HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9697 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9697
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 6, 2015
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•a SUBJECT: 2015 PARK, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN
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The purpose of this Informal Report is to describe the basis of the Parks and Community Services
Department Park, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan (Master Plan) and background for
development of the 2015 Master Plan.
Background
Beginning with the Kessler Plan in 1909, the development of the City of Fort Worth park system
has been guided by formally adopted comprehensive master plans. Subsequent plans have
included the 1930 Hare and Hare Master Plan, a 1957 update of the Hare and Hare Master Plan
and more recently, the 1998 and 2004 Park, Recreation and Open Space Master Plans, and the
2010 update.
The first City of Fort Worth Comprehensive Plan, which serves as the umbrella plan for all City
services, growth and development was adopted in the year 2000. Since that time the Parks and
Community Services Department Park, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan has been
incorporated into the City's Comprehensive Plan (by reference).
On May 18, 2004, the Parks and Community Services Advisory Board endorsed the current
Master Plan, and the official plan was adopted by the City Council on June 22, 2004. The 2010
Master Plan Update was endorsed by the Park Board on January 27, 2010 and adopted by the
City Council on February 9, 2010.
Purpose
The 2015 Master Plan includes an updated park facility inventory, current demographics,
population growth projections to 2025, an assessment of current trends, and revised park
classifications to more effectively define park and open space uses and development and to
strategically address population growth in the urban core. Additionally, the 2015 Master Plan
includes a geographically defined level of service for dog parks, regional skate parks and
universal playgrounds. The completion and endorsement of the new Master Plan establishes a
basic guide for Fort Worth's park system for the next ten years.
As the Department seeks to obtain more outside funding for capital improvements, renovations,
operations and maintenance, it is vital that a comprehensive Park, Recreation, and Open Space
Master Plan be in place which establishes the City's priorities for the distribution of limited
resources. In order to remain competitive for state grants administered by the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department (TPWD), the City's Park, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan must be
current and must be updated every five years. Further, in order to remain competitive for the
newly scheduled March 2015 state grant cycle, the City must submit an updated master plan to
the TPWD by January 31, 2015.
Development Process
The 2015 Master Plan was guided by the Park Board, involved a public input process and
incorporates policy mandates, industry trends, resource management and asset sustainability
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9697
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 6, 2015
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strategies developed by department staff. The final adopted Plan sets forth local standards with a
basis of established national standards from the National Recreation and Park Association.
Citizen input was obtained from a variety of sources including the public input meetings held in
the development of the 2014 Bond Program, a comprehensive Needs Assessment (citizen
survey) conducted in 2013 which incorporated a city-wide perspective as well as perspectives
and interest at the five (5) Park Planning District levels, online individual surveys available on the
City's website and further disbursed and promoted by partner agencies such as Downtown Fort
Worth, Inc. In addition a city-wide Master Plan report out meeting was held on November 1 , 2014
where at attendees were afforded the opportunity to log on to a virtual interest survey; the online
survey was further posted through November 15, 2014. In response to expressed interest from
the North Fort Worth Alliance and the Central City Redevelopment Committee additional
meetings were held to address specific issues in the rapidly growing areas to the north in Park
Planning District 5 and the Central City/Urban Core in Park Planning District 4.
Work sessions were held by the Parks and Community Services Advisory Board on September
24, 2014, November 19, 2014 and December 17, 2014 to review the Master Plan development
process and provide input and guidance to staff.
On December 17, 2014 the Parks and Community Services Advisory Board unanimously
endorsed the recommended 2015 Master Plan and on December 19, 2014 the City Plan
Commission unanimously endorsed the Master Plan. A draft of the Master Plan is currently
posted on the Parks and Community Services' webpage.
A resolution to adopt the 2015 Park, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan is scheduled for
the January 27, 2015 City Council agenda. Should you have any questions regarding this
Informal Report, the 2015 Master Plan development process or the elements of the
recommended Plan, please contact Parks and Community Services Director Richard Zavala,
Assistant City Manager Susan Alanis or me.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS