23 Recreational Goals Examples to Consider for Park Programs

When designing a park, it’s a good idea to get as many opportunities for visitors to explore their recreational needs as possible, without impeding on the needs of others. These needs, or goals, should be a focus of park design and park programs too, and numerous goals can be accomplished together with the right approach. 
When designing park programs, it’s a good idea to start with what your goals for recreation are, because they can be reached with almost any budget in any location. By starting with your goals, you’ll be able to see how you can implement what you’ve got to attain the goals you set. 
But what are recreational goals, and how can we use them to influence our park programs? What a coincidence, that’s exactly what this post is about! We’ve got some recreational goals examples coming right up, but first, let’s clarify some terminology.

What are Recreational Goals?

A park should be more than just a space for people to visit, or dogs to get their exercise; it’s ultimately a symbol of recreation, and one with no rival when it comes to what it represents and to whom. No other space in the city provides such a versatile venue for an almost-infinite set of experiences to people of all types. 

A park is a melting pot that transcends class, rage, and age. It’s a place in which no matter who you are or where you come from, you should be able to find something that speaks to you there. For park administrators, this means considering as many of these perspectives as can be feasibly implemented into the park design and implementing a range of recreational goals that can reach out and touch the members of your community.  

To that end, here’s a list of some of the most widely-appealing recreational goals that can go into modern park design, and shouldn’t break the bank.

Recreational Goals Examples

These goals should be considered in terms of what they bring to your community. Each of them can be combined with many of the others, and the specifics of how you go about that will depend on your budget and the space you’ve got to work with. Essentially, these goals should inspire specific programs that tick as many boxes as possible.

1. Conservation

Any outdoor space should be an opportunity to conserve the local environment. Whether this comes in the form of educational material or simply by way of educating people about the species of flora and fauna found in the park, conservation should come as a default setup in any park. 

2. Community

Another no-brainer is the opportunity to bring people together. Having an announcement board, or regular meet-ups of various kinds fosters community spirit in the most communal place in town. Parks should be designed with spaces specifically for this.

3. Health

Whether physical or mental, health should be a primary focus of any park space. Jogging and/or cycling courses, yoga areas, and quiet meditative spots are all important additions to park programs and design. 

4. Well-being

This is a more encompassing category of health and has subjective implications for everyone. Parks promoting well-being offer a multitude of healthy options for a range of visitors. 

5. Enrichment

Another subjective metric, but one that has wide appeal. Enrichment comes to different people in different ways and can be factored into a variety of projects and designs accordingly. 

6. Appeal

Above all, a park project should be attractive to those it’s aimed at. Factoring in a sense of aesthetics into everything you do will ultimately bring more people onboard. 

7. Socialization 

Similar to community, recreation should foster and promote socialization for those who want it, while leaving enough room for people to take a step back where necessary. 

8. Relaxation

The sense of being relaxed, whether from working hard or hardly working, is one of the key motivators for many park visitors. 

9. Sport

One option for those who want to work hard is sport. Good parks facilitate not only sweater goalposts but racket sports and tournaments. 

10. Safety

The more active a place is, the deeper the need for safety. But even in quiet solitude, visitors need to feel protected. 

11. Art

Tying into the need for aesthetics is the need for artistic expression. Community art projects combine a multitude of recreational goals under the artistic umbrella. 

12. Family

It can be difficult to create a space or a project that appeals to people of all ages, but if anywhere should be expected to manage, it’s a park. Weekend family trips represent some of the fondest memories of happy families everywhere. 

13. Education

It can be fun to learn, and parks offer the perfect classroom for extra-curricular experiences. There’s an infinite range of educational possibilities in park programs, and most of what’s been listed so far can be accomplished with an undertone of learning. 

14. Publicity

Big events can be more than just community recreation; they can even put a city on the map. Hosting the right project can bring people in from far and wide, and draw the right kind of attention to the city. 

15. Nature

Greenery, running water, and perhaps some of the animals you wouldn’t normally see in the urban environment, all contribute to a home away from home, and contribute to well-being, health, and the urge for conservation. Reconnecting with nature is also a driver of productivity in the workplace! 

16. Walks

Let’s face it, people don’t move as much as they should. Walking is the oldest human talent, and parks are the perfect place in town to promote it. 

17. Children

Allowing kids to let off steam should be another goal of recreation, whether it’s simply giving them space, or offering more involved enrichment materials to climb on, build, learn, or destroy.

18. Partnership

Collaborations are another goal of recreation. Team sports are an obvious one, but community clean-ups, art projects, and other events should all bring in an element of partnership. 

19. Tourism

Having something that others don’t is a good way to bring in and entertain visitors. 

20. Leadership

Designing your park and its projects isn’t always about following trends or copying other towns. Set the standard you want and don’t be afraid to show your colors. 

21. Volunteering

Yet another community-related goal; a park can be the venue for volunteer work. Soup kitchens, talks, or charity events can all be held there for free, reaching those who would otherwise have to go without. 

22. Performance

Hosting a stage can bring in all kinds of performance options. Impromptu or thoroughly organized, it’s all possible as long as there’s a designated space for it. 

23. Public speaking

Finally, recreational goals should always include a venue for the sharing of information. Orators from every background can be given their place to voice their perspectives, and others can be encouraged to join in.

Each of these ideas focuses on the growth of individuals and communities as a whole. The events you design with them in mind will depend on the resources at your disposal, but they’re all possible with a minimal amount of organization and money.

Conclusion

So, your recreational goals should combine stimulation with teamwork and growth. Using our list as inspiration, you’re bound to find exactly what you need, and when it comes to running the programs themselves, try out Curacubby. Our modular tools are customizable to the specifics of your programs and can help will all elements from registration, through payments, to communication.