Natural Resources Leadership Institute

In January 2009, the report, Involving the Public in Park Planning, An Evaluation of the
City of Raleigh’s Park Master Planning Processes, was presented to City Council. This report evaluated two different processes that the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department
(and other agencies, in similar fashion) have used in the past.

The report evaluated the Parks and Recreation Department's two park master plan processes,
the Community Meeting Process and the Resolution Process, through a literature review,
interviews and focus groups. Focus groups were formed by including residents who participated
in the master plan processes for Forest Ridge Park, Horseshoe Farm Park, Leesville Park and Timberlake Park (now called Hill Street Park). Interviews were also conducted with Raleigh Parks
& Recreation Department Staff, members of the Raleigh Parks Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board, and park planning consultants. The report included a holistic overview of public involvement with a review and assessment of Raleigh's public involvement processes. The report concluded
with recommendations to each master plan process.

Comprehensive Public Participation Program for Park Planning: Introduction
The report, Involving the Public in Park Planning, An Evaluation of the City of Raleigh’s
Park Master Planning Processes,recommended the Parks and Recreation Department go a
step further and create a public involvement policy. Below, are three documents intended to
update and streamline the park Master Planning process beyond the report, "Involving the Public
in Park Planning".The consultants and staff integrated the three main documents by incorporating suggestions from both public and an internal reviews, and a thorough review from the consultants and staff.

• Public Participation Guidelines for Park Planning describes best practices, process selection guides, resources, and ends with a glossary of terms. This document is intended
  to guide staff in the implementation of the Policy for Park Planning.
• Public Participation Policy for Park Planning contains a policy statement and principles, roles and responsibilities, and a glossary of terms.
• Public Participation Manual for Park Planning provides additional details on roles and responsibilities; implementation of Master Plans, System Integration Plans and other planning processes; publicity and public input; and a glossary of terms.

Two other documents were created to round out the Public Participation Program for Park Planning during the life of the project:

• City of Raleigh Public Participation Executive Summary provides an executive sumary of the Public Participation Program for Park Planning and how to use the documents that make up the program
• Getting Involved in Raleigh Park Planning: Information Exchange information provided to the public when they engage in a specific process.
  
  

Project Schedule