Parkland acquisition and urbanization: Implications for managers

This paper reports the results of original research into the problem of acquiring parkland in an era of severe budgetary constraints on local government. Data on a variety of acquisition methods was collected and analyzed, and recommendations were developed to improve the efficiency of local parks planning. While these methods have previously been discussed separately in the literature, comparative studies have been the exception rather than the rule. The paper identifies a wide array of methods for acquiring parkland, formulates research questions based on a review of the literature, investigates them using a nationwide survey, and draws conclusions regarding practical implications for public administrators to use. Suggestions for further research are also made.