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Parks and Recreation master plan presented to committee; staff flags funding needs and suggests a future parks levy to support operations and capital
Summary
City staff and consultants presented a long-range parks and recreation master plan that sets level-of-service standards, new park classifications, equity-based prioritization and funding strategies. Consultants said a dedicated parks levy is the only funding source that can match the scale of investment needed, but councilmembers cautioned a levy
The Municipal Services and Properties Committee received a presentation on March 31 of the city’s Parks and Recreation master plan, a multi-year framework developed by city staff with consultants that lays out design guidelines, level-of-service standards, equity-based prioritization, funding strategies and a multi-step implementation plan.
Consultant Andrew (OLIN) and department staff said the plan grew from a two‑year community needs assessment that included more than 250 open‑house attendees, youth workshops, a statistically valid survey and neighborhood meetings. The plan recommends new park and recreation classifications, population- and access-based level-of-service standards, a database-driven prioritization method (replacing a “worst‑to‑first” condition-only approach) and policy goals grouped under stewardship, accessibility, engagement and enhanced spaces.
Funding strategy and levy discussion: Consultants and staff told the committee that the city should pursue multiple revenue sources but that a dedicated parks and recreation levy — a property-tax measure approved by voters — is likely the only mechanism capable of funding both capital and the additional operations and maintenance the plan recommends at scale. Staff described a staged approach: stand up the new parks department and demonstrate improved performance over the next one to three years, then consider a voter referendum in a future major election after community outreach and a ballot campaign. Committee members cautioned that now may not be the right time to pursue a new levy; multiple members urged pursuing other funding partnerships and careful additional community engagement before asking voters to approve new taxes.
Council concerns and next steps: Council members raised specific local concerns — Collinwood Stadium’s renovation delays, the adequacy of restroom and accessibility upgrades at recreation centers, and the need for community-level engagement before any decisions about possible facility closures (the draft plan lists options for right‑sizing the system). Staff said the plan will go to the City Planning Commission for adoption in early May; they committed to further community engagement and to return to council with implementation steps and funding proposals.
