How Prioritize 150 Recommendations? You Don’t!

Recreation Master Plans are meant to help communities take action. They guide decisions about parks, programs, facilities and services. But when a plan has 150 or more recommendations, it can become hard to use and redundant.

Too Many Ideas Make it Hard to Act and Measure Impact

When a plan includes too many recommendations, it is difficult to know what to do first. Staff and Council may struggle to see which actions matter most. Important ideas can get lost in a long list, and progress slows down.

Many Recommendations Say the Same Thing

In long plans, the same ideas often appear repeatedly. Topics like staffing, accessibility, partnerships and fairness across communities are repeated in multiple sections. These ideas are important but repeating them as separate recommendations makes the plan more complicated than it needs to be. 

Clear Plans Are Easier to Understand

Council members and residents should be able to read a plan and understand what the municipality is trying to do. Shorter, clearer recommendation lists make it easier to explain priorities, track progress, and make strategic decisions.

Fewer, Clearer Recommendations Work Better

A strong Recreation Master Plan focuses on the most important actions. Plans with fewer recommendations are easier to follow, easier to update and more likely to be used. Clear direction helps staff and Council turn plans into real improvements for the community.

How Many Recommendations Should You Receive?

In recreation planning, clear plans lead to better results.