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Anna advisory board reviews final 2050 parks, trails and recreation master plan; staff warn funding shortfall
Summary
Friese & Nichols presented the final 2050 parks, open-space, trails and recreation master plan; the board heard recommendations on parkland targets, trail expansion and programming and agreed to review a draft before forwarding a recommendation to city council in March. Staff cautioned the trail map exceeds available funding and noted some projects will likely require bond funding.
Wilson Kerr, project manager for Friese and Nichols, presented the final 2050 Parks, Open Space, Trails and Recreation Master Plan to the Anna Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on Tuesday, urging the board to recommend the plan move to city council for consideration.
Kerr told the board the planning effort included extensive public engagement and a household survey that produced about 814 responses. "We are coming towards the end of our parks and recreation planning process," he said, outlining three growth scenarios and a planning horizon that anticipates Anna will top 50,000 residents by 2035 and 85,000 by 2045.
The plan identifies six park classifications — HOA parks, neighborhood parks, community parks, regional parks, green belts/linear parks and special-use parks — and recommends a target level of service of roughly 11.5 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. Kerr summarized five strategic goals: proactively acquire parkland; enhance and diversify existing parks and amenities; expand the trail network and connectivity; broaden recreational opportunities for all ages including pursuit of a recreation center; and ensure parks are safe, welcoming and accessible.
Kerr described the implementation framework as phased — short term (1–3 years), midterm (4–7 years), long term (8–10+ years) and ongoing — with action items ranked in part by funding readiness. "We will go to council in March for a work session and adoption meeting," Kerr said, asking the board to review the draft before the council presentation.
Board members pressed staff for details about trail mileage and costs. A staff member cautioned that the trail map substantially exceeds available funding and that construction costs can be high: "There is way more trail on this map than we have funding for," the staff member said, adding that a 10-foot concrete trail can cost around $1,000,000 per mile depending on crossings and structures and that the map contains "probably 30 miles" of trail as drawn. The same staff member summarized developer funding tools and credits and described the park development fee formula: "$1,500 per single-family residential unit" and "$2,000 per multifamily unit," with developers able to build amenities in exchange for credits.
Board discussion emphasized prioritizing trail connections that serve schools and neighborhoods and the need to identify funding sources. Several members noted the park development fund and remaining bond balances are limited and that some of the larger projects will require voter-approved bonds or other funding mechanisms.
The board did not vote on the plan at the meeting. Members asked staff to provide the final draft and supporting materials in advance of a February meeting so the board can finalize recommendations ahead of the March council work session.
