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Belton adopts 10‑year parks and recreation master plan after 18‑month community process
Summary
The council received a presentation on and adopted the Parks and Recreation Master Plan developed by Confluence and partners; the plan prioritizes trails, playgrounds, splash pads, and operational and financial recommendations including fee studies and strengthened partnerships.
The Belton City Council received a presentation and adopted the city’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan, a roughly 18‑month planning effort led by Confluence with subconsultants including Leon Younger, Crawford Architects and ETC.
Hank Myers of Confluence told the council the plan is based on extensive public engagement and a statistically valid survey by ETC. “We've had a great time working with Brian and his staff on the parks and rec master plan,” Myers said, and he summarized priorities identified by residents: paved trails and connectivity, splash pads and interactive water play, playground upgrades, unpaved hiking and biking trails, fishing areas and outdoor public art.
Consultant Leon Younger outlined operational and financial recommendations, urging a maintenance management plan, better use of the department’s work‑order system, a forestry plan that spans parks and street trees, a comprehensive fee study and stronger use of the Friends of Belton foundation as a fundraising partner. Younger said the plan recommends “develop[ing] a stronger volunteer base” and pursuing partnerships with institutions such as community colleges to build a trained parks workforce.
The plan includes park‑level recommendations: new parking and loop trails at Cimarron Trails Park; potential conversion of a ball‑field site to a dog park; expanded loop and unpaved trails at Markey Park; synthetic turf options and splash pad at Markey community park; facility improvements at High Blue recommended by Crawford Architects; and pickleball courts, an inclusive playground and a proposed field house at Wallace Park. The consultants said the recommendations align with the city’s comprehensive plan and with regional trails planning from MARC.
Staff said the document should be revisited annually as a living plan; the consultants noted it was adopted about a month before the council presentation. Council members asked clarifying questions about signage coordination, funding strategies (sponsorships, naming rights, hospital partnerships for trails), activation of the Friends of Belton Foundation, and next steps for staffing and implementation. No new ordinance or specific funding appropriation was passed during the presentation.
