Recreational Facility Analysis
What is Recreation Facility Analysis?
Recreation Facility Analysis (RFA) is an analysis used nationally
to assist Forests in creating a sustainable program that aligns
recreation sites with visitor's desires, expectations and use. RFA
helps ensure that recreation sites and facilities provide the
appropriate mix of opportunities within the special characteristics
of each Forest. RFA gives recreation resource managers good
information. Using this information they are able to develop a
Forest level Program of Work to operate and maintain a financially,
sustainable and niche-focused recreation sites program that meets
National Quality Standards. The initial product of the process is a
5-year proposed Program of Work that will help the Forest meet the
RFA goals which are:
- Improve customer satisfaction
- Provide recreation opportunities consistent with the Forest
recreation "niche"
- Niche is what the forest has to offer in terms of
special places, opportunities and potential experiences, overlapped
with what people desire and expect in terms of outdoor recreation
from public lands.
- Operate and maintain a financially sustainable recreation
sites program to accept quality standards
- Eliminate deferred maintenance at recreation sites.
Public input continues to be important to the Forest Service and
is a critical part of the RFA process. Forests will ensure
appropriate public dialogue occurs throughout the process. All
forests are scheduled to complete the RFA process by the end of
2008.
Why is this Recreation Analysis Needed?
The Forest Service is committed to responsibly serving the public
by efficiently operating and, when necessary, modifying the services
to ensure recreation sites provide the right opportunities in the
right places. As demographics change and new challenges are
presented, it is our responsibility to respond and ensure the
appropriate recreation services and facilities are available to the
public. FRA is a process that, with the help of the public,
communities, and the private sector, will allow us to be fiscally
responsible and continue to provide outstanding recreation
opportunities to the public.
How Does the Analysis Process Work?
In general, Forests, with the help of interested people, identify
the Forest niche. Forests analyze each recreation site based on
criteria such as how well the site supports the recreation needs,
desires, and expectations of the public; the role that site plays in
the local community; and the site's relationship to the
environment. Based on this analysis, the forest develops a 5-year
proposed Program of Work to meet the goals of the RFA process. The
public is invited to help implement and improve key tasks in the
proposed Program of Work while meeting those goals. Visitor
satisfaction is the bottom line. Implementing the results of the
RFA will result in a higher quality and more efficiently managed
recreation sites program where facilities support the recreation
niche; meet the needs, desires, and expectations of constituents and
visitors; and are operated and maintained within the funding and
resources of each Forest.
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