When you set the bar high once, you have to go even higher next time. When the time came for the Bend Park & Recreation District (BPRD) to plan for its next 10 years, it was challenged with building on its own legacy of excellence, as well as contending with an increasing population (more than 20% increase since 2010), rising costs and heavy park use by both locals and tourists.

BPRD needed to rewrite its Comprehensive Plan, based on community input. The new Plan was informed by a 2-year public engagement process that involved more than 3,000 community participants. Engaging that many people requires a full range of outreach and engagement tools, including a statistically valid survey, online questionnaires, focus groups, stakeholder interviews, open houses, community events, neighborhood association meetings and “Maptionnaire”—a web-based, mobile-friendly interactive mapping tool. 

MIG’s analysis of  technical and public involvement data helped craft new policy directions, evaluation criteria, and project priorities. With a focus on adaptability for both current and future needs, the final Comprehensive Plan leverages BPRD’s strong track record in service and program delivery, and ensures that it continues to provide world-class parks and recreation experiences to Bend’s growing and changing community.