Asset Mapping & Recreation Programming Review City of Schertz, Texas

Sarah Walters, Amy Marlow, Ashley Rioux, & Kendall SchmalriedeDepartment of Health and Human Performance

Division of Recreation Administration

IntroductionIn order to be successful in today’s economy, municipal agencies must be strategic in their planning and be aware of constituents’ needs. Asset Mapping and Recreation Program Reviews provide a systematic process for investigating the. The purpose of this research was to investigate the state of public, private, and nonprofit recreation programs in the City of Schertz, Texas. This report provides an analysis of recreation program distribution in Schertz, as well as recommendations for increasing the success of the Schertz Parks and Recreation Department.

ResultsA lack of programs offered by the Schertz Parks and Recreation Department that must be supplemented by various non-profit and commercial entities:

Distribution Problems:Based on the RALA tool results and map of program offerings, there is a concentrated area of program locations near the city center.

Locating near businesses rather than residential areas has left gap in the heavily populated northwest area of the city along IH35.

Gaps in Service:As evidenced by RPA and community demographics, all gender, race/ethnicity, and income groups served equally.

Most programs offered are for children and youth, and there are almost no opportunities for older adults.

Redundancies in Service:

As the Schertz PARD focuses on improving and providing facilities and other amenities, there are few overlaps in programs between the PARD and other agencies.

ObjectivesTo examine the need for public recreation programming in Schertz through a review of community characteristics and current program offerings.

Background & RationaleAsset Mapping: The process of identifying, mapping, and recording information on people, places, local businesses, networks, and groups reveals positive attributes that exist within a community. Ideally, the end result is the ability to capitalize on social capital and enterprising interests.

Rural Active Living Assessment: The RALA tools evaluate “three key elements to capture the activity friendliness of rural communities: broad-level characteristics and recreational amenities, specific programs and policies, and street segment characteristics.”*

Recreation Program Assessment: Consultant Matt Bucchin suggests that agencies perfect that STAMP process, which emphasizes a proactive and targeted approach to planning, implementation, and relationships with partners and constituents.**

MethodsData Collection & Analysis: • Considered philosophy, vision, and mission statements of Schertz PARD

• Completed a Rural Active Living Assessment and gathered consolidated community demographics for the City of Schertz

• Listed and mapped recreation program offerings within the City of Schertz

• Based on findings, analyzed distribution problems, gaps in service, and overlaps or redundancies between city services and other agencies

RecommendationsThe Schertz PARD could address the need for programs in the northwest part of the city, as well as the need for programs that cater to older adults. The City could do this without fear of creating redundancies or lack of interest, as many residents have expressed interest during a needs assessment recently completed by the city.

All providers in the area, including the PARD, must consider that much of their population is served by Randolph Air Force Base. However, the City must not allow the non-military population to be underserved.

The public recreation provider in the City of Schertz, the Parks and Recreation Department, must

consider the needs of residents when deciding whether to expand program offerings.

*Based on article published in Preventive Medicine: Yousefian, Hennessy, Umstattd, Economos, Hallam, Hyatt, & Hartley, 2009.**Based on lecture presented at TRAPS Institute & Expo: Bucchin, 2013.