| Survey
says Tinley Park residents want more bike
paths and a golf course!
By
Patrick Ferrell
Special Editor for the Daily Southtown
Economist
According
to a recent survey, more bike paths,
a dog park and a nine-hole golf course
top the list of amenities residents
and users of the Tinley Park-Park District,
would like to see added to their park
system.
“People want more bike paths,”
Park District Director John Curren stated.
“Although we already have over
five miles of bike paths in the District,
they still would like more.”
“It appears, people also want
a designated dog park where they will
be able to bring their dogs and let
them run free.”
The survey was completed at three data
collection locations--the Discover Tinley
Park Expo (March 2003) and over a one
to three week periods at the District’s
Recreation and Fitness Centers. Data
was collected using touch screen computers
and tabulation software provided by
Von Almen & Associates, Inc., a
Medinah, Illinois marketing and research
company and a Chicago area Distributor
for TouchPoll research software.
“A significantly high number of
District residents would support the
|
building
of a nine-hole golf course,” said
the President of Von Almen & Associates,
Inc., Lewis D. von Almen. “The
percentages were extremely high for
District males who are 35 plus years
of age.”
There is “definitely enough indicated
interest to justify serious evaluation
of more bike paths, a dog park and a
golf course,” he said.
The District may also consider expanding
its adult and Saturday programs, two
other areas in which residents indicated
significant interest, Curran said.
“The District also received high
ratings in categories that ranked employees.
“Normally, in a series of ranking
questions, you are going to find a certain
number of participants who indicate
they are below the median line regarding
levels of satisfaction,” von Almen
said. “We did not run into that
situation in Tinley Park.”
Over 68% of survey participants rated
District employees as “exceptional”,
von Almen stated.
“We have not gotten this type
of positive feedback in other tax-supported
organizations surveys we have completed
in the last year or so,” he said.
The survey also showed that more than
two-thirds of the participants believe
the District is an “exceptional
value of District taxpayers,”
von Almen said.
Curran said the survey results would
be used to help draft a five-year strategic
plan for the Park District. |
