Partnership Best Practices
for Play and Recreation
Executive Summary
Communities are growing at a
programming and infrastructure, while providing
rapid pace, and providing
opportunities to explore and launch new
recreation opportunities to
initiatives. Unified We Play is a national initiative,
keep pace with the
sponsored by PlayCore to
growth is challenging. By “The days of going it
identify the importance of
alone are long gone.”
seeking like-minded
partnerships in meeting
Arnie Biondo-Carol Stream
groups who share a
community needs, defining
Park District
common goal, mission,
the key points to explore
and values-partnerships can
when undertaking a partnership, and promoting
augment existing
best practices strategies to develop and maintain
successful partnerships.
National Report Development
Park and recreation leaders from the American
Academy for Park and Recreation Administration,
along with urban park leaders from across the U.S.
participated in the development of this report to
obtain trends from thought leaders in the industry
pertaining to partnerships. Knowledge, opinions,
expertise and case studies were gathered in three
primary ways as well as through secondary research
and follow up communications.
Members of the Partnership Roundtable Advisory
Council included:
1.A national online survey completed by American
Academy of Parks and Recreation Administration
member parks and recreation leaders, as well as
urban parks leaders, contributed to the identification
of partnership statistics and commonalities, and
provided insight to common themes.
Arnie Biondo, Executive Director, Carol Stream IL
Park District
2. A group of
thought leaders
from the field of
parks and
recreation were
recruited to a 2 day
Roundtable in
Chattanooga,
Tennessee, to provide insight on their partnership
experience, explore survey data, and validate
emerging themes, and share aspects and
implications of the best practice, which became part
of the final recommendations of this report.
3. In depth interviews were conducted with 11
targeted cities to provide case studies for the
National Report, designed to support and provide
best practices across the emerging themes.
© 2012
Anne Basten,
Executive
Assistant, Mc
Henry County IL
Conservation
District
Becky Benne, CPRP, Executive Director, Five Rivers
MetroParks, Dayton OH
Dirk Richwine, CPRE, Recreation Superintendent,
City of Henderson NV Parks & Recreation
Elizabeth Kessler, CPRP, Executive Director,
McHenry County IL Conservation District
Lori Daniel, CPRP, Manager of Recreation Services,
City of Aurora CO Parks, Recreation & Open Space
Michelle Park, CPRP, Assistant Director, City of
Gainesville FL Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs
Paul Schoenfelder, Youth Services Coordinator, City
of Boise ID Parks & Recreation
Stephen Harsin, AICP, Director, City of Las Vegas NV
Parks Recreation & Neighborhood Services
Todd Lofgren, Property & Business Development
Manager, Portland OR Parks & Recreation
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
;
The Process of Partnering
The key to capitalizing partnership opportunities is
how to identify, assess, select, and turn them into
recognized partnerships. Identification and
assessment may take time and practice, selection
can take many forms, and be a combination of
objective and subjective factors. Outcomes may or
may not tie back to selection, but the more they tie
together, and promote the common benefit and
impact, the better.
Best Practice Recommendations
Together we have the opportunity to expand and enrich the services, programming, and infrastructure we
provide to our communities through effective partnering. Play and recreation are critical for healthy
communities. Through the report development process, eight key aspects of partnerships emerged, and were
explored by the Roundtable members, who identified crucial elements for success for each aspect. A summary
for each is listed below, detailed considerations can be found in the report.
Defining Partnerships: Alignment and Viability Before forming a partnership, it is
important for potential partners to have compatible missions and values, as well as
explore a variety of areas to ensure they are in sync, and are ready, willing, and able to
effectively manage the partnership.
Agreements: Effectively Documenting Partnerships When preparing a partnership
agreement, a number of considerations should be addressed to define the framework, as
well as the agreement components. These decisions help build relationships on trust,
while supporting the overall mission of the partnership.
Finances: Implications for Partnership Fiscal Responsibility When considering the
financial aspects of a partnership, it is necessary for all parties to ask key questions and
get a complete picture of how the partners will manage finances while delivering quality
services and maintaining facilities and properties.
Risk Management: Partnership Collaborations for Risk and Reward Sharing The decision
to enter into a partnership should be based on sound understanding of the potential risks
and challenges. The larger the partnership the more risk management preparation and
planning will be required.
Human Resources: Maximizing Human Capital for Partnerships Personnel can be the key
to the success of the partnerships goals and objectives, as they are the “public face” of
your efforts. Developing policies and procedures that include training and sharing goals
with personnel is key to success.
Communication: Promoting Partnerships Through Internal and External Communications
Communication is critical in strengthening the bonds of a relationship, and in keeping the
public aware of the partnership, and its purpose, goals, and successes. It should be regular and
ongoing to encourage engagement of all parties.
Outcomes: Measuring and Reporting for Continuous Partnership Improvements To keep
an effective alignment of partnership priorities and assets, a solid, well designed
evaluation plan with clear strategies is vital. Evaluation data and analysis provides
pertinent information to define the success, or lack thereof, of the partnership.
Sustainability: Ensuring Partnership Capacity for Quality and Longevity As a partnership
progresses, it is not unusual to experience changes. Sustainability involves funding,
structure, management, engagement, and future goals. Ongoing monitoring and
collaboration helps contribute to satisfactory outcomes throughout the life of the
partnership.
For more information, to request a copy of the full report, or to submit your partnership story, visit
www.playcore.com/partnerships