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Area Plan Commission, Tippecanoe County Parks begin long-overdue county parks plan update
Summary
Area Plan Commission staff and Tippecanoe County Parks presented an update to a county parks plan last adopted in 2000, opened a countywide survey (QR codes and links) through December 31 (year unspecified), and said trail connectivity and awareness of the county park system are early priorities.
The Area Plan Commission (APC) and Tippecanoe County Parks staff opened a public update to the county parks plan, saying the last substantial update occurred in October 1999 and was adopted in 2000. Michael Thompson, a transportation planner working on the project, told commissioners the county has changed substantially since then and the update will improve forecasting, resource allocation and grant-readiness.
"The last parks plan update occurred in October 1999 and was adopted in 2000," Thompson said, arguing the plan is "well overdue." He said the update aims to better position the county to apply for grants and to make more informed decisions about facility maintenance and property acquisitions.
Staff outlined the project team (APC management including a director, assistant directors Amanda and Tim, planners and GIS staff, and a contact at Tippecanoe County Parks) and displayed maps showing county-owned parkland, local land trust properties, Department of Natural Resources and university-managed lands, and other publicly accessible open spaces. Thompson emphasized the county parks plan will focus on county-owned properties while noting several other public-access sites available to residents.
APC staff has opened an online survey with active QR codes and links; it is available to both residents and nonresidents and will remain open until December 31 (the transcript does not specify the year). The survey is collecting demographic information, respondents' home locations and facility awareness. Thompson said early results show most respondents originate from Lafayette, and that Jackson Township had not yet produced responses, indicating outreach gaps.
Thompson said the most common request from respondents so far is trail connectivity. "That's probably the number 1 thing that we're here," he said, describing repeated calls for new trail segments and connections to create longer loops and extended trips.
Next steps include continuing analysis of survey results, planning targeted public engagement (in-person sessions or group-specific outreach depending on the data), drafting the parks plan, and submitting it for approval. Staff pledged to keep the commission updated as those steps proceed.
The county is soliciting additional public input through the posted QR codes and emailed links; staff said the survey also collects contact information from people willing to provide further feedback after the survey closes.
