Park Facilities Improvement Plan

On May 13, 2025, the City Council unanimously approved the Park Facilities Improvement Plan(PDF, 4MB). The goal of the Park Improvement Plan is to develop a framework for prioritization and funding of park improvement projects over the next ten years. On an annual basis, staff will present to the Community and Human Services Commission an update on the progress of the plan. At the five-year mark, staff will present to the City Council the progress of the plan and any necessary changes or recommendations.

Background

In April 2024, the City Council approved the 2024-26 City Council Priorities and Objectives document. One of the objectives was to develop a Park Facilities Improvement Plan that will:

1. Assess the age and condition of park facilities,
2. Prioritize Park facility improvements,
3. Identify current and future sources of funding for proposed park facility improvement, and
4. Outline a public engagement process for the development of park facility improvement projects.

The Park Facilities Improvement Plan was developed by the Community Services Department in partnership with the Recreation and Human Services Department. City staff assessed each park and the amenities at each location. The focus of the assessments was to evaluate the age and condition of the amenities and to develop and prioritize park facility improvements. Staff focused on long-term amenities that require significant funding and resources. The amenities evaluated included:

1. playground equipment,
2. restroom buildings,
3. safety and security lighting,
4. pedestrian pathways and parking lots (hardscape),
5. sports courts, and
6. sports field lighting.

The assessment did not focus on maintenance items that are handled as part of routine maintenance; however, maintenance concerns were identified.

Once the priorities were established, staff developed a ten-year funding plan with anticipated fiscal year completion dates for proposed improvements. Staff anticipates re-evaluating the Park Improvement Plan on an annual basis to ensure completion of proposed projects and meeting community needs. Staff will continually identify additional funding sources, including grants to fully fund the Plan as well as future park improvements. The last item in the Park Improvement Plan is the implementation of an expanded community engagement process for park improvements. The new community engagement process was launched with the replacement project for the Lewis Park Playground. The community engagement process may be modified depending on the unique characteristics of each park and each project. Moving forward, staff will host at least two community meetings for each project, in addition to the approval process involving the Community and Human Services Commission and City Council.