Lancaster County is planning the future of its parks and recreation system and we need your voice to shape it. The County is developing a Parks & Recreation Master Plan to guide investments, improvements, and priorities for parks, trails, greenways, and recreation programs. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts by filling out the survey below.

SECTION 1: WHO YOU ARE

1.Which Lancaster County park service area do you live closest to?

Buford Area

Flat Creek Area

Heath Springs Area

Indian Land Area

Kershaw Area

Lancaster Area

I live outside Lancaster County

2.What is your 5-digit zip code?

3.How many people of each age group live in your household? (Count yourself)

0

1

2

3

4

5+

Under age 5

0

1

2

3

4

5+

Ages 5-9

0

1

2

3

4

5+

Ages 10-14

0

1

2

3

4

5+

Ages 15-18

0

1

2

3

4

5+

Ages 19-34

0

1

2

3

4

5+

Ages 35-54

0

1

2

3

4

5+

Ages 55-64

0

1

2

3

4

5+

Ages 65+

0

1

2

3

4

5+

4.How long have you lived in Lancaster County?

Less than 1 year

1–5 years

6–10 years

11–20 years

20 or more years

I don't live in Lancaster County

SECTION 2: HOW YOU USE PARKS

5.How often do you or members of your household visit Lancaster County parks or recreation facilities? (Select one)

Never

A few times a year

About once a month

About once a week

Multiple times per week

6.Which Lancaster County parks or recreation facilities have you or members of your household visited in the past 12 months? (Check all that apply.)

Bear Creek Park

Buford Battleground

Buford Recreation Complex

Flat Creek Park

Tripp Faulkenberry

David McIsaac Park

Heath Springs Athletic Complex

Bailes Ridge Nature Trail

Deputy Roy Hardin Park

Harrisburg Athletic Complex

Indian Land Recreation Center

Walnut Creek Park

Andrew Jackson Recreation Center

Marion Boan

Mullinax Park

Buckelew Park

Laurie Brice Park

Melvin Steele Park

Springdale Recreation Complex

Springs Park

Stafford Belk Park

Wylie Street Pool

None of the above

Other (please specify)

SECTION 3: BARRIERS TO USE

7.What prevents you or members of your household from using Lancaster County parks and recreation facilities more often? (Check all that apply.)

Facilities are not well maintained

I do not feel safe at parks or facilities

I don't know where parks are located

Lack of parking

Lack of transportation

Parks are not easily accessible by walking, biking, or driving

Parks are not accessible to people with disabilities

Parks don't have the facilities or amenities my household needs

Parks or facilities are too far from my home

Park operating hours are not convenient

Other communities offer facilities that are closer or of higher quality

Nothing — I'm satisfied with current access

Other (please specify)

SECTION 4 — YOUR PRIORITIES

8.Which amenities or facilities does your household need most? (Select exactly 5)

Baseball / softball fields

Boating access — motorized

Boating access — non-motorized (canoe, kayak)

Community / recreation centers

Community gardens

Disc golf course

Dog park

Fishing pier / fishing access

Game tables (chess, checkers, dominoes)

Golf course

Indoor fitness center

Indoor gymnasium (basketball, volleyball)

Indoor gymnastics area

Indoor nature / environmental center

Indoor swimming pool

Large community parks

Multipurpose athletic fields

Natural areas / nature parks

Neighborhood parks

Outdoor basketball courts

Outdoor fitness equipment

Outdoor football / soccer / lacrosse fields

Outdoor swimming pool / aquatics

Park shelters and picnic areas

Paved multipurpose trails

Performing arts center

Pickleball courts

Playgrounds

Restrooms at existing parks

Sand volleyball courts

Senior center

Sidewalks and pedestrian connections

Skate park

Splash pads

Teen center

Tennis courts

Unpaved walking and hiking trails

Park benches / seating

Food concessions

Other (please specify)

9.Which programs or activities does your household need most? (Select exactly 5)

Adult athletic leagues

Adult fitness / wellness programs

Adult swim lessons

Adult education (GED, degree, trade)

Adult performing arts / dance

Athletic special events (5K, marathons, tournaments)

Before- and after-school programs

Summer / school break camps

Child day care

Community meetings and civic programming

Community special events (concerts, festivals, markets)

Cooking classes

Digital media / photography programs

Gymnastics

Movies in the park

Music programs

Nature programs / environmental education

Outdoor dining / food events

Preschool programs

Programs for people with disabilities

Senior education and leisure programs

Teen programs

Youth arts / crafts / painting

Youth athletic leagues

Youth education (computer, STEM, special interest)

Youth fitness / wellness

Youth swim lessons

Youth performing arts / dance

Water fitness

Other (please specify)

10.Which investments should Lancaster County prioritize for its parks and recreation system? (Select exactly 4)

Acquire land for new parks and recreation facilities

Acquire land for new sports / athletic fields and courts

Acquire land for sports complexes attracting regional and national tournaments

Acquire land to preserve greenspace, tree canopy, and natural areas

Acquire land to develop greenways and trails

Renovate and improve existing parks and facilities

Completely redesign and redevelop existing parks to better meet community needs

Develop a teen center

Develop an indoor pool / aquatics center

Develop new athletic fields and courts

Develop new greenways, trails, and bicycle facilities that enhance connectivity

Develop new parks and recreation facilities to meet community needs

Expand resources dedicated to facility maintenance

Expand recreation programming and staffing

Increase funding for improving and expanding existing parks and facilities

Offer more programs and special events that bring families together

Provide additional parking at parks

Leave parks and recreation facilities largely as they are

Other (please specify)

SECTION 5: SATISFACTION

11.Please indicate your level of satisfaction with the following aspects of Lancaster County's parks and recreation system.

Select one per row. Choose 'Can't Evaluate' if you have not used that feature.

Very Satisfied

Satisfied

Neutral

Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

Can't Evaluate

Park cleanliness

Very Satisfied

Satisfied

Neutral

Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

Can't Evaluate

Safety and security

Very Satisfied

Satisfied

Neutral

Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

Can't Evaluate

Number and distribution of parks across the county

Very Satisfied

Satisfied

Neutral

Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

Can't Evaluate

Athletic fields

Very Satisfied

Satisfied

Neutral

Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

Can't Evaluate

Playgrounds

Very Satisfied

Satisfied

Neutral

Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

Can't Evaluate

Trail quality

Very Satisfied

Satisfied

Neutral

Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

Can't Evaluate

Natural areas

Very Satisfied

Satisfied

Neutral

Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

Can't Evaluate

Staff helpfulness

Very Satisfied

Satisfied

Neutral

Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

Can't Evaluate

Overall quality of parks

Very Satisfied

Satisfied

Neutral

Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

Can't Evaluate

SECTION 6 — COMMUNITY CONTEXT

12.Parks and recreation systems can help address broader community challenges. Which challenges do you most want Lancaster County's parks system to help address? (Select exactly 3)

Community safety

Flooding and stormwater management

Limited access to healthy foods

Limited multimodal transportation options (sidewalks, trails, bikeways)

Poor physical and mental health outcomes

Poverty and economic hardship

Preservation of natural areas and tree canopy

Retaining and attracting youth and young families

Traffic congestion

Water quality

Other (please specify)

SECTION 7: ABOUT YOU

All demographic responses are confidential and will be used only in aggregate to ensure the survey reaches a representative cross-section of Lancaster County residents.

13.Age

18–24

25–34

35–44

45–64

65+

14.Gender

Male

Female

Prefer not to answer

15.Race (check all that apply)

White

Black or African American

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian or Pacific Islander

Other (please specify)

16.Are you or members of your household of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish ancestry?

Yes

No

17.Annual household income before taxes

Under $25,000

$25,000–$49,999

$50,000–$74,999

$75,000–$99,999

$100,000–$150,000

Over $150,000

Prefer not to answer

18.Do you have any additional thoughts about parks and recreation in Lancaster County?