In the past three decades, rural recreation and park agencies have faced extraordinary local culture challenges while trying to maintain quality services and park facilities. Many rural North American communities have faced a decline in agricultural and industrial economy, thus resulting in a reduced tax base, residential population and employment. Each of these reductions may contribute to the erosion of local education, economy and even public health. While more urban communities are not immune to these same challenges, their infrastructure is often not as fragile, so they are often more financially resilient than rural communities.

Rural recreation and park agencies and professionals are adequately equipped to partner with others to address these challenges, but they cannot do so alone. A sustainable approach requires collaborating with other public services. Community planners are often vital partners to parks and recreation, especially when resources are scarce. In urban communities, community planners and recreation and park professionals are often connected, with some larger recreation and park agencies even employing their own planning staff. In rural communities, however, the relationship is not as seamless, and both are often understaffed and overextended with responsibilities. Even so, the challenges facing rural communities are addressed more effectively when the two are “at the table” together.

A Historical Context
The planning profession was born out of the response to numerous social, environmental and health crises that plagued communities. In the profession’s infancy, urban public health was a primary focus for planners. Their efforts to control air pollution, keep water clean, handle sewage and establish public health inspections were all necessary to combat deadly health epidemics. Fredrick Law Olmsted, a public administrator and landscape designer, recognized the value of utilizing parks to address public health issues while promoting moral pastimes, physical activity and emotional well-being.

The planning profession evolved over time, with urban planners becoming the caretakers of zoning and development and engaging in fewer unique planning initiatives. This resulted in minimal development controls and missed opportunities for continuing a significant role in public health and park development. In the past decade, urban communities have renewed the collaboration between recreation, park services and planning. Rural communities have been slower to engage planning and park services, possibly due to lack of resources but also misunderstandings about each other.

Combating the Issues
Within the past decade, both urban and rural communities have begun to look at addressing open-space planning and parks and recreation needs in their areas. Local governments have begun to team with regional council of government (COG) planning departments and have also teamed with planning and recreation programs at local colleges and universities. Together, these agencies have been able to work toward efficient development of parks and recreation facilities, all the while maintaining a presence of mind of how the development can impact the community as a whole.

One such example lies in rural northeastern North Carolina. Utilizing the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at nearby East Carolina University as well as the state’s Mid-East Commission Council of Governments Planning Department, this region was able to develop both a comprehensive recreation plan for the community and a site-specific master plan for a community recreation facility. Additionally, the community utilized the planning assistance of the COG to assist in acquiring potential state grant funding.

The City of Washington and the Town of Farmville are two rural communities presently working toward the promotion of sustainable transportation and recreation through the development of comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian plans. Bicycle and pedestrian facilities are attractive amenities for communities, not only in the transportation sense, but in the recreational sense as well. In an effort to combat congested roadways and unrelenting gas prices, multi-modal transportation is needed more than ever.

Washington and Farmville are both within a short distance of Greenville, North Carolina. In both cases, these communities would like to establish connectivity with neighboring Greenville to tap into the resources that the larger metropolitan area has to offer.

Looking Ahead
Rural communities continue to address the need for parks and open-space planning. Growing collaboration with planning agencies is an optimal strategy for doing so. While each rural community is different, the following recommendations are posed to them:
• Establish a parks and recreation advisory board or commission
Elected or appointed members can meet regularly to discuss the recreational needs of the community. This group can establish community recreation goals as well as monitor the work done toward achieving these goals.
• Encourage communication between planning and recreation staff
Rural communities should incorporate future park and recreation goals into their comprehensive and land-use plans.
• Open lines of communication between staff in the two departments can lead to better, more creative efforts to promote smart, sustainable community growth while increasing access to parks.
Use regional planning resources and tools
Rural communities that lack staffing and experience in planning and parks and recreation should take advantage of the regional planning and resource services that are available to them. These agencies include planning departments with the local COGs. Communities can also turn to regional recreation resource staff. Both agencies can assist communities with recreation inventory, needs assessment, planning and grant administration.
• Use local college/university resources
With a wealth of knowledge and resources on hand, academic departments within colleges and universities can be very valuable for rural communities. These programs can often provide services for little or no fee, without requiring grant preparation.
• Research grant opportunities
Communities should research as many grant funding opportunities as possible. Grant funding is often available at both the state and federal level.

As rural communities face growing demands for recreational opportunities, dialogue should continue between planners and park professionals. Together, these groups have the potential to generate creative ideas for open spaces that serve diverse rural populations, while once again bringing the professions together to create better rural communities.


Justin Oakes is a Planner at North Carolina’s Mid-East Planning Commission as well as the Peanut Belt RPO. Nelson Cooper, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at East Carolina University.