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Parks & Recreation director outlines $27 million master plan, urges maintaining current service level
Summary
Parks & Recreation presenter Tom Cochran told the Houston County EDA the draft master plan — backed by 90 stakeholder group meetings and a statistically valid survey — recommends preserving 12.46 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents and advancing four conceptual park sites with an estimated cost of about $27 million for the four major concepts.
Tom Cochran, the presenter for the Parks & Recreation master plan, briefed the Houston County Economic Development Authority on a draft strategic blueprint that recommends holding the county's current level of service at 12.46 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents and advancing four conceptual park projects.
"We are at 12.46 acres per thousand right now," Cochran said, noting the national average is about 10.25. He told the authority the plan relies on extensive community engagement — roughly 90 stakeholder groups and a statistically valid survey that exceeded 300 responses — and that the team is recommending a 10‑year planning horizon to reflect the work and scope of the document.
Why it matters: Cochran said maintaining the county's level of service will require roughly 50 additional acres of parkland and priority investments in trails, ADA access, health and fitness amenities, and facilities that support everyday use. The proposals are intended to guide strategic decisions and funding requests, not to obligate immediate construction.
Cochran walked the board through four conceptual designs. Proposed improvements for Matthews Park include expanded hard‑surface paths for accessibility, improved parking and a natural‑play playground; Tucker Park would receive a reinforced kayak/canoe launch, an ADA fishing pier, flood‑resilient restrooms and pavilions and an elevated wooden overlook for river views. At the Gushnell Sports Complex and former elementary school site staff recommended consolidating fields and support facilities to improve maintenance efficiency and build a new concession/restroom structure to support athletics and large events. On the east side, a county‑owned parcel on Hackett Road was proposed for a public‑private indoor sports facility (roughly 10–12 basketball courts) aimed at sports tourism, plus trails, dog parks, and rentable pavilions.
On cost, Cochran gave an order‑of‑magnitude figure: "If you were to put all of the CIPs ... into one bucket" for the four conceptual plans, "the number fell right around $27,000,000 for all of it." He added that A&E and construction contingencies could add roughly 15–20 percent to that figure.
Board members asked detailed operational and budgetary questions. When asked how the Parks & Recreation budget feeds these proposals, Cochran said the department's operating budget is roughly in the $2 million range but that much of that covers grounds and routine maintenance rather than program expansion. He recommended the county evaluate grounds staffing and present a five‑year funding outline after adoption.
Cochran also discussed regional trail opportunities such as the Fall Line/Capitol Trail initiative, noting PlanRVA is coordinating conversations that could someday link the county to a broader east–west trail network. He said some trail connections will depend on private landowner willingness and early interlocal coordination.
What's next: Cochran told the EDA he will present the final master plan to the Board of Supervisors on May 5 for consideration and possible adoption. He said staff can email the approximately 180‑page draft and a 30‑page executive summary to authority members.
Ending: The EDA posed follow‑up questions about budget details, river access and next steps for funding; staff and Cochran agreed to provide the draft materials to members in advance of the Board of Supervisors hearing.
