RDG in the Media: According to Plan

Parks and outdoor spaces saw an uptick in visitors during COVID-19. In 2025, planners and designers are seeing the same number of visitors, underscoring the importance of making these spaces inviting to all ages, demographics and interests. Recreation Management Magazine spoke to several planners and designers, including RDG Landscape Architect and Principal Scott Crawford, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP, to understand how renovating these spaces can respond to a community's needs.

Crawford explains that evolving demographics and recreation trends are important considerations when planning renovations to outdoor spaces. Current and projected demographics of a neighborhood, community and region inform the types of program offerings that a community desires; these programs, in turn, inform the types of built spaces within parks and facilities serving that population. Likewise, the geographic location of the park site can also inform the types of programs, spaces and facilities needed to serve park users.

Creating flexible outdoor spaces aims to serve a community's diverse needs. Crawford shares that park designs often integrate multipurpose spaces and facilities that can be easily converted to serve many different user groups for different programs and events.

Click here to read the full Recreation Management Magazine article about how planners and designers use master planning to guide the long-term development of parks.