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CHAPTER 1 <br />The Community Needs Assessment process included the following: <br />• A community profile including population, demographic, and <br />economic trends; <br />- • A statistically valid community survey of 437 households; <br />^ A youth questionnaire completed by 647 high school and <br />middle school youth; <br />^ A display at the Eugene Celebration, where residents <br />completed 456 questionnaires on parks and recreation; <br />• Focus groups with Library, Recreation and Cultural Services <br />(LRCS)staff, maintenance staff, recreation providers, and <br />representatives from the Eugene business community and from <br />cultural communities to identify needs and preferences; <br />• A Speakers Bureau with 44 presentations to community groups <br />and organizations. A total of 1085 community members <br />attended, and 751 questionnaires were completed; <br />• A survey of organized sports providers, with 15 questionnaires <br />returned; <br />^ Twelve stakeholder interviews with identified community <br />leaders; <br />^ Meetings of the Mayor's Advisory Committee and Steering <br />Committee; <br />• A recreation program and service analysis; <br />^ An inventory and assessment of Eugene's existing parks and <br />facilities and future facility needs; and <br />• A financial analysis on capital and operational costs and <br />revenue. <br />Several key findings emerged from the public involvement process: <br />• Eugene's population has been growing at a rate of nearly two <br />percent annually and is expected to reach 210,900 by 2025. In <br />the next ten years, the greatest increase is expected to occur <br />in the 55-64 age range, while the youth population will <br />continue to grow slowly. The Hispanic population has more <br />than doubled in the last ten years and will continue to grow, <br />adding to the City's diversity. Additional parks, facilities, <br />programs and services will be needed to meet the needs of <br />Eugene's growing population. <br />^ The Willakenzie and South Eugene sub-areas will contain the <br />largest amount of the future population, but a major shift is not <br />anticipated in population distribution. A balanced and <br />equitable system of parks and facilities will be needed to <br />support all sub-areas in Eugene. <br />-City of Eugene PROS Comprehensive Plan 5 <br />Draft <br />