| Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to investigate the implementation of municipal park and recreation master plans. The main goal was to formulate a theory about implementation. Specific objectives were: 1. To determine the extent to which park and recreation master plans have been implemented. 2. To determine if differences exist in the extent of implementation according to the type of planner and locality in which master plans were prepared. 3. To identify and describe the factors that support and those that do not support implementation and their relationship. 4. To determine the relationships that exist between plan preparation factors and implementation strategies utilized by park and recreation departments. In February, 1974, a mail survey was conducted of 1460 city, county and district park and recreation administrators who were identified from the American Park and Recreation Society membership roster. Of the 584 administrators responding to the questionnaire, over half indicated their agency had a master plan. The majority of the administrators reported that their park and recreation master plans were implemented "a great deal" or "some". Few were implemented "totally" and less were implemented "not at all". No significant difference was revealed in the extent of implementation between the five APRS administrative regions. A significant difference was detected concerning the type of planner preparing master plans. A number of other variables pertaining to the planning process were reported which correlated to variation in the extent of plan implementation including: deviation from the plans, news media views, facilitating laws, commitments by public officials and capital improvement programs. ... |
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