The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on Sept. 10 was told that mailings for a statistically valid survey tied to the town’s parks and recreation master plan were sent about two to three weeks earlier and that the survey response window is still open.
The board heard the most immediate update from Billy Coates, team manager of the Parks and Recreation Department, who said staff has ended direct public engagement events and is awaiting returned mail surveys and the consultant’s compilation of results. Coates said business-card–style engagement materials that include a map and a budget tool will remain active while the contractor, BerryDunn, completes the statistically valid phase.
Board members said the survey is important because it will inform what amenities a potential community center should include. Coates said BRS, the contractor working on community-center conceptualization, has begun “very preliminary” planning — simple massing diagrams and basic layout options — but has not developed firm recommendations. "They're just doing their preplanning and starting that positioning to show us what it would need to support our community," Coates said. "By no means are we making any decisions on that. They're just kind of starting that conversation."
Board members and staff discussed outreach and incentives tied to the engagement: Coates said the department will hold a drawing (a YETI cooler) for respondents and urged board members to encourage returned surveys. He also noted that the business-card engagement tools remain valid for the duration of the town’s contract with BerryDunn and that the map and other online tools will be kept available while the survey window continues.
Staff said once BerryDunn compiles the survey results and community input, the consultant will use that data to refine concepts. Coates told the board the next steps include review of compiled results and further engagement with Pro (another engagement partner) before the consultant returns materials to the board for discussion. He said staff expects to return to the board with more concrete recommendations when the data is available.
In addition to the survey and conceptual work, Coates said the contractor team raised early questions such as whether the community center might include a second story or which outdoor amenities could be paired with a facility; Coates emphasized those topics are exploratory and will depend on resident input.
The board had no formal vote on the master plan at the Sept. 10 meeting; members asked staff to continue outreach and to report back when compiled survey results and conceptual options are ready for the board’s review.