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<br />Most of 17,000 People Surveyed Enthusiastic about Region's Parks
<br />When Bill Norman and Paula Deziel be-
<br />gan summer jobs with the Metropolitan
<br />Council in May, they didn't realize their
<br />job description of "challenging and de-
<br />manding work" would be so accurate.
<br />Norman didn't know he'd spend the first
<br />two weeks getting .lost as he looked for
<br />two new job sites every day. Deziel
<br />didn't anticipate the unusual people
<br />she'd have to talk to, such as an argu-
<br />mentative man who wore a gas mask
<br />while collecting aluminum cans.
<br />Deziel and Norman were among 19 col-
<br />lege students who surveyed about 17,000
<br />people at 46 regional and local parks for
<br />the Council's Metropolitan Recreation
<br />Demand Study, They visited spacious,
<br />crowded, noisy, peaceful, scenic and
<br />rustic parks, .trails, campgrounds and
<br />boat launches for three months to inter-
<br />view bikers, boaters, runners, roller
<br />skaters, sun bathers and more.
<br />The study will provide information on
<br />how much use recreation facilities get,
<br />who uses them and why. Besides the in-
<br />person field survey (which will be con-
<br />tinued this winter), the study will include
<br />mail or telephone interviews and a de-
<br />tailed inventory of all ~erreation facilities
<br />in the regional parks and open space
<br />system.
<br />"The study should help us predict the
<br />future use of park facilities so we can
<br />plan improvements or additions to the
<br />system," said Charles Smith, Council
<br />parks planner. "We'll be able to make
<br />more accurate, well-informed decisions
<br />before committing large areas of land
<br />and sums of money."
<br />Smith said the information will be used
<br />fox planning and development not only
<br />by the Council, but also by the Minne-
<br />sota Department of Natural Resources,
<br />and counties, cities and park reserve
<br />districts that operate parks.
<br />Although study results won't be com-
<br />pleted until January, the surveyors have
<br />several preliminary conclusions.
<br />Deziel, Norman and surveyors Mark
<br />Schumacher and Bill Schmidt said they
<br />received more favorable than unfavor-
<br />able comments about Area parks. Resi-
<br />dents said they like the size of the park
<br />system, variety of services, scenic beauty
<br />and lakes.
<br />Several residents said Twin Cities Area
<br />parks compare favorably to parks in
<br />other parts of the country.
<br />Bicyclists Eileen and Maurice Gayle,
<br />who recently visited the Chicago bike
<br />trails, said, "There's more variety here
<br />compared with Chicago."
<br />Concord, Mass. native, Mimi Flanary,
<br />said; "In Concord, they never planned
<br />for parkways, but here it seems they
<br />planned for them from the very begin-
<br />ning. Twin Cities parks are more accessi-
<br />ble to bikers and walkers."
<br />Some park users, however, complained
<br />of crowding in inner-city parks, water
<br />fountains and other facilities that don't
<br />work, dogs, roller-skaters, and vandalism
<br />and rowdiness by young people.
<br />When asked why they used a specific
<br />park, most people said because it was
<br />"close to home." Deziel said rural park
<br />visitors said they used the parks because
<br />they're not "trendy," and therefore, quiet.
<br />Inner-city park users said they go to the
<br />parks because they like to "people-
<br />watch" and they "like the action."
<br />One of the most controversial subjects
<br />was how to provide for increased park
<br />maintenance costs. Many residents said
<br />they didn't want increased taxes or ad-
<br />mission fees. Several Minneapolis and
<br />St. Paul residents said suburban residents
<br />also should be taxed for upkeep of inner-
<br />city parks. One person told Schumacher
<br />that the best solution was to "reduce
<br />the military budget."
<br />A comment .from- bicyclist Doug
<br />Stepanek, however, was typical. "I think
<br />if it came to having good or poor facili-
<br />ties, I'd be willing to pay a minimal
<br />amount for upkeep," he said.
<br />The surveyors said most park users
<br />~ ,
<br />n.
<br />hadn't seen publicity on the parks but
<br />wished they had. Schumacher noted,
<br />"Lots of people asked me where things
<br />were. They said they wished they had
<br />more information about park facilities
<br />in the Area."
<br />Even though the surveyors sometimes
<br />found their jobs .tiring and difficult,
<br />they said residents were usually cooper-
<br />ative. "I met a whole smorgasbord of
<br />different people," Schumacher said. "I
<br />also learned that Minnesotans are a lot
<br />healthier and in better shape than I
<br />expected."
<br />-Connie McCaffrey
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<br />Bicyclist Reuben Leiderman (right) told surveyor Bill Norman that park users should help
<br />with park upkeep.
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