Timnath council adopts parks, recreation, open-space and trails master plan after year-long outreach

The Timnath Town Council unanimously adopted Resolution 39, Series 2025, on May 27, approving a new Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails (PROS) master plan that town staff said is the product of more than a year of public outreach.

Parks and Recreation Director Ryan Kessel told council the planning process began in December 2023, that Barry Dunn LLC was selected after a competitive bid, and that the scope later was expanded to include a recreation-center feasibility study after early public input showed strong interest. “We received over 500 responses, 515 to be exact,” Kessel said as he summarized the engagement results.

The plan, Kessel said, included multiple pop-up events, a farmer’s market booth, four focus groups, over 258 returned comment cards and an on-line interactive map and budget-prioritization tool. Key findings identified in the plan include strong community interest in a recreation center, demand for hiking, biking and walking trails, north-south connectivity throughout town, heavy use of the community park relative to national averages and support for high-quality parks, pools and outdoor programs.

Council members praised the outreach and the level of detail in the final document. “It’s an impressive document,” one council member said during the discussion, echoing other remarks noting the time invested by the PROS committee and consultant. Council members cited the plan as a guide for future capital budgeting, master planning of specific town-owned parcels and programming decisions.

The adopted plan enumerates five strategic initiatives: build a foundation of success; grow services to meet community needs; align infrastructure with the growing community; advance partnerships; and steward natural resources. Staff said the plan will establish baseline data for future comparisons and that follow-up engagement will occur during any project design phases (for example, for Timnath Ranch/other town-owned properties and phase 2 work at Wild Wing Park).

The council vote carried unanimously. Council members and the mayor voted in favor: Mayor Robert Oxmacher; Mayor Pro Tem Luke Wagner; Council members Jeremy Holt, Bill Jenkins and Lisa Lake.

Kessel and other staff noted next steps include using the plan to help prioritize capital improvements and to develop design-level outreach for high-priority sites and facilities. The resolution directs staff to make the PROS master plan the town’s policy framework for parks, recreation, open-space and trail investments going forward.