Making Sense of Troy's Parks: Why Data Matters for Our Community
Vol. III, No. 186 - American Structurepoint's presentation shows that our Parks and Recreation Departments are working hard
Watching the presentation made by the American Structurepoint team about our park system, one thing is very clear: the City of Troy has a lot to be proud of when it comes to parks and recreation. The presentation on Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan shows that our community has more playgrounds, athletic fields, tennis courts, and pickleball courts than most cities our size. With a population of about 27,000, Troy offers 17 playgrounds when the national standard from the National Park and Recreation Association suggests we would only need 8 or 9. We have 18 diamond fields, 14 rectangular fields for soccer and football, and nearly 18 miles of trails when the national median is around 10 miles for a city our size.
This is good news. It means residents have plenty of options when they want to get outside, play a sport, or take a walk through one of our many parks. From Duke Park to Treasure Island, from the Miami Shores Golf Course to the Joe Reardon Skate Park, our park system is spread across the city and reaches into nearly every neighborhood.
But here is where it gets interesting.
Despite having more amenities than the typical community, Troy spends far less money operating and maintaining these facilities. The city’s annual operating expenditure for parks and recreation is about $2.8 million. The national median for all agencies is $7.2 million, and for cities our size, it is $3.7 million. When you break it down by acre, Troy spends about $5,724 per acre while the national median sits closer to $8,500 to $9,000 per acre. Troy also has fewer staff members dedicated to parks. The city has about 4.8 full-time employees per 10,000 residents, while the national median is 8.6.
What does all this mean? It could mean several things. Maybe Troy is running a very efficient operation and getting more done with less. Maybe our parks benefit from strong volunteer support or partnerships that stretch the budget further. Or maybe there are maintenance needs going unmet, programs not being offered, or facilities slowly wearing down because the resources are not there to keep up.
The honest answer is that we do not really know—and that is the problem.
Certainly, comparing Troy to national averages from the National Park and Recreation Association is not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison. But, even when we strip out the numbers, something is clear. The city’s Park and Recreation Departments tend to be punching above the weight class and at least on paper, seem to be the epitome of “doing more with less”. It makes one think if there are other departments that are also in the same position.
This is exactly why performance measurement matters. The International City/County Management Association, known as ICMA, has been helping local governments track and compare their services for decades. Their Center for Performance Measurement helps cities collect good data, compare themselves to similar communities, and figure out where they are doing well and where they need to improve. It is not about being perfect. It is about knowing where you stand so you can make better decisions.
Performance measurement gives leaders and residents the ability to ask smart questions. Are our parks being maintained at a level that keeps them safe and inviting? Are we offering enough programs for kids, seniors, and everyone in between? How do our costs compare to similar cities, and what can we learn from those that are doing things well? Without this kind of data, decisions get made based on guesses, anecdotes, or whoever speaks loudest at a public meeting.
Cities that embrace performance management do more than just collect numbers. They share those numbers with residents. They set goals, track progress, and hold themselves accountable. When a city puts its data out in the open, it builds trust. People can see for themselves how their tax dollars are being used and whether the community is moving in the right direction.
Troy has a strong foundation. Our parks system is robust, our amenities exceed expectations, and our community clearly values recreation. Now is the time to take the another valuable step. More than just developing a plan for park and recreation improvements, the city should conisder developing a real performance measurement program that would help the community understand whether the lower spending levels are a sign of efficiency or a warning sign of deferred maintenance. It would help residents engage in meaningful conversations about priorities and tradeoffs. And it would show that Troy is committed to continuous improvement, not just maintaining the status quo.
A New Handbook to grow Civic Capacity!
Recently, we created a new digital handbook, “The Citizen’s Guide to Public Records”. This handbook is designed to help residents have a better understanding of public meetings and meeting records. It’s filled with templates, ideas and other information that will open a new world of public affairs.
Also, if you have ideas for future handbooks, please let us know at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com.
Want to Learn More About Troy’s Businesses?
Our publication has recently released our September 2025 Economic Abstract, the most comprehensive and up-to-date report on the businesses and industries in the City of Troy. For those that want to understand our community’s business and industries, this is a must-have report.
Thank you to our New Media Partners!
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In addition, the good folks at Piqua News Now have started a new, 24-hour streaming YouTube channel. This channel is awesome with continuous weather updates and more importanly, it provides a 24-hour audio feed from county wide dispatch. Check it out here!
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