Suffolk presents Parks & Recreation master plan update; aims for statistically valid public input

Mark Froelow, director of Suffolk’s Department of Parks and Recreation, updated the City Council on the department’s master plan process and public-engagement strategy. Froelow said the city has engaged consultants (Barry Dunn with subconsultant CHA and ETC) to inventory facilities and programs, analyze levels of service and conduct a statistically valid survey as part of a master plan due to council for review in June 2026.

"Our goal is to get 300 completed surveys back," Froelow said, explaining ETC will mail surveys with multiple response modes (paper, online, phone) and follow up with additional mailings if initial returns fall short. He described community engagement already completed at events such as Peanut Fest and planned pop-up events at the Grand Illumination and a senior holiday gala.

Froelow detailed interactive engagement tools: a Social Pinpoint site with an idea wall, a $100 budget-prioritization exercise that asks respondents to allocate funds across amenities, and a mapping tool that lets residents place pins to identify where amenities are needed. Consultants will also map service radii (for example how many people a playground should serve), assess facility condition to identify upgrades, and evaluate programming and staffing to determine gaps in serving different populations.

Council questions focused on stakeholder definitions and survey representativeness. Froelow said stakeholders include youth athletic associations, conservation groups and tribal partners (which he named), and said consultants will ensure representation across election boroughs and can provide the council with a stakeholder list on request. The council thanked staff for the work and encouraged completion of the outreach and analysis for the June 2026 report.