Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on a Recommendation to City Council for Approval of the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, Trails and Streetscape Master Plan
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Direction for Strategic & Economic Growth
Enhance the Quality of Life in McKinney
MEETING DATE: April 27, 2017
DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation Department
CONTACT: Ryan Mullins, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation
Jenny Baker, Parks, Planning and Development Manager
RECOMMENDED MCDC ACTION:
• Approve recommendation to City Council for approval and adoption of the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, Trails and Streetscape Master Plan.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• The almost two year update to the Parks Master Plan is nearing completion. The final Plan is being presented for your approval.
• The Plan is comprised of eight Chapters:
1. Executive Summary
2. Introduction
3. Context
4. Parks & Recreation
5. Aquatics & Indoor Recreation
6. Trails & Bikeways
7. Gateways, Portals & Streetscapes
8. Implementation
9. Appendices
• A primary theme that the Plan focuses on is the creek/greenbelt system that runs through McKinney - Wilson Creek, East Fork of the Trinity and Honey Creek as well as smaller tributaries and creeks that are connected. These creek corridors, with their natural beauty, serve as the backbone of the entire parks and trails system, creating a system of linear parks that are designated as signature and greenbelt parks, also called “Pearls” and “Gems” in this park plan.
• By taking advantage of a natural environment that few other cities have, McKinney can establish itself as not only having an exceptional parks and trails system, but also as a desirable place to live and work.
• With the growth that McKinney is experiencing and will experience, this Plan establishes parkland needs over the next 10 years and provides recommendations for developing our park system and park facilities to accommodate the future.
• This Plan also acknowledges the importance of our existing park infrastructure and includes recommendations for improvements to 10 of our existing, older parks.
• Other items of importance are the creation of a Gateways, Portals and Streetscape Chapter to better identify our city boundaries and sense of arrival and to capitalize on natural features such as enhanced bridge crossings that can serve in both a functional and aesthetic capacity.
• The Implementation portion of the Plan lays out a guide on how to develop our parks system over the next 0-5 years, 5-10 years and beyond, by establishing priority parks and recreation projects, land acquisition needs and trail development along with approximate costs for establishing budgets.
• The next steps for presentation and approval of this Plan are proposed below:
1. 5/1 - presentation to City Council for discussion
2. 5/11 - presentation to Park Board and requesting approval
3. 5/16 - presentation to City Council and requesting approval
• Throughout this process, the Visioning Advisory Committee established by City Council (originally comprised of three members each of Park Board, MCDC and Council) has held numerous meetings and has acted as the sounding board for the creation of this Plan. The Plan has been vetted through this committee prior to being presented for discussion and subsequent approvals.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• A list of the meetings held up to this point is below:
• September 28, 2015 - Vision Committee Meeting
• October-December 2015 - Telephone and Online Surveys Conducted
• October 26-30, 2015 - Vision Event Week meetings with Sports Groups, Governmental Agencies, Special Interest Groups, and City Staff
• October 26, 2015 - Work Session with City Council
• October 28, 2015 - Community Input Meeting
• October 29, 2015 - Joint Meeting with MCDC and Parks Board
• February 27, 2016 - Vision Committee Facility Tour
• March 16, 2016 - Vision Committee meeting
• June 29, 2016 - Vision Committee meeting
• July 18, 2016 - City Council work session
• September 21, 2016 - Vision Committee meeting
• October 24, 2016 - Council work session
• March 22, 2017 - Vision Committee meeting
• April 10, 2017 - Vision Committee meeting
• April 13, 2017 - Joint MCDC/Park Board meeting
Our Park Plan is being updated concurrently with the City’s overall Comprehensive Plan update, which is being managed through the Planning Department. Both of these plans are being coordinated in conjunction with each other.
The Comprehensive Plan breaks out the city into 16 different districts, knows as Preferred Scenarios. Our plan also uses this district framework for laying out and planning for our parks, trails and streetscapes. Each of the 16 districts is connected through our trails system in addition to either having a designation for a signature or greenbelt park, depending on the district location.
• The existing Park Master Plan was adopted in 2009.