Consultants present Norman parks master plan; public engagement shows strong support for trails and natural areas

Molly Hansen of RDG Planning and Design presented the final draft of the Norman comprehensive plan update and the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan at the City Council study session on Jan. 7, 2025, saying the effort was coordinated across seven elements of the broader AIM Norman infrastructure initiative.

The presentation summarized inventory work at more than 60 parks and cultural facilities, public engagement and a recreation program analysis done with PROS Consulting. Hansen told council members that consultants collected 386 responses to park questions and that the two clearest themes were native plants and a comprehensive trail network. "Trails, can't say it enough, everybody wants them," Hansen said.

The consulting team presented program and facility analyses that, they said, align with National Park and Rec Association standards and show a healthy distribution of services. Recommendations for program growth included adult fitness, environmental education, community gardens, teen programming, affordable childcare and adaptive programs. The team also proposed a program classification framework (essential, important, value-add) to inform pricing and budgeting.

On funding and policy, the presentation urged a review of long-standing rules, including the Parkland Dedication Ordinance (last updated in 1976), and the consideration of a commercial development impact fee to support large capital items such as a comprehensive trail system and ongoing maintenance. Hansen noted the current residential park development impact fee is $75 per dwelling unit (adopted in 1994) and gave a recent example of a new playground that cost about $217,000 to illustrate funding gaps.

Consultants described a prioritization model that weighted a 2022 statistically valid community survey, qualitative public input and staff expertise. On that model, trails and pathways scored at the top of facility priorities. Facility assessments — performed as blind walkthroughs by park staff — highlighted variation across centers and supplied condition data to guide investment and maintenance decisions.

Hansen read a proposed new mission for the Parks and Recreation Department: "Our mission is to provide the community of Norman with safe, inclusive, and accessible parks, recreation, and cultural experiences, and enhance the quality of life for residents of all ages." She also previewed updated branding and recommended lifting unfinished goals from the 2009 master plan into the new plan's implementation list.

Hansen told the council the park subcommittee had "voted to accept the content of this plan," and that next steps include formal consideration by the parks board and later by the City Council. The plan also calls for creating a trails master plan and coordinating goals with transportation and stormwater efforts to maximize synergies.

Council members asked about staffing and maintenance implications, internet access at recreation centers, and the legality and feasibility of a commercial impact fee. Jason (parks staff) said options for funding and implementation would be brought forward for legal review and council consideration.

The parks subcommittee's acceptance of the plan content was presented as a procedural milestone; no council vote on the master plan was recorded at the session. The parks board and council are scheduled to consider the draft in subsequent meetings.