Facility and Fields Usage Study

The Glen Ellyn Park District Board had a lengthy discussion at the July 21 meeting on the need for a facility and fields usage study. This is a topic that I added to the agenda; information about it is available on page 50 in the board packet.

A facility and fields usage study would answer these types of questions for every programmable space in the park district (rooms, fields, courts, etc.):

1. What is the purpose of the space? (preschool room, multi-purpose room, full-sized foot ball field, etc.)
   
2. How many hours per week can it be used?
3. What is the average number of hours per week it is used?
4. What is the average number of participants in this space each week?
5. For fields, what is the average number of hours per week that the field is unplayable? (because of weather, field conditions, etc.)

With a study like this in place, the Board will be able to make future capital spending decisions based on data rather than anecdotal evidence. This study will identify spaces that are under- used or over-used.

Staff will look into this and the Board will continue discussing the need for a usage study at the August 4 workshop meeting.