Regional park
Encyclopedia
Regional park is a term used for an area of land preserved on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, recreational use or other reason, and under the administration of a form of local government
.
In the U.S., the term is also used in urban areas to refer to large parks, that because of their expansive size and unique natural and cultural attractions draw visitors from the entire region. These parks, which usually have many uses including commercial event activities (such as weddings and seminar centers), require a higher level of management compared to smaller parks such as city parks, neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and pocket park
s that have fewer activities and primarily serve local residents.
, a government unit like a U.S. state.
regional parks are administered by regional councils
rather than the Department of Conservation
or territorial authorities.
. The terms "region" and "metropolitan" can have different meanings in U.S. local government agencies. Regional parks are can be administered by a regional park board, a state, county or other units of local government
, or occasionally by the National Park Service as in the Santa Monica Mountains
of California
. A special authority can be set up, under the joint jurisdiction of two or more government bodies or as an independent park district to administer parks. Individual parks may or may not cross governmental boundaries. The park district holds the authority, similar to fire protection districts, to manage and raise taxes to cover park acquisition and management costs.
Chapter 1545, metro parks such as the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks
can have their own sworn police forces
(ranger
s); The Cleveland Metroparks
and Dayton
Five Rivers Metroparks
are also in the state. Other examples of large regional park systems are the Huron-Clinton Metroparks
in southeast Michigan
; and the Three Rivers Park District
in Minnesota
.
and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
have extensive parklands in the San Francisco Bay Area
, protecting habitat and offering recreation.
In the Los Angeles
California
region many larger parks with significant natural areas have been preserved, such as Griffith Park, the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve
, the Chino Hills State Park
, and the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
, and serve the public as *regional open space parks. Adjacent to the city is the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
with regional parks administered at the national, state, county, and municipal levels. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
acquires new properties in all the Los Angeles basin
's Transverse Ranges
to expand the greenbelt and protect the wildland-urban interface
with regional parks.
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
.
Definition
A Regional park can be a special park district covering a region crossing several jurisdiction boundaries, or a park system of a single jurisdiction, such as a province, county, or city.In the U.S., the term is also used in urban areas to refer to large parks, that because of their expansive size and unique natural and cultural attractions draw visitors from the entire region. These parks, which usually have many uses including commercial event activities (such as weddings and seminar centers), require a higher level of management compared to smaller parks such as city parks, neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and pocket park
Pocket park
A pocket park, parkette or mini-park is a small park accessible to the general public. In some areas they are called miniparks or vest-pocket parks....
s that have fewer activities and primarily serve local residents.
Italy
Regional parks in Italy are administered by each region in ItalyRegions of Italy
The regions of Italy are the first-level administrative divisions of the state, constituting its first NUTS administrative level. There are twenty regions, of which five are constitutionally given a broader amount of autonomy granted by special statutes....
, a government unit like a U.S. state.
New Zealand
In New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
regional parks are administered by regional councils
Regions of New Zealand
The region is the top tier of local government in New Zealand. There are 16 regions of New Zealand. Eleven are governed by an elected regional council, while five are governed by territorial authorities which also perform the functions of a regional council and thus are known as unitary authorities...
rather than the Department of Conservation
New Zealand Department of Conservation
The Department of Conservation , commonly known by its acronym, "DOC", is the state sector organisation which deals with the conservation of New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage...
or territorial authorities.
United States
- See also: Regional parks in California
Definitions
In the United States a regional park is sometimes referred to as a 'Metropolitan Park (Metropark)' or as an Open space PreserveOpen space reserve
Open space reserve, open space preserve, and open space reservation, are planning and conservation ethics terms used to describe areas of protected or conserved land or water on which development is indefinitely set aside...
. The terms "region" and "metropolitan" can have different meanings in U.S. local government agencies. Regional parks are can be administered by a regional park board, a state, county or other units of local government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
, or occasionally by the National Park Service as in the Santa Monica Mountains
Santa Monica Mountains
The Santa Monica Mountains are a Transverse Range in Southern California, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the United States.-Geography:...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. A special authority can be set up, under the joint jurisdiction of two or more government bodies or as an independent park district to administer parks. Individual parks may or may not cross governmental boundaries. The park district holds the authority, similar to fire protection districts, to manage and raise taxes to cover park acquisition and management costs.
Mid-west
In Ohio, under Ohio Revised CodeOhio Revised Code
The Ohio Revised Code contains all acts passed by the Ohio General Assembly and signed by the governor. The Ohio Revised Code replaced the Ohio General Code in 1953. However the current organization and form of the Ohio Revised Code Title 29 was completely re-written and issued into law by the...
Chapter 1545, metro parks such as the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks
Metro Parks (Columbus, Ohio)
The Metro Parks are a group of 15 metropolitan parks near Columbus, Ohio. They are officially organized as the "Columbus and Franklin County Metropolitan Park District". The Metro Parks system was organized in 1945 under Ohio Revised Code Section 1545 as a separate political division of the state...
can have their own sworn police forces
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
(ranger
Park ranger
A park ranger or forest ranger is a person entrusted with protecting and preserving parklands – national, state, provincial, or local parks. Different countries use different names for the position. Ranger is the favored term in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Within the United...
s); The Cleveland Metroparks
Cleveland Metroparks
Cleveland Metroparks is an extensive system of nature preserves in Greater Cleveland, Ohio. The various reservations, which largely encircle the city of Cleveland, tend to follow the rivers and creeks that flow through the region...
and Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
Five Rivers Metroparks
Five Rivers Metroparks
Five Rivers MetroParks is a regional public park system consisting of conservatories and outdoor recreation and education facilities that serve the Dayton metropolitan area. The name Five Rivers MetroParks comes from five major waterways that converge in Dayton. These waterways are the Great Miami...
are also in the state. Other examples of large regional park systems are the Huron-Clinton Metroparks
Huron-Clinton Metroparks
The Huron-Clinton Metroparks system is a regional park system in Metro Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan. The park system includes 13 parks totalling arranged along the Huron River and Clinton River forming a partial ring around the metro area. Plans are in development to finish the ring by...
in southeast Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
; and the Three Rivers Park District
Three Rivers Park District
Three Rivers Park District is a "special park district" serving the suburban areas of the Twin Cities metro including suburban Hennepin, Carver, Dakota, Scott and Ramsey counties...
in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
California
The East Bay Regional Park DistrictEast Bay Regional Park District
The East Bay Regional Park District is a special district operating in Alameda County and Contra Costa County, California, within the East Bay area of the San Francisco Bay Area...
and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is a special-purpose district that manages over of open space in 25 preserves in the San Francisco Bay Area. It includes parts of Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties. The District was created by voter initiative in 1972...
have extensive parklands in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, protecting habitat and offering recreation.
In the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
region many larger parks with significant natural areas have been preserved, such as Griffith Park, the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve
Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve
The Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve is a large open space nature preserve owned and operated by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy spanning nearly in the Simi Hills of western Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County....
, the Chino Hills State Park
Chino Hills State Park
Chino Hills State Park is a state park of California, USA, in the Chino Hills, foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. It is a critical link in the Chino–Puente Hills wildlife corridor, and a major botanical habitat reserve for resident and migrating wildlife....
, and the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area or "Hahn Park" is a state park and recreation area in the California Department of Parks and Recreation system...
, and serve the public as *regional open space parks. Adjacent to the city is the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area or SMMNRA, is a United States National Recreation Area containing many individual parks and open space preserves, located primarily in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California...
with regional parks administered at the national, state, county, and municipal levels. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is an agency of the state of California in the United States founded in 1980 and dedicated to the acquisition of land for preservation as open space, for wildlife and California native plants habitat Nature Preserves, and for public recreation...
acquires new properties in all the Los Angeles basin
Los Angeles Basin
The Los Angeles Basin is the coastal sediment-filled plain located between the Peninsular and Transverse ranges in southern California in the United States containing the central part of the city of Los Angeles as well as its southern and southeastern suburbs...
's Transverse Ranges
Transverse Ranges
The Transverse Ranges are a group of mountain ranges of southern California, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region that runs along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico in North America. The Transverse Ranges begin at the southern end of the California Coast Ranges and lie between...
to expand the greenbelt and protect the wildland-urban interface
Wildland-urban interface
A wildland–urban interface refers to the zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development. Communities that are within of the zone may also be included...
with regional parks.
See also
- Regional natural parks of France
- List of regional parks of Italy
- List of regional parks of Lithuania
- List of Sonoma County Regional Parks facilities
- List of county and regional parks in Minnesota
- Regional parks in California
- Urban parkUrban parkAn urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...
- Nature reserveNature reserveA nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
- Open space reserveOpen space reserveOpen space reserve, open space preserve, and open space reservation, are planning and conservation ethics terms used to describe areas of protected or conserved land or water on which development is indefinitely set aside...