City's Parks Department Surveys Area Residents

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2006

For more information, contact:
Mick Renneisen, Director, Parks and Recreation Department, City of Bloomington, 349-3700
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-3569  

Bloomington, IN -- The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department is conducting a city- and county-wide citizen survey that will help the department take a resident-driven approach to planning and prioritizing recreation and facility needs over the next five years.

"Our Parks and Recreation Department is committed to providing quality programs and services to all residents of Bloomington," Mayor Mark Kruzan said. "Community input is a high priority for the City and we're eager to begin this dynamic process to hear about residents' needs."

The department will collaborate with Leisure Vision/ETC Institute of Olathe, Kan., an independent consulting firm, to administer the survey. Leisure Vision will select approximately 3,000 Bloomington and Monroe County households at random to receive the seven-page survey in the mail. Leisure Vision staff estimates the survey will take about 15 minutes to complete, and will collect at least 600 completed surveys through postage-paid return mail.

The results of the survey will be used as part of a comprehensive planning process for the years 2008 through 2012 to determine parks, recreation and open-space priorities.

"The Community Attitude and Interest Survey is a valuable tool we'll use to determine what the community wants and needs from us," said Mick Renneisen, Director of the City's Parks and Recreation Department. "The results will help us develop plans and priorities for parks, recreation and sports programs and open space."

Surveys were mailed out over the weekend and the consultant hopes to tabulate the results in final report form by early December.

For more information about the survey, contact the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department at (812) 349-3700 or e-mail [parks@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:parks@bloomington.in.gov].

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