January 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 68

N R PA I n A c t i o n

you offer each year and make them available
on the soon-to-be-released " NRPA Park Locator " smart phone application. This means
that anyone living or visiting in your area
can select the keyword " park events " and
find a list of your agency's special events.
The added potential for out-of-town visitors
increases the potential economic impact of
your events.

Where is PRORAGIS in its
development?
As of this writing the Operating Ratio portion of PRORAGIShave been expected to
be released as a beta version by mid-December, and it will be up and available for
profile loading in its initial format by January 18, 2011. The URL for access to PRORAGIS will be www.nrpaproragis.org .
The GIS portion of PRORAGIS is expected to be released in its beta version
in mid-march and will be available in its
initial form in mid-April. However, you

need not wait on the GIS formats. They
are currently available for download
and completion. The forms can be accessed at www.nrpsagisdata.org. If you
are already using GIS, simply download
the Personal Geodatabase format. You
will probably need to reconcile some of
your attributes and values with those in
the model for successful uploading. Initially, we will only be using points (not
polygons and lines)-so we ask that
you do your best to simplify all values
entered.
If you do not have a GIS program,
download the MS Excel spreadsheet
format. This spreadsheet is structured
to allow you to conduct an inventory of
your parks, trails, and facilities. Don't
worry if you don't have coordinates: addresses for the parks and trails will suffice. Spatially, the facilities will be given
the same location as the park or associated trail.

What can you do to make PRORAGIS
Successful?
Your department should make sure to
complete a profile if it has not already
done so. It is not a quick or simple task,
but when you complete it your results
will be immediately available. And keep
in mind that the time-consuming aspect
of creating the profile is a one-time-only
occurrence. In future years you will need
only to update the budget year with actual
data. Editorial access to the profile is restricted by a user number unique to your
department. It is accessible 24/7, and you
can insert the data as time permits.
PRORAGIS is a database that helps you
fight the good fight. It allows you to present irrefutable data to support your positions. It also allows you to plan for your
needs with confidence in the results. 
Bill Beckner is NRPA Manager of

Research and a former park administrator.

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66 Parks & Recreation

JANUARY 2011

www.NRPA .ORG

Circle 22 on product information form on PAGE 87

January 2011 - Parks & Recreation

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