Agreements establishes Southeast Urban Park and Recreation Laboratory

Published: March 3, 2011

Larry Allen, dean, College of Health, Education, and Human Development (front, left to right); Clemson Provost Dori Helms; Gene Smith, Greenville County Recreation Department (GCRD) executive director; and (back row) Tom Schurch, chairman, Clemson University landscape architecture department; Ray Dunham, GCRD revenue facilities director; Don Shuman , GCRD parks director; Ted Lambrecht; GCRD revenue facilities operations manager; Brett Wright, department head of Clemson University parks, recreation and tourism management department; and Denise Anderson and Bob Brookover, PRTM faculty. image by: Greenville County Recreation District

CLEMSON  — Clemson University's parks, recreation and tourism management (PRTM) department and the Greenville County Recreation District have announced plans for the development of the Southeast Urban Park and Recreation Laboratory.

This living laboratory will integrate Clemson’s PRTM students, faculty research and education initiatives into the recreation district’s mission to be a leader in providing diverse and dynamic, ever-improving recreational opportunities in a sustainable manner. 

The Greenville County Recreation District and PRTM have collaborated on research efforts already. Last October PRTM administered a countywide parks and recreation needs assessment to determine how citizens feel about existing recreation facilities and programs. More than 1,200 participated.  Additional research and analysis continues on the participants’ evaluations. PRTM Chairman Brett Wright said the partners will conduct economic impact studies on the Pavilion, Westside Aquatic Center and Lakeside Park next year.

The urban lab concept, according to recreation district Executive Director Gene Smith, utilizes and integrates the strengths of both agencies. The recreation district will have access to up-to-date management decision data and PRTM gets a variety of research and demonstration projects. Findings and products from these activities will be disseminated across the state and Southeast, Smith said.

“The Recreation District has employed CU-PRTM interns over the years but this advances the relationship into a new enhanced arena with tremendous opportunities,” Smith said.

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