Performance Evaluation

For performance evaluation, there is an endless number of measures that a person can create based on the specific type of service you’re trying to evaluate. For example, you can create performance metrics which look at the hours of programs offered, number of citizens enrolled, the number of flower beds planted, etc. However, for a general evaluation of parks and services using surveys are the best indicator when trying to measure satisfaction.

When trying to get an indication of satisfaction for a given program point of service evaluations that are given after a person has participated can give a more focused and informed answer about a specific service by ensuring that the surveyed individual has actually taken part in the activity. Other surveys may be interested in a general assessment of parks and recreation and involve asking people who are using a park on a given day to participate in a survey about the park as a whole. Breaking the responses down by demographics such as age, or by whichever local park was being surveyed can also give additional information.

Needs assessment is another aspect parks may want to consider, and at times is a requirement for receiving grants. Rather than asking about how a given service is doing, administration might be more interested in discovering what people are interested in and think they should be doing. While basic surveys can be used in these situations as well, focus groups are considered by some to be more effective, because they can give you deeper more nuanced answers, and the process of discussion can give you information you would have otherwise never received. However, using focus groups is more time consuming, and consequently, more costly.