Author: zeceightinsights_l0pfvg

Why

West Chester Township was seeking a 10-20-year roadmap to help shape decision making for parks and recreation in the Township. Specifically, the Township was seeking:

• A more comprehensive approach to meeting community recreational needs with limited resources.
• A guideline for parks standards, including appropriate park sizing, amenities, and budgeting.
• An outline of priorities for potential investment in parks and recreation that considered whole-life cycle costing and asset management.

HOW

Zec Eight Insights partnered with Hitchcock Design Group and Williams Architects for the planning process. Zec Eight Insights focused on performing recreation and service analyses, levels of service requirements, and operational planning. The process involved conducting a comprehensive data review, benchmarking, custom recreation program and service analysis, studying historical use patterns, and comparing results to industry best practices.

What

The final Parks Master Plan and Feasibility Study included recommendations to further refine the Township’s provision of parks and recreation services. Additional considerations were made for alternative service providers within and around the Township to ensure strategic recommendations accounted for the full breadth and scope of available public recreation services.

Reference
Michelle Taggart, Senior Associate
Hitchcock Design Group
(317) 613-6041
mtaggart@hitchcockdesigngroup.com
405 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 3B
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Why

In Washington, organizations wishing to apply for grants from the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) must have an approved long-range plan. Consequently, agencies with approved plans are eligible for up to six calendar years from the date when the governing body adopted the plan, resulting in a six-year planning horizon. Si View Metro Parks, located in and around North Bend, desired to develop a plan that focused on identifying key programs, audiences and venues for delivery of service along with aligning maintenance, capital development, and support services in venues based on program demand and community need.

HOW

Zec Eight Insights partnered with Herrera, Berger Partnership, and ETC Institute to perform the required work over a 12-month period. Specific focus involved a level of service (LOS) analysis describing the capacity of the various components and facilities that make up the system; tracking the quantity and quality of components of the entire system; analyzing infrastructure as well as programs and alternative providers; overlaying census information to normalize for population densities, target markets/audiences, and other demographic information; and crafting GIS maps to illustrate deficiencies, duplications of service, and project opportunity areas.

What

The final PROS Plan was unanimously approved by the Board of Commissioners in August 2025. The document was designed to be a living document that reflects the participants and data at the time which should change as people, issues, and resources change and evolve.

Reference
Travis Stombaugh, Executive Director
Si View Metro Parks
(425) 414-0770
tstombaugh@siviewpark.org
400 SE Orchard Drive
North Bend, WA 98045

Why

Moberly Parks and Recreation produce a new Parks and Recreation Master Plan every 10 years. Replacing the last plan completed in 2011, this Parks and Recreation Master Plan was needed to update the guiding framework for the provision of facilities, programs, and services.

HOW

Zec Eight Insights partnered with Herrera and ETC Institute to perform the required work over a 12-month period. Specific focus involved creating a specific level of service (LOS) analysis that resulted in describing existing and future park access based on walksheds and drivesheds and overall park need based on the synthesis of park access availability, quantity and quality of recreation amenities and facilities, population density projections, and poverty status. A statistically valid community survey was implemented to provide longitudinal data while supporting new data/reference points for the city. Additionally, a focus on organizational and management planning was completed by performing reviews of organizational structure and functionality along with resources and funding.

What

The final Parks and Recreation Master Plan was presented to a joint workshop of Park Board and City Council, followed by unanimously approved by both bodies in July 2025. The final plan outlined a three-tiered priority approach (A, B, and C) for its recommended strategies and tactics. In total, 40 strategies and tactics were provided in two main categories: operations & capacity and experiences & assets.

Reference
Troy Bock, Director
Moberly Parks and Recreation
(660) 269-7613
tbock@cityofmoberly.com
200 N Clark Street
Moberly, MO 65270

Why

During the development of Parks Plan 2040 (the Parks and Recreation System Plan), it was identified as necessary to update the department’s Athletic Field Requirements Report. The overarching study goal has remained consistent since 2001: to study the sports field inventory, assess demand, and make recommendations based on supply and demand analyses, but this study process had an additional layer. Up until 2022, Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation was responsible for taking reservations and scheduling both parks and school district facilities. Post-2022, the department and school district no longer had that process in place; therefore, this study focused more intently on the department’s facilities.

HOW

To effectively and efficiently assess athletic field supply and demand in Lake Oswego, Zec Eight Insights collected and analyzed related planning documents such as previous Athletic Field Requirements Report drafts, Parks Plan 2040 public opinion and stakeholder engagement findings, and existing field inventories; collected and analyzed field reservation data for 2021-2024 to assess demand trends; assessed national and local recreation trends; and implemented a user survey to solicit direct feedback, opinion, and comments related to the athletic sports field provision in Lake Oswego.

What

The final Athletic Field Requirements Report provided 15 recommendations spanning across non-capital strategies for optimizing field use, policy and management, and capital improvement needs. Additionally, a suggested phasing/implementation protocol was created along with suggestions for process management considerations.

Reference
Kyra Haggart, Park Analyst/Park Manager
City of Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation
(503) 697-6576
khaggart@ci.oswego.or.us
PO Box 369
Lake Oswego, OR 97034

Why

Verdun Adventure Bound (“Verdun”) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1999 by Dr. David Snyder. Over the past 25 years Verdun has provided customized experiential learning programs designed to meet the needs of clients and the surrounding community. Programs offered engage youth and adults with opportunities to learn new skills, collaborate, overcome adversity, and to be empowered as individuals and as groups. Verdun provides a space for individuals to get outdoors and disconnect from technology and connect with each other. With Verdun’s popularity and programmatic successes, they sought to conduct market research to aid them in programmatic expansion decision-making.

HOW

Zec Eight Insights was retained in 2024 to research and analyze data around outdoor recreation programming in Verdun’s market. This research was intended to help Verdun’s three-year strategic planning process and provide context for potential program expansions. Specifically, Zec Eight Insights conducted a customized service radius recreation trends analysis, national trends analysis, similar provider and direct competitor environmental scan, and reviewed and analyzed available participation and financial data.

What

The final technical report provides 15 recommendations including, but not limited to, focusing on gateway recreation activities, diversifying revenue sources to reduce the reliance on grant funding, exploring the addition of equestrian and therapeutic recreation core program areas, expanding camping opportunities, and establishing a depreciation schedule and asset/facility replacement cycle.

Reference
Sean McElhinney, Executive Director
Verdun Adventure Bound
(540) 937-4920
sean@verdunadventurebound.org
17044 Adventure Bound Trail
Rixeyville, VA 22737

Why

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) delivers quality assurance and improvement to accredited park and recreation departments throughout the United States. This operational management system improves their infrastructures; increases efficiency in all activities; and demonstrates accountability within their communities. Implementation of this system strengthens teamwork among department staff, imbeds all aspects of CAPRA into their department’s internal culture, and establishes a continuous improvement mindset for all department activities.

CAPRA is the only national accreditation of park and recreation departments and is a valuable measure of a department’s overall quality of operation, management, and service to the community. Achieving CAPRA accreditation is the best way to demonstrate that your department and your staff provide your community with the highest level of service.

HOW

Zec Eight Insights was hired to provide consultation, project management, and support for Memphis Parks’ attempt to become a CAPRA accredited parks system. Zec Eight Insights conducted an all staff meeting in September 2022 to formally kick-off the CAPRA process. Staff members were organized into chapter teams, each with a leader or co-leader. Over the course of 2023 and into 2024, Zec Eight Insights reviewed and assessed evidence of compliance (EOC), facilitated staff workshops and meetings, and provided overall guidance for the CAPRA accreditation process.

What

Memphis Parks received accreditation during the spring 2024 visit season, becoming only the third agency from Tennessee to achieve this status.

Reference
Amy Collier, CPRP
Strategic Planning Manager
(901) 636-4206
amy.collier@memphistn.gov
2599 Avery Avenue
Memphis, TN 38112

Why

In 2020, Lakewood residents approved Measure L, a local sales tax initiative to raise funds for citywide improvement projects and future needs. Improvements were made across the system including parks, community centers, open spaces, trails, and recreational facilities. Additionally, expansions to recreation and human services programs and community special events were made. As a result, the City of Lakewood wanted to develop a comprehensive Parks, Recreation and Community Services Master Plan that represents a citywide approach to develop goals, guidelines, strategies, and policies based on current and future funding scenarios and projected community needs for the next 20 years.

HOW

Zec Eight Insights partnered with MIG to develop the master plan. Zec Eight Insights focused on two specific technical reports: Maintenance & Operations Assessment and Programs & Services Assessment. The Maintenance & Operations Assessment involved system site assessments, industry benchmark analysis, staff workshops, financial reviews, and existing maintenance practice documentation audits. The Programs & Services Assessment involved a contracted class program registration data analysis, staff workshops, and a financial review.

What

The final recommendations pertaining to Zec Eight Insight’s scope of work include, but are not limited to, reducing program waitlists, adopting additional performance metrics, leveraging the recreation software system to capture space utilization, establishing cost recovery goals, improving maintenance and operations data collection and analysis capabilities, and seeking to implement a unified work order management system.

Reference
Jose Rodriguez
Senior Project Manager | Director of GIS Services
(626) 744-9872 ext. 3050
joser@migcom.com
360 E Second Street, Suite 675
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Why

Holliday Park, one of Indianapolis’ oldest parks, covers 94 acres and offers amenities such as a destination playground, 3.5 miles of trails, historic ruins, and a nature center. It serves not only the surrounding neighborhoods but a broad community with popular events like the summer concert series and a seasonal ice-skating rink. Despite its attractions, Holliday Park faces significant challenges in improving its infrastructure, increasing park usage, and enhancing visitor experiences. Recently, the Friends of Holliday Park worked through an organizational restructure, shifting from a working board with 26+ members to a governing board closer to 13 members. This also came with the transition from the Friends of Holliday Park to the Holliday Park Foundation. Once the transition was complete, it was identified that a Strategic Plan was necessary to move the Foundation towards their goal of managing Holliday Park via a conservancy model.

HOW

Zec Eight Insights was retained to create an actionable workplan as part of the Holliday Park Foundation’s larger Strategic Plan effort. Specifically, Zec Eight Insights worked with staff to organize and prioritize goals and objectives. This included existing programs and projects, capital improvement strategy, and potential long-term hiring/staffing possibilities. Zec Eight Insights then worked with staff to determine the most appropriate time limitations for established goals and objectives.

What

The final technical report identifies a work plan for sustainable growth by highlighting the need for unified management and strategic planning, expanding capacity, and moving toward more sustainable funding methods. The work plan is categorized into operational and experiential strategies.

Reference
Adam Barnes, Executive Director
Holliday Park Foundation
(317) 475-9482
abarnes@hollidaypark.org
6363 Spring Mill Road
Indianapolis, IN 46260

Why

The City of Goshen, Indiana Parks and Recreation operates Shanklin Pool. The pool includes popular amenities and attractions such as water slides, diving boards, lap swims, open swims, swim lessons, pool parties, and has a concession stand onsite with a full menu. The pool is reaching the end of its lifecycle, and the city wants to develop a new site master plan for the aquatic facility.

HOW

Zec Eight Insights partnered with HWC Engineering to develop a site master plan. Specifically, Zec Eight Insights focused on conducting a market analysis to ascertain local market conditions for various aquatic amenities and features, conducted an operations and programming review of the existing and potential site, and developed a five-year financial pro forma that includes staffing, utilities, maintenance, and operational functions required to deliver the final site master plan components.

What

The final operational pro forma was presented in four scenarios based on final client decisions and how the redevelopment of the Shanklin Pool is finalized. The final scenarios include different cost recovery and supply & maintenance cost forecasts which will ultimately be influenced by management decisions during and after final construction.

Reference
Kyle Lueken, Senior Project Manager
HWC Engineering
(317) 981-1258
klueken@hwcengineering.com
135 N Pennsylvania Street, Suite 2800
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Why

The City of Crawfordsville, Indiana Parks and Recreation operates Milligan Park Pool and Splash Pad. Based on the pool’s historical success, the city was interested in exploring aquatic enhancements and desired to develop a Pool Feasibility Study.

HOW

Zec Eight Insights partnered with HWC Engineering to develop a Pool Feasibility Study. Specifically, Zec Eight Insights focused on conducting a market analysis to ascertain local market conditions for various aquatic amenities and features, conducted an operations and programming review of existing pool data, and developed a five-year financial pro forma that includes staffing, utilities, maintenance, and operational functions required to deliver enhanced services.

What

The final operational pro forma was presented that provides management strategies for managing a pool with enhanced aquatic services such as a lazy river, concessions, waterslide towers, and increased maintenance considerations such as chemicals, lifeguards/staffing, and water use.

Reference
Kyle Lueken, Senior Project Manager
HWC Engineering
(317) 981-1258
klueken@hwcengineering.com
135 N Pennsylvania Street, Suite 2800
Indianapolis, IN 46204