PRESENTER: Presenter
Jeff Bransford, Assistant Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Recommendation to City Council on the adoption of the systemwide parks and recreation master plan
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DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: N/A
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
A systemwide parks and recreation master plan is an essential tool that identifies community needs, assesses the City’s ability to meet those needs, and establishes priorities for the future. Aside from being a best practice, having an approved master plan is a requirement for agency accreditation and many grant funding opportunities.
Systemwide parks and recreation master plans typically provide a five-year outlook. The City last completed its master plan in 2017. Since that time the City has experienced significant growth, leadership changes, and the adoption of a new Citywide Strategic Plan. To better serve our community, a process to update the systemwide master plan was approved by City Council in May 2024.
The consulting firm of Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker, LLC (BerryDunn) was selected to develop the systemwide master plan. The consultant’s scope of services included an assessment of park and facility conditions, a community demographic profile, public engagement, statistically valid community survey, recreation program assessment, partnership inventory, level of service analysis, revenue source inventory, prioritization of recommended capital improvement projects, and the preparation of a final plan deliverable. The proposed master plan is attached and will be summarized in presentation.
ISSUE:
Based on the growth of the community, the condition of facilities, and feedback from stakeholders, the plan recommends three strategic priorities:
1. PROTECT Health and Safety - provide a safe and accessible experience for everyone.
2. PRESERVE Existing Assets - take care of what we have.
3. SCALE Responsibly and Sustainably - support the quality of life of current and future generations.
These three strategic priorities are intended to focus on core facilities and services that deliver high-quality experiences reflective of the culture, history, and charm of New Braunfels.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☒Enhanced Connectivity ☒Community Identity
☒Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
No budgetary request is directly associated with approval of the master plan. However, the plan sets a framework for prioritizing future operational and capital budget requests.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Park and Recreation Advisory Board make a recommendation to City Council to adopt the systemwide master plan.