[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 36, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 36CFR72.12]

[Page 377-379]
 
              TITLE 36--PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY
 
      CHAPTER I--NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 
PART 72--URBAN PARK AND RECREATION RECOVERY ACT OF 1978--Table of Contents
 
                Subpart B--Local Recovery Action Programs
 
Sec. 72.12  Assessment of needs, problems and issues.

    The Action Program should begin with an Assessment describing the 
existing park and recreation system; issues and problems; goals and 
objectives. The Assessment should summarize the entire system including: 
Operation and maintenance; employment and training; programs and 
services; rehabilitation of existing facilities; and the need for new 
facilities. The Assessment should also describe how the park and 
recreation system relates to other

[[Page 378]]

public and private services. The Assessment consists of six parts which 
are as follows:
    (a) Context. The context should provide:
    (1) A short description of the local jurisdiction including: 
population; economy; geographical location; type of government; how the 
park department fits into the government structure; how the planning for 
parks and recreation is achieved; and the relationship to the 
community's comprehensive planning effort.
    (2) A brief descriptive overview of the park and recreation system 
which includes a discussion of: The populations being served both within 
and outside of the jurisdiction; the types of services being provided; 
the degree to which the system is available and accessible to the 
populations intended to be served; and projected changes in system use.
    (3) A discussion of the elements of planning, financing, 
programming, operation and maintenance, acquisition and development, and 
other factors common to park and recreation systems and other community 
services and prospects for future coordination.
    (4) A discussion of the approaches and mechanisms used for citizen 
participation.
    (b) Physical Issues. Summary information should be provided on 
existing facilities including:
    (1) Types of facilities and the distribution of acreage and uses at 
different locations;
    (2) Intergration of park and recreation planning and facility use 
with other service agencies such as schools, transportation and housing;
    (3) Special facilities for the handicapped or elderly as well as 
facilities which work to mainstream special populations;
    (4) Heavily used non-public or quasi-public facilities;
    (5) Facilities of historical and architectural significance which 
provide recreation and are managed by the park system;
    (6) Dependence upon nearby recreation resources outside the local 
jurisdictions, including public and private resources;
    (7) Deficiencies and existing facilities and the needs of the 
community for new facility development, expansion and/or closure of 
facilities and the effects of such activities.
    (c) Rehabilitation Issues. Summary information should be provided on 
the need for rehabilitation of facilities. This should include:
    (1) Geographic areas needing rehabilitation;
    (2) Types of sites and properties for rehabilitation;
    (3) Importance of rehabilitation in specific geographic areas; and
    (4) Value of rehabilitation over replacement through new facility 
development.
    (d) Service Issues. Summary information on existing services should 
outline activities and needs in the following areas:
    (1) The type, extent and intended beneficiaries of recreation 
services;
    (2) Special programs for the handicapped, elderly, minorities and 
mainstreaming programs for special populations;
    (3) Relationship between and coordination with public and 
significant non-public programs and private sector groups;
    (4) Extent to which park and recreation services relate to other 
community services including joint programs with schools, social service 
organizations, historic preservation groups, libraries, or community 
education facilities;
    (5) Coordination with Federal, State (SCORP), regional, county and 
other jurisdictional plans and activities having direct and indirect 
impacts on parks and recreation.
    (e) Management Issues. Management issues deal with operation of the 
park and recreation system. Information should summarize the needs and 
issues of:
    (1) Process for developing procedures and policies;
    (2) Staffing levels including full-time, seasonal and service 
personnel, and use of volunteers;
    (3) Use of contractual services for recreation programming;
    (4) Equipment maintenance and replacement policies; and
    (5) Budgeting process, funding cycles and budgets for the past three 
years

[[Page 379]]

and methods of budgeting (such as zero based or performance budgeting).
    (f) Conclusions, Implications and Issues. This section should state 
major conclusions of the discussions in previous sections, summarize the 
major problems and highlight the implications for actions needed to 
address the problems which have been outlined in the issues sections.