Resources

Urban parks bibliography

A bibliography on urban parks is available on the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) website. To go to this bibliography, please click here.

Conducting park visitor surveys

The Standardised Visitor Survey page at left provides some advice on the conduct of park visitor surveys but it is not possible to provide a complete guide to the conduct of such surveys here. A number of sources of advice exist on the conduct of surveys, some of which are listed below

Henderson, K. and Bialeschki, M. D. (1995) Evaluating Leisure Services: making Enlightened Decisions. State College, PA., Venture.
Hudson, S. (1988) How to Conduct Community Needs Assessment Surveys in Public Parks and Recreation. Columbus, Ohio, Publishing Horizons.
Kelsey, C. and Gray, H. (1986) The Citizen Survey Process in Parks and Recreation. Reston, VA., American Assn. for Health, P.E., Recreation and Dance.
Kraus, R. and Allen, L. (1987) Research and Evaluation in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Studies. Columbus, Ohio, Publishing Horizons.
Mitra, A. and Lankford, S. (1999) Research Methods in Park, Recreation and Leisure Services. Champaign, IL, Sagamore.
Oppenheim, A.N. (1992) Questionnaire Design, Interviewing and Attitude Measurement. London, Pinter.
Reeves, N. (2001) ILAM Model Customer Survey Questionnaires for Managers of Public Parks, Reading, UK, Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management.
Ritchie, J. R. B. and Goeldner, C. R. (eds) (1994) Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Research, Second Edn. New York, John Wiley.
Tourism and Recreation Research Unit (1983) Recreation Site Survey Manual: Methods and Techniques for Conducting Visitor Surveys. London, Spon.
Veal, A. J. (1997) Research Methods for Leisure and Tourism: A Practical Guide. London, Financial Times/Prentice Hall. Available via DA Information Service by visiting www.dadirect.com.au

Useful Links

For links to the Sydney Parks Group member web-sites - see the main Sydney Parks Group page.

UK Green Flag awards for park design and management: www.greenflagaward.org.uk

CABE Space (UK): CABE Space, established in 2003, is part of CABE, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, which champions the quality of buildings and spaces in the UK. CABE Space is publicly funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM): www.cabespace.org.uk

Greenspace (UK): a not-for-profit organisation set up to help those committed to the planning, design, management and use of public parks and open spaces: www.green-space.org.uk

US National Parks Service: www.nps.gov

Hearts N' Parks Program - a national (USA), community-based program supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). It is designed to help park and recreation agencies encourage heart-healthy lifestyles in their communities: www.nhlbi.nih.gov