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Wellington previews draft parks and community center plan after extensive public outreach
Summary
Town staff and consultant BerryDunn presented a draft PROS (parks, recreation, open space and trails) master plan and community center feasibility study, saying growth and limited indoor space leave many resident needs unmet and recommending phased capital and program actions.
Wellington trustees on Tuesday heard a first-draft presentation of the town's parks, recreation, open space and trails (PROS) master plan and a community center feasibility study, which consultants and staff described as data-driven and based on unusually high public engagement.
"The result is a plan that is thoughtful, actionable, data driven, and deeply community informed," said Billy Cooksey, the town's director of parks and recreation, introducing the draft work compiled with consultant BerryDunn. Staff and the consultant said the outreach effort produced more than 61,000 touch points in a town of about 12,000 residents and included a statistically valid survey and stakeholder meetings.
The draft identifies limited indoor space as the system's chief constraint and finds that youth sports account for roughly 85% of registered participation, creating an imbalance in program diversity. Presenters said residents want more indoor programming, aquatics, year-round wellness options, trail connectivity and multigenerational events.
"If growth outpaces infrastructure and service planning, we risk falling behind community expectations," Cooksey said, urging trustees to use the draft as a basis for further input.
Trustees pressed staff on specifics. Trustee Blackstone asked what non‑sports youth programs the plan envisions; a BerryDunn presenter pointed to day camps, STEM/STEAM offerings and arts programs as examples. Trustee Cannon asked about cost-recovery benchmarks after staff noted Wellington's cost recovery for recreation services is about 11%; a consultant said comparable communities of similar size often sit near a 30% median but stressed local policy choices inform final targets.
The draft also flags fragmented trail connections—barriers such as I-25, Highway 1 and a railroad—and recommends targeted investments and a phased capital improvement program (CIP). Staff said a CIP and an implementation plan tied to the master plan will be returned to the board next month.
Board members raised operational questions ranging from grant and partnership opportunities with neighboring jurisdictions to concerns about noise and siting for outdoor courts. Presenters said BerryDunn will continue to support grant identification and that town staff are exploring partnership and rebate options to help residents access services not currently available in Wellington.
The board took public feedback and directed staff to incorporate trustee questions into future iterations. No formal action was taken on the draft; staff emphasized the document remains in an editing phase and will return with more detailed CIP recommendations and implementation steps.
