Title
Chief Administrative Office, Parks Division recommends the Commission review and discuss Parks program draft goals for the incorporation into the Parks and Trails Master Plan.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
As part of the Parks Master Plan Update process, staff conducted a robust effort to engage the community. An update to the Board of Supervisors was provided on April 30, 2024, where the Board gave direction to move forward with 8 themes that emerged from the outreach effort:
1) Open Space Trails: The community wide survey, especially, showed the importance placed upon open space accessible for walking and enjoying nature, hiking, and unimproved, natural trails.
2) Volunteerism: Consistently throughout all forms of outreach, the community conveyed a willingness to volunteer to improve parks, maintain them, and organize themselves in support.
3) Sports Team Fields: Several concerns focused on the high costs for sports teams, field availability, travel time and lack of lighting at available fields, with a focus on the positive impact to youth as a result of sports team involvement. Youth Baseball and Softball were the highest priority.
4) Special-use Trails: Outreach effort results confirmed what Parks staff are already aware of: that there are several groups in the County with the need for different types of trails, specifically for walking, biking, and equestrians.
5) Accessibility: Common themes were ADA accessible spaces, including sports fields, water access points, and trails.
6) Trail Connectivity: Connectivity between existing trails, especially connections or expansion of the El Dorado Trail, including trails in other Counties or under other park providers, with an emphasis on open, maintained multi-use trails.
7) Water Recreation Access: Another theme was providing access to water, especially natural water resources including the Cosumnes and American River, for swimming, fishing, and other watersports.
8) Facility Amenities: Many survey results and outcomes from conversations concerned lighting, parking, drinking water, and access to restrooms.
Staff is now working to complete the remaining portions of the Master Plan. The next steps for the process are to formulate goals, policies, standards, and implementation measures. Using feedback from the outreach efforts, the Commission is asked to provide input on the overall goals for parks and trails for the next ten-year period.
CONTACT
Jennifer Franich, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer