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Parks, a division of the Chief Administrative Office, recommends the Commission discuss and provide input on the draft Goals, Objectives, and Initiatives Chapter of the Parks Master Plan.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Pursuant to the Parks and Recreation Element of the General Plan, Policy 9.1.1.8, the County must prepare and implement a Parks and Trails Master Plan. The updated plan will provide a roadmap for how the overall system of parks and trails will be developed and managed to reflect the fiscal constraints, relative priorities, and needs of the current and future County population. The scope of work for preparing the plan update focused heavily on community outreach and stakeholder feedback. On April 30, 2024, the Board of Supervisors approved eight themes, or key takeways, to be utilized to finish the development of the Master Plan, as follows:
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 o...
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