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City presents midpoint update to Parks and Recreation master plan; restrooms, trails and maintenance top priorities
Summary
Consultant and staff briefed council on a five‑year midpoint review of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan. Public engagement showed increased park usage, a high priority for restrooms and trails, and a recommendation to boost maintenance funding and staff capacity.
The city’s parks and recreation consultant presented a midpoint review of the department’s 10‑year master plan to Roanoke City Council on May 19, reporting results from a robust public engagement process and recommending priorities for the next five years.
Art Thatcher, a parks and recreation planner with BerryDunn, said engagement included mailed statistically valid surveys, focus groups, pop‑up events and an online portal. Thatcher reported that household visits to parks and facilities increased from 82% in 2019 to 89% in the most recent survey and that social media has become a major channel for public outreach.
The engagement identified three recurring priorities: (1) increased maintenance and staffing for parks and trails; (2) more restrooms and convenience amenities (drinking fountains, shade, seating); and (3) improved trail connectivity and safe access. Thatcher said the online budget‑priority tool and survey responses placed restrooms, paved multipurpose trail connections, inclusive playgrounds and natural‑surface trails among the items residents most supported funding through tax dollars.
On operations, the consultant noted the department’s current cost‑recovery rate is under 20 percent and recommended continued use of grants, partnerships and targeted fee updates alongside increased city funding for maintenance and staff to address deferred repairs. The update also highlights interest in nontraditional amenities (e.g., disc golf, climbing, pump tracks) and continued attention to equitable distribution of facilities across neighborhoods.
Staff described next steps: finalize an action table, present a draft plan to staff for review and deliver a recommended final plan in the coming weeks. There was no council vote; the presentation will inform upcoming budget and capital decisions.
