Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District 2024 Ballot Measure Survey

Magellan Strategies is pleased to present the topline results of a survey of 671 voters in the Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District. The interviews were conducted from July 15th – July 28th, 2024.

The Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District conducted a survey to assess voter sentiment regarding their operations and a potential ballot measure for facility improvements. Two-thirds of respondents reported being familiar with the District, and a similar proportion approved of the job the District was doing managing recreation programs, parks, and facilities. Those who approved cited the variety and quality of programs, well-maintained facilities, affordability, positive customer service, and strong community engagement. Critics pointed to poor maintenance of some facilities, perceived financial mismanagement, inadequate programming, environmental concerns, and a lack of community consideration in decision-making.

Facility usage patterns revealed that Water World and Adventure Golf & Raceway were the most visited attractions, though nearly half of respondents never used them. Most other facilities, including fitness centers, aquatics centers, and community centers, saw limited regular use. When it came to park amenities, restrooms and walking trails topped the list of important features at 90%, followed by picnic tables, parking, and covered pavilions. More specialized amenities like disc golf, pickleball courts, and tennis courts were considered important by less than half of respondents. A majority believed the District was fiscally responsible with taxpayer money, though more than a third were unsure.

The District’s strategic initiatives received overwhelming support from respondents. Preserving valued assets through capital improvements garnered 92% support, aligning services with evolving community interests received 88% support, and providing world-class experiences at major facilities was rated important by 82% of respondents. These findings demonstrated strong community backing for the District’s long-term planning priorities and approach to facility management.

The survey tested a $90 million bond measure that would not impose new taxes or increase existing taxes, though it carried a repayment cost of up to $225 million. The funds would be used for various improvements including park maintenance, security, aquatics facilities, recreation centers, ice facilities, golf courses, water conservation, Water World, and Adventure Golf & Raceway. In the initial uninformed ballot test, 68% of respondents indicated they would vote yes, 14% would vote no, and 18% were undecided.

After respondents learned how the funds would be allocated across different improvement categories, support levels varied considerably. Water conservation improvements generated the highest support at 82%, while park improvements and recreation facility improvements each received 79% support. Security and safety improvements garnered 77% approval. However, golf course improvements received the most mixed response, with only 50% more likely to approve and 36% more likely to reject the measure based on this allocation. Water World improvements and Ice Centre improvements also received more tepid support compared to other categories.

Following detailed information about the measure and its specific allocations, the informed ballot test showed support remained at 68% yes, while opposition increased slightly to 16% and undecided voters decreased to 16%. Supporters emphasized that parks and recreation facilities were essential for community health and well-being, physical fitness, and mental health. They also highlighted the importance of maintaining and upgrading aging infrastructure, improving accessibility and safety, generating community and economic benefits, and incorporating sustainability measures like water conservation.

Opponents raised several concerns about the ballot measure. Many worried about the high debt burden and significant interest costs, questioning the long-term financial implications for the community. There was skepticism about past fund management, with complaints about neglected facilities and lack of spending transparency. Some respondents expressed concern about tax increases during a time of economic uncertainty and high inflation. Critics also questioned the prioritization of facilities like golf courses and Water World, arguing these served a limited portion of residents rather than the broader community. Several respondents indicated they needed more detailed information about funding sources and specific expenditure plans before they could support the measure.