Shawnee County Parks & Recreation launches master plan outreach; open house set for Feb. 4

Tim Laurent, Parks and Recreation, introduced a master-plan update from Landworks Studios and consultant staff, who summarized work completed in the initiation phase and next steps in public engagement and assessments.

A consultant on the team described a five-phase schedule and said the team will move from initiation into a discovery phase, with the goal of returning with a completed report in the fall. The consultants said they have completed a demographic profile and a review of existing plans, and that they are preparing a variety of engagement tools, including a mailed paper survey (with online and phone response options), an online engagement platform and multiple language supports.

The team announced an in-person open house on Feb. 4 at Big Gage Shelter in Gage Park from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and said park and facility assessments will start in February (indoor facilities) and continue through March and April (parks). Consultants expect stakeholder focus groups in March–April, a statistically valid survey response set by March, and a full survey-results report by mid-April. The project website was described as launching within days and available for six months for resident input.

Consultants said they will coordinate promotion with Parks and Recreation marketing using email lists and social media; they noted email outreach to more than 8,000 addresses as one channel. Commissioners asked that the Gage Park Improvement Authority and the zoo be included as stakeholders; consultants confirmed both groups are on the list and the zoo had briefed the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board earlier in the month.

Consultants said they expect to return to the board at the close of the discovery phase (likely early–mid May) and continue toward a fall deliverable. The board thanked the presenters and moved on to public comments and adjournment.