Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Resident Survey Questionnaire Responses: DRAFT
June 26, 2008
• 67 responses: 47 online + 20 mailed in
• 4,300 households received flyer/notice about plan preparation and availability of
surveys at municipal offices and the on‐line website, as inserts in newspapers – twice,
once to make the correction by re‐inserting Lynn Township
• Questionnaire was at a good time for outdoors and recreation attention, i.e. late Spring
• 52% of respondents were female, 48 percent male, just about the census spread of
males and females
• 98% owned homes, and 2 % were renters
Responses came from:
1. Slatington Borough 1.6%
2. Heidelberg Township 13.1%
3. Lowhill Township 21.3%
4. Lynn Township 26.2%
5. Washington Township 0.0%
6. Weisenberg Township 37.7%
Key Observations
• 50% said NO real estate taxes, some weren’t sure, a few said ok with 5%, and many
others suggested other ways: donations, gambling revenue, and charge fees and rent
out facilities instead
• 46% said overall availability of programs is just right, school programs were fairly the
right amount, and for young adults, adults, mature adults, and families there wasn’t
enough
• 48% said never to an amphitheater/band shell
• 63% said 2 to 4 years for bicycle and walking paths
• 42% said never to horseback riding trails and facilities
• 75% said never to motorized trails
• Up to 50% said never for volleyball courts and skateboard parks
• 61% said never for a BMX bike course
• A significant majority wanted facilities in the 2 to 4 year range
• 43% stated a need for a recreation center, gym, fitness rooms, walking track, classrooms
in the 2 to 4 year range
• 44% said never to an indoor swimming pool
• 23% said expanding recreation programs and services was a high priority
• 33% said a priority
• 26% said never
• 53% said to improve existing parks and playgrounds
• 32% said the purchase of lands and new parks were a high priority, while 30% said not
necessary
• 51% said protecting open space and natural areas was a high priority
• Up to 40% said not necessary to build indoor facilities
• 29% said that volunteer involvement was a high priority and 37% said it was a priority
• 60% said that is was a high priority and priority to expand cooperation efforts among
the municipalities and programs
• Up to 50% said that the region’s parks are clean, attractive, safe
• About 30% said the locations and facilities were fair to good
• Some Maintenance and teenage issues were noted and that facilities weren’t centrally
located in some municipalities
• 65% said their families valued natural features (open spaces, woodlands, wildlife
habitat, and streams) as the primary recreation priority, while;
• 32% suggested, with limited budgeting resources, improvement of existing parks and
better facilities, and 32% suggested protection of natural resources
• 56% said YES, that they would be willing to travel throughout the region if it would help
each municipality’s budgets and expenses to provide better facilities,
• while 44% said NO citing high gas costs primarily. Some would travel up to ½ hour and
30 minutes
• 30% to nearly 60% of respondents have not heard of the parks in the region per the list
• The most used or visited parks were: Northwestern Recreation Commission Park, Leaser
Lake, and Ontelaunee Park
• 34% of youth and 39% of adults cited Aquatics as a household activity
• 65% of adults would favor exercise and fitness
• 31% of both youth and adults would favor performing arts (music, dance, drama)
• 72% of adults would favor self‐improvement and education classes
• 63% of adults would favor trips or excursions
• 56% of youth and 31% of teens from households would want to see and participate in
league sports (baseball, basketball, soccer, etc.)
• Commented – that some households, families can do more than one of the listed
activities at the same time
If ONE thing could be done to improve parks, recreation and conservation in the region:
• Gather all members of the surrounding communities in a safe and fun palce such as a
community center
• Promote them
• Make people aware of where the parks are
• Ask people that use them to help support them
• We have enough parks
• More awareness of the facilities and locations
• Update the parks and equipment and maintain them
• Keep what we already have well maintained
• Do something in each municipality
• Our government should not be in the business of providing entertainment to its citizens
• A Family community center
• We have enough parks and recreation areas
• Finish trail systems
• Expand Ontelaunee Park to include a gym and indoor pool
• Concentrate efforts to fewer locations but significantly attempt to improve the quality
of the facilities
• Fix the roads, don’t worry about parks and recreation
• Use land already available to create new parks and facilities
• Let the state pay for the parks and recreation facilities
• Don’t waste taxpayers money
• More walking trails and nature trails
• Some townships are fine for availability and some are not and poor or worse
• Combine recreation center with teen center, swimming pool, and indoor field house
with courts
• Prefer walking trails and greenways
• 14% said they are very satisfied with open space protection
• 32% said they are satisfied
• 25% are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• 25% are dissatisfied with not enough open space attention in conjunction with land
development
• 10% are very dissatisfied as too much open space is lost
• 71% of households had at least one 13 to 18 year old
• 63% of households had two 6 to 12 year olds
• 65% of households had two 45 to 64 year olds
Additional Response Details:
1. Additional Real Estate taxes? ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 50% NO
Comments:
• On Fixed income
• Attach fees to new development
• Parents with children should pay
• Combination of smaller taxes plus other means
• Charge fees at parks
• Rent out recreational facilities
• Grants
• Tax increase used for public use areas only
• Pay enough taxes, look for state grants
• Retired, no money left over
• Gambling tax revenue
• Would support donations
• NO !!!!!!!!
• Taxes too high already
• Taxes: OUTRAGIOUS
• Taxes or donations, not both, confusing
• Taxes too high and increasing every year
• Non‐response
• Would support donating, but supporting additional taxes is another question
2. Rate availability of recreation programs in your area?
• Pre‐school 36% not enough
• Elementary 43% right amount
• Middle school 44% right amount
• High school 42% right amount
• Young adults (19‐39) 37% not enough
• Adults (40‐66) 38% not enough
• Mature adults (65+) 34% not enough
• Families 41% not enough
• People w/disabilities 47% don’t know
• Overall availability of programs 46% right amount
3. When should following outdoor recreation facilities be acquired, developed, or expanded?
• Amphitheater/band shell 48% never
• Bicycle & walking paths 63% 2‐4 years
• Horseback riding trails & facilities 42% never
•Motorized trails 75% never
•Natural and conservation areas 54% 2‐4 years
•Children’s play equipment areas 60% 2‐4 years
•Athletic fields, baseball, softball 47% 2‐4 years
•Athletic fields‐soccer, football, etc. 40% 2‐4 years
•Basketball courts 37% 2‐4 years
•Tennis courts 41% 2‐4 years
•Volleyball courts 38% never
•Skateboard parks 50% never
•Outdoor swimming pools 39% 2‐4 years
•Off‐leash dog park 52% never
•Picnic pavilions 51% 2‐4 years
•Street hockey courts 54% never
•BMX bike course 61% never
4. When should indoor recreation facilities be developed?
• Recreation center, gym, fitness 43% 2‐4 years
rooms, walking track, class rooms
• Teen center 31% never
• Senior adult center 36% never
• Indoor swimming pool 44% never
• Indoor field house with game 41% never
fields, courts
• Other 70% never
Library
Tennis court
Community/banquet center
Bike paths aren’t bad, and a place for teens, but at their expense
5. Where should the region focus its parks, recreation and conservation efforts and finance in the
future?
• Expanding Recreation 23% high priority, 33% priority, 26% never
Programs and services
• Improving exist. parks & playgrounds 53% priority
• Purchase lands & develop 32% high priority, 30% not necessary
New community parks that
Contain and mix activities and
Passive areas
• Develop trails and greenways 36% priority
• Protect open space and natural areas 51% high priority
• Develop walk/bike connections 32% not necessary, 27% high priority
between schools, parks, and
neighborhoods
• Build an indoor recreation center 35% not necessary
with a gymnasium
• Build an indoor field house facility 42% not necessary
• Build athletic fields 30% low priority, 30% not necessary
• Develop volunteer involvement 37% priority, 29% high priority
with Parks, trails, and special events
• Expand promotion of available parks 32% priority
and recreation opportunities
• Expand cooperative effort among the 30% high priority , 30% priority
Municipalities for parks, recreation,
and conservation
6. Impression of Northern Lehigh Region’s local parks?
• Cleanliness 52% good
• Attractiveness 45% good
• Safety 54% good
• Location 32% good, 28% fair
• Facilities available 39% fair
Comments:
• Where are they; facilities seem to get destroyed by teenagers
• Too few available for the taxes paid
• Leaser Lake still not filled
• Southern part of Lynn has little; no tennis courts anywhere in Lynn or
Weisenberg
• Very few available in the area
• Not centrally located
• Unaware of any existing parks
• Do not even clean up after the fishermen – how will you manage a park system
7. What does your family value most about its local parks?
• 65% Natural features (open space, woodlands, wildlife habitats, streams)
Comments –
• Funded by our Township and should stay that way, why we pay a rec. fee at building
time
• The quality of the upkeep
• We work every day just to “rent” our homes from the school district, county and Twp.
We appreciate what we have without adding more budget on to a system that already
has all the features above
8. Given limited local resources, what options do you believe should be the Northern Lehigh
Region’s primary recreation priority?
• 32% Improvement of existing parks with more and better facilities
• 32% Protecting natural resources
Comments –
• Library
• Maintain current parks
• Nice to have a safe place to ride my bicycle to work to avoid traffic and reduce cost of
transportation so I can pay my taxes
9. Would you be willing to travel through your region to facilities in other communities, whereby
each community could realize savings in not providing duplicate facilities in each of the six (6)
communities?
• 56% yes
• 44% no, and gas prices too high, not needed
Comments
• Averages: 20 miles, 30 minutes, some 5 miles, some 10 miles, and up to ½ hour
• Live on outside border of northwestern & Parkland not many playgrounds here, have to
travel
• Have had to travel with children, Weisenberg has very little available
10. At present, the region is served by the listed parks, please indicate how often members of your
family use each of these parks. For schools, indicate the use of facilities when not related to
school‐run programs?
• Eagles Nest Recreation & Environmental Park 57% have not heard of this park
• Heidelberg Heights Playground 32% have not heard of this park
• Northwestern Recreation 30% several times per year
Commission Park
Russell Wentz, Jr. Memorial Park 59% have not heard of this park
• Camp Horseshoe 34% have not heard of this park
• Camp Sandy Mountain 47% have not heard of this park
• Leaser Lake 46% several times per year
• Ontelaunee Park 35% several times per year
• Kern’s Mill Park 37% have not heard of this park
• West End Playground 53% have not heard of this park
• Roosevelt Playground 54% have not heard of this park
• Victory Park 45% have not heard of this park
• Emerald Playground 38% have not heard of this park
• Friedens Ballfield 42% have not heard of this park
• Slatedale Playground 43% have not heard of this park
• J&M Farms Recreation Area 54% have not heard of this park
11. Please select from the list, the age group of members of your household who may like to
participate in these activities?
• Aquatics 34% youth, 39% adults
• Outdoor recreation 33% youth, 44% adults
• Exercise and fitness 65% adults
• Performing arts (music, dance, drama) 31% youth, 31% adults
• Concerts 51% adults
• Arts and crafts classes 42% youth, 33% adults
• Special events (holiday events, fairs) 23% youth, 54% adults
• Self‐improvement and education classes 72% adults
• League sports (baseball, basketball, soccer, etc) 56% youth, 31% teens
• Non‐league sports (golf, tennis, etc.) 58% adults
• Trips 63% adults
Comments –
• More than one group can enjoy same activity
• Mountain bike trails, and how about a bike trail going to Allentown, so we can safely get
to work
• Would have liked to select more than one in each category
12. If one thing could be done to improve parks, recreation and conservation in the Northern
Lehigh Region, what would it be?
• Gather all members of the surrounding communities in a safe and fun place such as a
community center
• Promote them
• Make people aware of where the parks are and asked the people who use the parks for
$$$ to support them. Often times a person has 4 kids and uses all facilities but never gets
involved nor contributes to the wellbeing of the parks. I am not their baby sitter nor will I
pay the expense of such
• More parks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• LEAVE THE FARMLANDS ALONE
• We have enough parks & recreation. We have enough trouble getting Leaser Lake fixed
so it’s a nice park again. I would like to see our fire companies and ambulances funded
for better emergency response
• More awareness of the facilities and locations
• Properly maintain the areas we have
• Our government should not be in the business of providing entertainment to its citizens
• A family community center
• Provide more outdoor natural environments where families with all age members can
spend a quiet day. Open Area for recreation and picnicking preferred.
• Build tennis courts
• Update all the parks, make sure the equipment of safe. Mail flyers to families/residents
with the locations of the parks, I had no idea all those parks were in the area.
• Do something in each municipality
• Realize that if a resident wants city amenities, he/she should live in the city. Our country
spaces are a park‐like place. Don’t raise taxes to keep residents entertained.
• Better facilities
• Create an indoor swimming facility
• Equestrian park
• Let the public know they exist
• Maintain open space, manage development
• Keep what we already have well maintained
• Provide a safe place for all age groups on a weekend. A place for dancing, coffee, with
tables. However, this is already done at the private sector, government should not be
involved in any form of entertainment, gambling, or recreation facilities.
• Provide information on the parks, services, contacts, etc., to the residents of the
townships
• For existing facilities – have a more organized information system tothepublic and more
volunteers
• Finish the trail system in the Northern Lehigh area
• Need additional fields for outdoor sports
• Expand Ontaunlee Park to include a gym and indoor pool
• Keep them clean and trails opened and clear
• Concentrate efforts to fewer locations but significantly attempt to improve the quality of
the facilities
• Maintain what we have
• Rebuild Leaser Lake area
• Do not waste taxpayers’ money
• We do not go to any of these parks
• Develop more activities at Weisenberg school
• Fix the roads and don’t worry about occupying everyone’s whims and space. People
move to the country to have space and be left alone to enjoy the things they like. It is not
your job to provide activities for every possible “fancy”: by D.L.
• More walking trails and nature trails!
• Let the state pay for them
• Some Townships are fine for availability some are not and poor or worse
• Combine recreation center with teen center, swimming pool, and indoor field house with
courts
• Every Township is different, how to suggest needs on a time basis
• Prefer walking trails and greenways
• As to conditions, some parks are good and some are bad
• Use land already available to create new parks and facilities
• Improve existing non‐utilized recreational areas
• As to satisfaction of open space protection, it depends on which municipality
13. How satisfied are you with open space protection in the Region?
• Very satisfied 14%
• Satisfied 32%
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 25%
• Dissatisfied, open space is not well 25%
addressed in conjunction with new
Land development
• Very dissatisfied, too much open space lost 10%
14. What municipality do you live in?
• Slatington Borough 1.6%
• Heidelberg Township 13.1%
• Lowhill Township 21.3%
• Lynn Township 26.2%
• Washington Township 0.0%
• Weisenberg Township 37.7%
15. How long have you lived in your community?
• Less than 5 years 15%
• 5 to 9 years 18%
• 10 to 14 years 12%
• 15 to 19 years 7%
• 20+ years 49%
16. Do you own or rent your home?
• Own 98%
• Rent 2%
17. Indicate the number of people in your household from each age group?
• 0 to 5 yrs (2) 48%
• 6 to 12 yrs (2) 63%
• 13 to18 yrs (1) 71%
• 19 to 30 yrs (1) 59%
• 31 to 44 yrs (2) 57%
• 45 to 64 yrs (2) 65%
• 65+ yrs (1) 60%
• 65+ yrs (2) 30%
18. What is your gender (person that filled out the survey)?
• Female 52%
• Male 48%