities, such as a neighborhood park, The orientation of school park projects is
youth athletic fields, and a location for typically for neighborhood and community
recreation classes. Given the inherent recreation services. The functions may
variability of type, size and location, include sports, recreation classes, passive
determining how a school park site is recreation activities, and other recreation
integrated into a larger park system will programs suitable to an elementary or
depend on case-by-case circumstances. The secondary education school.
important outcome in the joint-use
relationship is that both the school district County Park
and park system benefit from shared use of
facilities and land area. 1. Definition Summary:
A county park provides sufficient park and
recreation area to meet the needs of county
2. Size Objective residents. County parks consist of land that
The optimum size of a school park site
is specifically set aside for active and passive
depends on its intended use. The size criteria
recreation uses, and that accommodates large
established for neighborhood park and
gatherings, special events, and individual
community park classifications may apply.
users. County parks offer a wide variety of
compatible outdoor recreation activities, and
 may provide areas that do not primarily serve i. Restrooms
a recreational purpose such as protected j. Shower facilities
natural areas, historic areas, and special use k. Sport fields (basketball, volleyball,
areas. softball, etc.)
l. Pet exercise area
2. Size Objectives:
The size of recreation parks varies greatly 6. Orientation:
from park to park, but with the exception of Multi-purpose service area and regional
those parks that serve a special use or are trail recreation resource serving a significant
corridors, a recreation park should consist of portion of a county or multi-county
a minimum of 100 acres of land. Each park population.
should be of sufficient size to accommodate
the estimated use and to allow for the 7. Function:
operation and maintenance of planned To provide sufficient parks and
recreational facilities. recreation areas to meet the needs of the
people of the county.
3. Service Area Objectives:
County parks provide for a regional user 8. Space, Design, and Service Area:
group and serve primarily county residents. The size of a county park should be a
Special facilities like camping and trails are minimum of 100 acres. Facilities vary by
also used by tourists and visitors to the park. Some parks offer active recreation
county. (camping, recreational trails, etc.), while
others provide passive recreation (scenic
4. Location Objectives: lookouts, picnic areas, beaches, etc.).
The land should have high recreational Most parks provide both active and
potential and be able to withstand intensive passive recreation. County parks provide
and extensive recreational activities. Land for a regional user group and serve
should have potential to accommodate large primarily county residents, through
groups of people. Land for corridors should special facilities also serve tourists and
be located so as to connect to communities, visitors to the county.
parks, and open spaces. The potential for
future land acquisition should be taken into State Forest
account.
1. Definition Summary:
5. Program Objectives: A state forest consists of well blocked areas
Development should be appropriate for of state owned lands that are managed to
intended use and should accommodate benefit present and future generations of
moderate to high use. Development and residents, recognizing that forests contribute
planning should consider the physical to local and statewide economics and to a
condition and characteristics of the land and healthy natural environment. State forests
recognize potential environmental or practice sustainable forestry. The
structural limitations that might require management of state forests is consistent with
intensive maintenance. County parks may the ecological capability of state forest land
include the following facilities: and with the long-term goal of maintaining
a. Camping/group camping sustainable forest communities and
b. Picnic areas ecosystems. Benefits of maintaining these
c. Recreational trails (hiking, bicycling, ecosystems include soil protection, public
mountain biking, equestrian, cross- hunting, protection of water quality,
country ski, snowmobile, etc.) production of recurring forest products,
d. Play areas outdoor recreation, native biological
e. Swimming beaches diversity, aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, and
f. Water access aesthetic value. The range of benefits
g. Fishing access provided in each state forest reflect its unique
h. Shelters
 character and position in the regional natural resources present dictate recreation
landscape. available at the site. State forests serve large
geographic areas of a state or region.
2. Size Objectives:
Typically between 1,000 and 250,000 acres, State Park
but can be larger or smaller.
1. Definition Summary:
3.` Service Area Objectives: A state park, by size, program, and location,
Generally a 100 mile radius. State forests provides space for outdoor recreation and
typically provide close-to-home recreational education about nature and conservation.
area. Day users typically travel These parks serve a significant geographic
approximately 50 miles one-way to reach segment of a state or regional population.
state forests, while overnight users tend to State parks aim to preserve, protect, interpret
travel further, approximately 100-150 miles and enhance the scenic and cultural resources
one-way. Travel to state forests can, of the state.
however, exceed 160 miles for longer
vacation stays and travel to "destination 2. Size Objectives:
areas." Parks must be large enough to accommodate
a reasonable mix of outdoor recreational
4. Location Objectives: activities. Typically, parks are between 500
Areas with large blocks of land. and 3000 acres, but can be smaller (<20
acres) or larger (>10,000 acres).
5. Program Objectives:
State forests must meet ecological, economic, 3. Service Area Objectives:
social, and cultural needs. Elements are Generally a 100-mile radius. State parks
compatible with the natural resource setting typically provide close-to-home recreational
and park site constraints. Facilities may areas. Day users generally travel
include the following: approximately 50 miles one-way to reach
Current Level of Supply: state parks, while overnight users tend to
Hiking trails 1,256 acres per linear mile of trail
travel further, approximately 100-150 miles
Cross-country ski 2,551 acres per linear mile of trail one-way. Travel distances to state parks can
trails often exceed 160 miles for longer vacation
Snowmobile trails 639 acres per linear mile of trail stays and trips to "destination areas."
Equestrian trails 559 acres per linear mile of trail
ATV trails 1,795 acres per linear mile of trail 4. Location Objectives:
Camping sites 1 campsite per 265 acres Siting of Wisconsin State Parks is typically
based on five criteria developed by John
6. Orientation:
Nolen. These criteria are: 1) large size to
Multi-purpose service area and regional
serve a large number of citizens, 2)
recreation resource serving a significant
accessibility to major population areas, 3) a
portion of a state or regional population.
healthful, natural setting, 4) reasonable cost
7. Function: for land acquisition, 5) land possessing
To provide for nature conservation, provide "decidedly uncommon charm and beauty."
income to forest owners, supply raw All, or a combination of these criteria are
materials to the wood processing industry, used to determine where to site a state park.
and provide public recreation.
5. Program Objectives:
8. Space, Design, and Service Area: Elements that fulfill the service area, park
The size of a state forest is determined by the facilities and recreation program demands.
extent of the area's natural resources and Elements are compatible with the natural
recreation capabilities. There is no minimum resource setting and park site constraints.
or maximum size for a state forest. Facilities Developments may include the following
are not universal and vary by forest. The facilities:
geographic location of the forest and the
Current Level of Supply:
Hiking trails 196 acres per linear mile of trail
Surfaced bicycle trails 860 acres per linear mile of trail
Mountain bike trails 549 acres per linear mile of trail
Nature trails 1,871 acres per liner mile of trail
Cross-country ski trails 430 acres per linear mile of trail
Snowmobile trails 426 acres per linear mile of trail
Equestrian trails 400 acres per linear mile of trail
Picnic sites 0.05 acres per picnic table
Camping sites 1 campsite per 29 acres
Parking stalls Year-Round = 1 stall for every
three visitors
Swimming beaches 17 linear feet per 1,000 users

5. Orientation:
Multi-purpose service area and regional
recreation resource serving a significant
portion of a state or regional population.

6. Function:
To provide for public recreation and
education of conservation and nature study.
To preserve, protect, interpret and enhance
the scenic and cultural resources of the state.

7. Space, Design, and Service Area:

The size of a state park is determined by the
extent of the area's natural resources and
recreation capabilities. There is no minimum
or maximum size for a state park. Facilities
are not universal and vary by park. Some
parks offer active recreation (camping,
boating, mountain biking trails, hunting etc.),
while others offer passive recreation (scenic
lookouts, picnic areas, beaches, etc.). Most
provide both active and passive recreation.
The geographic area and the natural resources
present dictate recreation uses and facilities
present in the park. State parks serve large
geographic areas of a state or region.