How I Rate a Park- Things to consider WWFF-20

Here are the things I look at when I visit a park/ preserve/ public land/ private facility.

Does the government body  (County, City, State)or facility sponsor have a website that can be found on a search engine, and can that page be linked to?

Does the parks or preserves department have a link on the front page of their government entity webpage without a drop-down or layered tree menue requiring manipulation?

Does each individual park/preserve facility have its own webpage?

Does the facility information exist outside of a table or PDF document and as searchable HTML data on a webpage?

Does the facility listing or webpage have an accurate street address with zip code that can be recognized by common GPS units?

Does the facility information list amenities in common terms like “Nature Trail, Hiking Trail, Exercise Path, Boardwalk, and Boat Launch”?

Does the facility listing/ webpage have photographs of the facility?

Is the information on the webpage current with no references to out of date information?

Do all links on the webpage work?

Does the webpage load quickly?

Does the park/ preserve/ facility have directional signs with the facility name on the major surrounding roads and at blind or confusing turns?

Does the facility have a large sign at the entrance?

Does the facility have ample parking?

Is the structure of the parking lot and buildings environmentally friendly?

Is the trail head marked with trail name and hours?

Is there a map of the trail system  posted at the trail head?

Are paper maps and educational flyers available and in stock?

Are there rest rooms and a water fountain available?

Is the facility staffed and patrolled by uniformed staff or volunteers?

Is the entire facility graffiti and vandalism free?

Are there interpretive signs, and adequate trail blazes/ direction signs?

Is the facility ADA compliant with safe walking surfaces?

Is the landscaping well maintained?

Are all facilities/ amenities that are listed on the parks webpage available for use?

Does the park exhibit confident “Best Management Practices” in the operation and maintenance of the facility?


 Blog Index........CLICK HERE

http://www.facebook.com/BoardwalksAndLongWalks 

Backwoods Institute for Wilderness Safety 

William Greenfield Center of Environmental Safety