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Johnson County parks director lays out legacy plan priorities, warns 15‑year program is underfunded
Summary
Johnson County Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Stewart presented an updated legacy plan highlighting land acquisitions, trail expansion, regional park ambitions and a $279 million annual economic benefit estimate — while saying the plan is currently only about 46% funded.
Jeff Stewart, director of the Johnson County Parks and Recreation District, told the Planning Commission the district oversees nearly 11,000 acres of parkland and dozens of facilities and programs.
"JCPRD owns, manages, and cares for almost 11,000 acres of public, park property these days," Stewart said, citing about 157 miles of trails, 25 recreation and culture facilities and thousands of annual programs. He told commissioners a Trust for Public Land analysis estimates the district’s services produce about "$279,000,000" in annual economic value for the community.
Stewart described four elements of the updated legacy plan — providing a thriving park system, inspiring play/culture/education, fostering stewardship and advancing organizational readiness — and gave project examples. He said Camp Branch Park, a regional property of "230 plus" acres in southeast Johnson County, is moving toward a phase‑one set of infrastructure and trail improvements.
On funding, Stewart warned the legacy plan is not fully funded: "we're about 46% funded, for all the needs that are identified in the legacy plan," he said. To close that gap, staff will pursue grants, partnerships and other funding tools; Stewart noted a recent public survey in which approximately 76% of respondents said they would support a small property‑tax adjustment (about 0.5 mil) to advance plan priorities.
Why it matters: The legacy plan guides JCPRD investments and county comprehensive‑plan coordination, including recommendations staff suggested the Planning Commission consider for a Chapter 5 update. The funding shortfall means many projects will require phased implementation or new revenue sources.
Next steps: Stewart and planning staff will continue engagement with municipalities and stakeholders as the commission and Board of County Commissioners consider plan‑level and zoning updates.
