Appendix 9.2: Public Outreach & Surveys The Bergen County Parks Master Plan process included a robust public outreach effort to determine public parkland needs and gauge resident’s opinion of existing conditions. Comments and data in this Appendix are drawn from the online survey (2,245 participants), eleven public meetings held in 2017, conversations with stakeholder groups, and digital communications from residents. Documents in this Appendix include: • Online Survey Summary • Online Survey Raw Data • Public Meeting Notes • Stakeholder Group Conversation Notes • Public Comments By Park • Email Public Comments • Other Public Comments The project team has endeavored to include all public comments received via the online survey, eleven public meetings, conversations with stakeholder groups, and digital communications. Feedback received during the formal Public Comment period in 2018 will be documented in Appendix 9.11. Appendix 9.2 Public Outreach & Surveys 9.2 ONLINE SURVEY SUMMARY SUMMARY OF ONLINE SURVEY RESULTS In addition to other pubblic comment platforms made available, individuals could submit comments about the Bergen County Parks through an online survey. This survey was approved by Rutgers IRB and open to the general public, available through a CUES website (http://cues. rutgers.edu/bergen- park- system/) between 11/21/2016 and 6/1/2017. This survey was completed by 2,245 participants. The online survey was powered by Qualtrics. The survey was set up to allow an identified computer to respond only once. Respondents were free to skip any question(s) they wished. Highlights of the CUES online survey results are included in this Appendix. The raw data from the online survey is included later in Appendix 9.2. Bergen County Parks Master Plan Section II Draft as of April 18, 2018 ONLINE PUBLIC SURVEY The number of online survey responses by municipality was Park use is influenced by cultural interests, age, and income determined based upon self-identification of home zip codes. levels. To characterize the demographics of online survey A significant number of responses (100 or more) came from respondents, participants were asked to identify their age residents of municipalities that were home to some of the group (Fig. 1) and annual household income level (Fig. 2). larger County parks (Fig. 3), including Mahwah (Ramapo Approximately half the respondents were in the 45-64 age Reservation), Paramus (Van Saun), and Ridgewood (Saddle range (1036), followed by 30% in the 25-44 age bracket River). There were no online survey responses from residents (644). Almost two-thirds of the households taking the of the municipalities of Teterboro or Northvale. online survey had annual income of $100,000 or higher. Age Group of Online Survey Respondents Age Group of Online Survey Respondents Online Survey Responses by Bergen Age Number of Percentage of County Municipality Bracket Respondants Respondants N 18-24 38 2% 25-44 644 30% 45-64 1036 49% 65-75 313 15% 75+ 82 4% Total: 2113 FigureAnnual 1. Approximately Household half Income of respondents of Online were in theSurvey 45-64 age Respondents bracket, while one-third of respondents were in the 25-44 age bracket (Courtesy of CUES). Income Number of Percentage of Bracket Respondants Respondants >$15,000 30 2% Annual Household Income of Online Survey Annual Household Income of Online Survey Respondents Respondents$15,000 - 35 2% $24,999 Income Number of Percentage of $25,000- Bracket Respondants126 Respondants 7% $49,000 >$15,000$50,000- 30 230 2%12% $74,000 $15,000$75,000- - 35 286 2%15% $24,999$99,000 Number of Municipal Responses $25,000-$100,000- 126 527 7%28% $49,000 $149,000 1 - 19 $50,000- 20 - 49 $150,000 230 12%35% $74,000 677 + 50 - 99 $75,000- 286 15% 100 - 223 0 1.25 2.5 5 miles $99,000 Total: $100,000- 527 28% Figure 3. Map indicating the number of online survey responses per $149,000 1911 Bergen County municipality (Courtesy of CUES). $150,000 677 35% + Total: 1911 Figure 2. Almost two-thirds of the respondents were in households with an annual income of $100,000 or higher (Courtesy of CUES). Appendix 10.2 Online Survey Summary CountyCounty Parks Parks Visited Visited by by Respondents Respondents Amount Percent of Total Van Saun County Park 1875 85% Overpeck County Park 1499 68% Campgaw 1250 57% Saddle River County Park 1241 56% Ramapo Reservation 1233 56% Darlington County Park 1160 53% Historic New Bridge Landing 769 35% McFaul Environmental Center 715 32% Hackensack River County Park 607 28% Bergen Equestrian Center 567 26% Alpine Reserve 563 26% Teaneck Creek Park 534 24% Hackensack River Pathway 533 24% Pascack Brook County Park 452 21% Overbrook County Park 385 17% Camp Glen Gray 340 15% Darlington Golf Course 338 15% Wood Dale County Park 312 14% Baylor Massacre Burial Site 303 14% Rockleigh Golf Course 298 14% Wortendyke Barn 283 13% Overpeck Golf Course 257 12% Orchard Hills Golf Course 242 11% Borg's Woods Nature Preserve 237 11% Riverside County Park 224 10% Garretson Farm 197 9% Camp Merritt Monument 178 8% Valley Brook Golf Course 175 8% Camp Tamarack 172 8% Saddle Ridge Riding Center 166 8% Dahnert's Lake County Park 153 7% Washington Spring 108 5% Easton Tower 77 3% Norwood East Hill 77 3% Belmont Hill County Park 67 3% Artesian Fields 64 3% Samuel Nelkin County Park 55 3% Gethsemane Cemetery 47 2% Cherry Brook Woods 31 1% None 12 1% Total # of Respondents: 2204 Figure 4. All County parks identified as visited by online survey respondents (Courtesy of CUES). To understand resident preferences and use of the various frequently named (Fig. 4) was Van Saun (85%) followed by County parks, participants were asked to select from a list Overpeck (68%), Campgaw (57%), Saddle River (56%). all Bergen County Parks they had ever visited. The most and the Ramapo Reservation (56%). Bergen County Parks Master Plan Section II Draft as of April 18, 2018 MostMost Recently Recently Visited Visited Park Park Number of Frequency of Park Visits Responses Visitor Frequency Saddle River 1071 Frequency Number of Respondents Van Saun 926 Daily 167 Overpeck 893 Weekly 776 Ramapo 454 Monthly 585 Pascack Brook 280 Occasionally 613 Darlington 144 Rarely 51 Campgaw 140 Never 5 Dekorte 94 Total 2197 McFaul Center 84 New Bridge Land. 76 Figure 6. Online survey response to the question “How often do you visit a County Park?”(Courtesy of CUES). Palisades 76 Celery Farm 45 Riverside 36 WhyWhy DoDo YouYou VisistVisit thethe Park?Parks? Golf Courses 28 Number of Flat Rock Brook 25 Activity % of Total Responses Responses Hackensack River 18 Biking 744 34% Artesian Fields 15 15 Glen Gray Boating 142 7% Total 4474 Bring Children 977 45% Parks Owned by County Parks Owned by Other Organizations Camping 101 5% Figure 5. Parks identified by online survey respondents as most Event 627 29% recently visited (Courtesy of CUES). Exercise/Jog 1026 47% To identify preferred parks used most frequently, respondents were asked What three (3) county parks they had visited Fishing 151 7% most recently? (Fig. 5). The neighborhood Saddle River Hiking 1053 48% Park(s) was most frequently mentioned, followed by visits to the three large regional parks Van Saun, Overpeck, and Picnic 513 23% Ramapo. Play Sports 365 17% When asked “How often do you visit your preferred park?”, Experience 1365 62% Nature more than two-thirds (70%) of the survey participants said Skiing 213 10% they visited Bergen County parks daily, weekly, or monthly (Fig. 6), suggesting a high degree of repeat park visitation. Time with 1063 49% Friends/Family 198 9% Reasons for visiting the Bergen County parks reflect the Volunteer County’s diversity (Fig. 7). Respondents could select all Walking 551 71% activities that applied. The most often cited activities included walking and hiking, access to the natural Zoo 891 41% environment, exercise, being with family and friends, and Other 383 18% child-centered family activities. Total # of Respondents: 2186 Figure 7. Respondents were allowed to select multiple activities they participate in when visiting a park (Courtesy of CUES). Appendix 10.2 Online Survey Summary ParksParks VisitedVisited Outside Outside of Bergenof Bergen County County FavoriteFavorite ParkPark in in the the World World Central Park Harriman State Park Central Park Yosemite 1372 Responses 1243 Responses 354 Responses 69 Responses Van Saun Yellowstone The Highline Turtle Bank Zoo 61 Responses 61 Responses 856 Responses 822 Responses Grand Canyon Acadia Meadowlands Other 45 Responses 36 Responses 703 Responses 564 Responses Figure 8. Parks selected from a list of options. For “Other responses” Figure 9. Favorite park in the world. Central Park received the survey participants were able to write in names of other parks highest number of responses (Courtesy of CUES). (Courtesy of CUES). When asked to select from a list of non-Bergen County Survey participants were asked to name their favorite park parks they had visited (Fig 8), New York Parks (Central in the world (Fig. 9). Bergen County’s connection to New Park, Highline, Harriman State Park) were most frequently York City was evident in the #1 response of Central Park, named, followed by Turtle Bank Zoo (Essex County) and named by 354 individuals. This local icon was followed by DeKorte Park in the Meadowlands District. a number of national parks (Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Acadia). However, the strong feelings residents have Survey participants could also write in other favorite parks for Bergen County Parks, particularly Van Saun, was evident outside the County park system. The parks identified in its selection as one of the favorite parks in the world. were predominately natural areas, such as Bear Mountain, Palisades Interstate Park, Ringwood, Sterling Forest, High Point, and Garrett Mountain.