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Goochland Parks and Recreation unveils master-plan survey results, seeks stronger school partnerships
Summary
The county's Parks and Recreation director summarized a year-long master-plan process, community survey findings and potential collaborations with schools including CTE and after-school programs.
Goochland County Parks and Recreation on Oct. 14 briefed the School Board on a master-plan update that includes a community survey, facility assessments and possible program partnerships with schools.
Tom Koch, director of Goochland County Parks and Recreation, told board members the division engaged an outside consultant, conducted a statistically valid survey and held stakeholder meetings to shape the plan. "The purpose of the plan is to create a long range or strategic vision and framework for assessing community needs, prioritizing capital improvements, and guiding development, maintenance and enhancement to parks and facilities," Koch said.
Why it matters: the department manages public recreation assets that are frequently used by schools and community groups; planned changes could affect field availability, programming and co-located school services.
Koch summarized survey and evaluation highlights: parks and recreation manages 10 sites countywide, maintains trails and fields, and received generally favorable ratings for maintenance in the community survey. The plan team performed facility condition assessments and identified aging infrastructure in older parks, limited inclusive playgrounds and opportunities to increase neighborhood connectivity. Key priorities cited by survey respondents included trails and natural areas, river access, pools and expanded special events.
Koch also described existing and potential school partnerships. Current collaborations include after-school RecZone programs at the elementary schools, use of athletic fields and gym space for youth sports and summer camp operations. Potential expansions discussed with division staff and CTE leaders include summer-school aftercare, CTE project work (for example carpentry or culinary projects), work-based learning and student volunteer opportunities. Koch said the department already employs roughly 30 students in seasonal and program roles annually and is exploring additional team-based youth programming.
Board members asked about equity of access in eastern parts of the county and whether the department can serve special-needs students in after-school offerings; Koch said those concerns are part of the master-plan conversation and noted staffing and facility constraints. He said the department will finalize a capital improvement plan that reflects community feedback and bring the draft plan to the Board of Supervisors in late 2025 or early 2026.
Ending: Koch said one more public engagement event is planned for November and the final master-plan draft will be completed after that input is incorporated. The department published the presentation and a feedback form online and invited community responses.
