EAST LANSING, Mich. — Earlier this year, community members were invited to share input on the City of East Lansing’s update to its Five-Year Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Greenways Plan by attending public input meetings and/or participating in an online community survey.
The survey results are now available online at https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/DocumentCenter/View/8183/ELPRA-Community-Survey-PDF.
According to the executive summary from EPIC ▪ MRA, the analyzed survey results include responses from 207 participants, 91 percent of which were East Lansing residents.
Key findings of the survey show that an 83 percent majority said that the East Lansing Department of Parks, Recreation & Arts (ELPRA) is generally headed in the “right direction” and an 85 percent majority offered a “positive” rating for the job done by ELPRA in providing recreational programs and services to residents.
A 7-in-10 majority said they think at least “some” East Lansing residents participate in recreational activities offered by the City and the top activities cited included: swimming/swim classes, gym/fitness center, walking and running on the trails, Pickleball, the East Lansing Family Aquatic Center (ELFAC), festivals/community events, soccer and the East Lansing Hannah Community Center (ELHCC). The most cited parks, trails or facilities used by respondents were: Patriarche Park, the Northern Tier Trail, ELHCC, ELFAC and the East Lansing Soccer Complex.
While a 69 percent majority of respondents said there are enough parks in the area, a 57 percent majority said more paved and non-paved trails are needed. Of those who said more indoor and outdoor recreational facilities are needed in the community, the desired types of new/additional facilities included: gym/fitness centers, a walking track, an indoor soccer-turf field, an indoor playground, an outdoor lap pool, BMX biking trails, natural/green spaces, walking trails, dog parks, sledding hills, basketball courts, an outdoor ice skating rink, Pickleball courts, picnic shelters and splash pads.
Just over half of respondents (51 percent) said that most or all funding for parks and recreational facilities should come from general tax dollars, while 20 percent said most or all funding should come from user fees and 22 percent said funding should come from a combination of general tax dollars and user fees.
Community members can view the complete results of the community survey, including all of the key findings at https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/DocumentCenter/View/8183/ELPRA-Community-Survey-PDF. The survey results will assist ELPRA in updating the City of East Lansing’s Five-Year Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Greenways Plan, which will be adopted in 2020 and will serve as an important document that will help guide the future direction of the City’s parks and recreation system for five years and beyond.