Council approves $294,800 contract with Kimley-Horn for parks and trails master plan

Midwest City ' The Midwest City Council on Aug. 26 approved a contract not to exceed $294,800 with Kimley-Horn & Associates to develop a citywide parks and trails master plan.

City staff and the consultant said the plan will inventory systemwide needs, prioritize projects using an analytical scoring approach, and include robust community outreach. Council members emphasized that the plan is intended to be needs-driven rather than ward-driven and will help allocate sales-tax proceeds that voters previously extended for parks improvements.

Kimley-Horn's representative, Darren Scott, told the council the firm was selected from eight statements of qualifications and that the firm's analytic approach and public-engagement plan distinguished its submission. "We will look at the system as a whole and provide a prioritized list, with the community's input," Scott said.

Council members asked that outreach include neighborhood associations as well as pop-up events and media outreach to reach residents who are not routinely engaged in civic meetings. Staff said the public-engagement component is the largest part of the contract budget and that the firm will work with city staff to schedule outreach at existing events and in neighborhoods.

Votes and next steps: The council moved, seconded and approved the contract by majority vote. Staff will coordinate outreach, data collection and the consultant's schedule, and return to the council with prioritized recommendations and proposed projects for funding.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said Midwest City has extensive park needs and that a professionally prepared, system-level master plan will provide the evidence-based prioritization needed to spend voter-approved sales-tax funding effectively. The plan will also cover trail connections and level-of-service considerations to identify gaps and duplications.