When it comes to recreation in Franklin County, residents' interests are growing, according to a recent survey conducted by its parks and recreation department.

Ten thousand surveys were distributed across the county. About 10 percent were returned and will be used to develop the county's first comprehensive plan for parks and recreation, said Joey Robinson, project manager with Clough Harbour & Associates, a consultant working with the county.

The comprehensive plan will be a blueprint for parks and recreation over the next 15 years, said Scott Martin, director of commerce and leisure services.

"Now, we just go where opportunities pop up without having a coherent plan," he said. "This plan will speak to how to provide services in a suburban context."

Traditionally, in times of economic hardships such as the country is experiencing now, people spend more time doing free leisure activities, and participation in public parks and county programs increase.

Preliminary survey results show most Franklin County residents want more walking and biking trails, water access and indoor recreation centers.

The county -- one of the largest in land area in the state -- has nine public parks, with Smith Mountain Lake Community Park, Waid Recreation Park and Franklin County Recreational Park being the largest. Windy Gap Community Park will open next year.

An inventory of the existing facilities revealed a need for field improvements, better maintained bathrooms and picnic shelters and greater handicap accessibility, Robinson said.

This week, the department hosted public forums to explain the plan and give some preliminary results from the survey.

About 60 residents showed up to the community meetings in Boones Mill, Ferrum, Westlake, Rocky Mount and Sontag.

In Boones Mill, coaches and parents attended the meeting, concerned about improving practice fields and other youth activities.

Because of the demographics of the survey responses -- most residents were 45 and older -- the requests centered around recreation for the elderly.

"We're an area in the state that's getting older, faster," Martin said. "Our challenge will be to figure out how to provide services for an aging population."

But the county's youth will get what they need as well. In the coming weeks, Martin is considering heading to county schools to get more input from children and teenagers.

Martin said the survey is only one tool being used to identify the county's needs. Prior surveys and regional data from the Virginia Outdoors Plan and recreation studies included in Appalachian Power Co.'s Smith Mountain Lake relicensing process are also being used.

But public input is a major component, Martin said.

In the end, he believes the county will have more regional parks, walking and biking trails and a recreation center.

Next, planners will finish analyzing the survey responses before pulling together plans for programming and implementation. By January, the plan will go to the board of supervisors for final approval and can be updated and revised as the board sees fit, Martin said.

Any new programs or facilities -- and the related costs -- will have to be approved by the board.

A few of the 103 questions on the survey addressed funding, and 58 percent of respondents said they were willing to pay user fees to offset costs.

But many agreed that the county's parks and programs are the responsibility of the supervisors and funding should come from county.

"I think the county should invest," said Al Flora, at the Boones Mill meeting. "I mean, why not?"

Surveys are still being accepted and are available on the Parks and Recreation Department Web site, www.franklincountyva.org/parks.