Improve Access To Parks, Avon Residents Say In Survey

AVON, OH — The city of Avon has released the results of its parks and recreation survey for 2017. Residents requested improved access and parking at a few of the city's parks. The respondents also said the city should spend money creating better connectivity between parks and the city.

The survey asked residents 13 questions about parks and recreation, and what features were valued by park users. The city received 1,286 responses to its survey. (To stay up to date on local stories, subscribe to the Patch Avon-Avon Lake newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

In the free form comment section, which gave residents the chance to provide feedback on a variety of parks and recreation features, respondents asked for better access to Schwarz Road Park, Veteran's Park and Avon Isle Park. Specifically, residents want a second entrance added to Schwarz, additions to biking and walking paths at Schwarz, a second entrance for Veteran's Park, and improved parking options at Avon Isle. Residents also want additional bathrooms added to Veteran's Park.

Respondents also told the city it should allocate funds to creating better connectivity between parks and improving access to the parks. Additionally, residents want a community center of field house with an ice rink for hockey and/or ice skating.

The full survey results are available for viewing here.

Only four outdoor park features were voted "very important" by more than half of the respondents: walking trails, running/biking trails, children's playgrounds, and swimming. Indoor facilities only saw two features voted "very important" by more than half of respondents: community center and swimming.

With those results in mind, it should come as no surprise that respondents said the city's most important parks and recreation program is swimming lessons (42 percent said it was "very important"). Outdoor concerts received the second highest tally of "very important" votes, at 39 percent.

Photo from Google Earth