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Parks and Recreation reports rising participation, new amenities and a December master-plan update
Summary
The department reported increased participation in seasonal events and programs, completion of concession-trailer permitting and infrastructure, Farmers Market metrics and several grant-funded park improvements. The director said a Dec. 2 master-plan update for the board is scheduled and community meetings will continue in January.
Goochland County Parks and Recreation briefed the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 6, reporting rising participation in events and programs, a series of new amenities and a schedule for the parks and recreation master plan.
Director Tom Koch said the department recorded 50,426 facility visitors (July'024 Sept.; counters in place for some but not all sites) and noted strong attendance for seasonal events'1fireworks, summer concerts, Ag Fair (1,740 attendees) and a fall festival (about 2,500 attendees). The department ran a 22-week Farmers Market (May'0Sept.) with roughly 6,000 visitors and 30 vendors.
Koch outlined several operational and capital items: two staff members hold certified playground-inspector credentials; the concession trailer completed Virginia Department of Health permitting and a docking station (power, potable/non-potable water and gray-water disposal) was installed; the department is expanding a disc-golf course from nine holes toward 18; and Virginia Department of Forestry grant funds purchased picnic tables, trash cans and pet-waste stations at multiple parks.
Program metrics: the after-school RecZone program currently reports 101 unique registered participants across three sites, and the department averaged daily program attendance by site. Senior-program participation has expanded and Tai Chi and chair pickleball are among the most popular offerings.
Master plan timeline: Koch said he will return Dec. 2 with a full update, schedule one-on-one briefings with each board member in December, present to the Recreation Advisory Committee and Planning Commission in January, hold a public community-connect event in January, and anticipate bringing a final draft to the board for consideration in February.
Upcoming events: Comic Con (Nov. 8), Turkey Trot two-mile race at Tucker Park (Nov. 15), second annual holiday market (Nov. 22) and the holiday tree lighting (Dec. 5).
No board vote was taken; Koch invited board feedback and community participation in the master-plan process.
