Consultant presents Manchester Parks & Recreation Master Plan; council asked to consider adoption

Jim Holtz of MSA Professional Services presented the draft Parks & Recreation Master Plan to the Committee of the Whole, describing an inventory of existing facilities, recommended policies and park‑by‑park improvements and asking councilors to review the document before a planned council consideration date.

"I'm Jim Holtz with MSA Professional Services; we're an engineering and planning consultants," Holtz told the committee as he opened the presentation and outlined the plan's chapters. He said the parks commission has reviewed the draft and "it's their recommendation that the council adopt this" plan as the next step.

The plan lists six overarching goals, including ensuring safe access to high‑quality parks regardless of income or location; keeping facilities responsive to current trends; coordinating park development with schools and other public organizations; promoting trails and nonmotorized connections; supporting adequate staffing for maintenance and operations; and preserving natural spaces while linking some projects to stormwater management.

Holtz highlighted systemwide recommendations such as mapping 5‑ and 10‑minute walking service areas to identify underserved neighborhoods, increasing accessible infrastructure (sidewalks and bike lanes) to connect parks to residential areas, and developing a trails plan to reduce reliance on private vehicles. He noted opportunities to pursue funding tied to multiuse projects that combine recreation and stormwater improvements.

Holtz also reviewed park‑specific proposals. For Bone Park he recommended adding a splash pad tied to pool filtration, extending trails and replacing restrooms with an attached pavilion. At Central Park the plan calls for resurfacing basketball/tennis courts and adding pickleball courts to meet continuing local demand. Denton Park recommendations include a small pavilion on the existing slab and upgraded playground surfacing. Shelly Memorial Park includes suggested lowering a section of trail (staff noted an approximately 150‑foot segment) to relieve backwater and reduce localized flooding. The plan also includes recommendations for Whitewater/riverfront improvements, a pedestrian bridge near the boat ramp, and possible dredging and an urban fisheries grant application if the city pursues long‑term lake work.

Holtz said staff and the parks commission had incorporated comments received so far and invited councilors to submit further questions to staff. "If you can get this back questions to Doug in the next two weeks we would like to have a council accept the plan at the meeting on the 20th," he said, asking for a timetable for final consideration.

City staff present (including Doug and Tim) confirmed they are available to field follow‑up questions. No formal vote occurred at the committee meeting; staff asked the council to review the draft and expect to return it for council action in the coming meeting cycle.

Next steps: councilors were asked to send comments to staff within two weeks so the city can place the plan on the council agenda for potential acceptance on the 20th.