What Residents Said - An Inside Look At Park Survey Results
Vol. III, No. 193 - The results show a town that likes parks, but sees areas for improvement
For those that were in tune to City Hall this year, the first half of the year was filled with efforts to get residents to participate in American Structurepoint’s survey on the city’s park and recreation efforts. And the response was strong, 800 residents who took part in Troy’s parks and recreation planning process sent a clear, consistent message: people love the city’s parks, but they also see specific gaps that need to be fixed if the system is going to keep up with how families live, play, and age today. Their comments point toward a future that puts accessibility, updated facilities, and more room for sports and community life at the center of local decisions.
Last week, the consultants shared some of their recommendations from the plan and the draft master plan has been published on the city website. While the draft plan doesn’t have the raw data from the survey, an entire chapter of the draft plan was dedicated to not only how the public participated, but what the public said during the process.
How American Structurepoint Collected Input
City leaders and their consulting team did more than hold a single town hall; they built a mix of ways for people to speak up over many months. Residents and park users could respond to an online survey, talk directly with city staff and the American Structurepoint consultants at the Troy Strawberry Festival, and join focused stakeholder meetings for different sports, age groups, and facilities. Earlier work, like the city’s regular park survey and a special survey for the Joe Reardon Skatepark, was folded into this round of planning so that prior voices were not lost.
The online survey that finished up in July 2025 drew 882 responses, most of them from people who live in or near Troy. A geo-fenced Facebook ad helped reach nearby households, and the survey asked about who uses the parks, how often they visit, what they value, and what they want to see improved in the coming years.
How Residents Use Troy’s Parks
Survey responses show that Troy’s parks are part of daily life for many people. More than half of respondents had visited a park within the past week, and many reported going several times a month for recreation, relaxation, and time with family. Community Park and Duke Park rose to the top as the most frequently visited parks, especially when people were asked where they go most often with friends or relatives.
Most park users still drive, with about 73 percent saying they get to parks by car, while nearly one in five walk or run, and smaller numbers bike. Residents praised the variety and number of parks, as well as the general cleanliness, maintenance, and sense of community value that these spaces create. At the same time, they noted that some neighborhood parks feel overlooked and that walking and biking connections could be stronger across the system.
What People Like—and What Frustrates Them
When residents were asked what works well in Troy’s parks, they pointed to the basic strengths of the system: plenty of options, decent upkeep, and locations that feel convenient. People also cited popular programs and events such as recreation department baseball and softball, pickleball, swimming programs, soccer, concerts at Treasure Island and various summer and theater camps for kids.
But the list of frustrations was just as detailed. Residents mentioned outdated playgrounds, a lack of water fountains, dirty or overused restrooms and portable toilets, crowding on sports fields, and too little shade and seating. Concerns also surfaced around accessibility for people with disabilities, especially where uneven sidewalks, limited accessible routes, and older restrooms make it harder for some residents to fully enjoy the parks. Some respondents went further, stating that small neighborhood parks can feel neglected and that the city could do a better job listening and communicating about programs and changes.
Priorities for Amenities and Accessibility
Across both the survey and the in-person activities at Troy Strawberry Festival, residents highlighted some clear priorities. For sports, an “overwhelming majority” of survey respondents said Troy needs more baseball diamonds, which reflects the steady growth of youth and adult participation in baseball and softball. People also showed interest in more and better courts and fields for activities like soccer, pickleball, volleyball, and other sports, though the need for additional baseball and softball space stood out.
Accessibility improvements formed another strong theme. Residents called for fixing uneven sidewalks, adding more accessible playground equipment, building wheelchair-friendly routes, improving seating that can accommodate mobility devices, and updating restroom facilities. At the Troy Strawberry Festival engagement booth, people used stickers to rank accessibility features, and they consistently marked items such as wheelchair-accessible playground equipment, better ramps and routes, accessible restrooms, and upgraded water fountains.
The Debate Over the Aquatic Park
The Troy Aquatic Park drew a mix of affection and skepticism. Nearly 60 percent of survey respondents said they would not support a tax levy to pay for an overhaul of the facility, even as they also pointed to clear shortcomings. When asked what should change, residents focused on practical upgrades: more seating, improved and expanded restrooms, better shade, and larger or better-organized spaces for children of different ages.
From data collected at the Troy Strawberry Festival, residents again leaned toward improvements that make the aquatic park more comfortable and family-friendly rather than having completely new attractions. Popular ideas included more shade structures, updates to play features, extra seating beyond the current lounge chairs, and a stronger concessions area that can handle peak demand without long lines. Stakeholders who know the facility well also suggested adding more swim lesson and team time, providing additional lap lanes, and planning future renovations that tackle both convenience and capacity.
What Stakeholders Shared Behind the Scenes
Focused stakeholder meetings added another layer of detail, especially around organized sports, seniors, and community hubs. Baseball and softball leaders talked about fast-growing interest in the sport and pointed out that many existing fields are only suited for practice or are prone to flooding, which limits play and chases families to nearby communities with stronger facilities. They described the need for better lighting, more game-ready fields, and tournament-quality layouts that could keep both local families and visiting teams in Troy.
Soccer and football groups described similar pressures on space, parking, and basic infrastructure like restrooms and storage at heavily used parks such as Duke and Archer. Pickleball leaders noted how quickly the sport has taken off, bringing both older and younger players to well-maintained courts but also creating scheduling conflicts, parking challenges, and questions about whether Troy is keeping pace with investments made in nearby cities. Other stakeholders—from the Senior Citizens Center to the Lincoln Community Center and Troy Aquatic Park staff—talked about aging buildings, rising demand, and the need to match facilities and staffing with the volume of people who now depend on these places for health, connection, and support.
A Community Vision Taking Shape
Across all these efforts, a shared picture of the future starts to come into focus: Troy residents want parks and recreation facilities that are inclusive, modern, and ready for growth. They are asking for updated amenities, more fields and courts, better access for people with disabilities, and a stronger network of programs and events that serve children, families, and seniors alike. At the same time, many residents are unwilling to write a blank check, especially for large projects such as the Aquatic Park, which means city leaders will have to line up specific improvements with what people say they value most.
The public engagement chapter of Troy’s draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan makes it clear that this is not just about playgrounds and ballfields; it is about how residents experience public space, how welcome they feel, and whether every part of town sees real investment.
If city officials follow through on the feedback they have gathered, the next generation of parks in Troy could be more accessible, more balanced between neighborhood needs and regional events, and more closely aligned with what residents have already said they want for their community life.
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