TITLE
Title
REVIEW AND ADOPT PARKS MASTER PLAN
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Dwight Godwin
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BACKGROUND
Background
The Guilford County Parks, Trails, and Open Space Comprehensive Master Plan serves as a 10-year blueprint to guide the future of recreation, open space, and trail development across the County. The plan’s purpose is to ensure equitable access to high-quality parks, trails, and open spaces for all residents, regardless of location, and to integrate a variety of recreation opportunities such as trails, athletic fields, aquatic facilities, camping, and fishing. It also aims to strengthen partnerships and identify sustainable funding strategies to support long-term improvements.
A consultant team was selected in summer 2023, and the planning process officially began in fall 2023 with an estimated 14-month project timeline. The work is organized into four major phases: (1) inventory and analysis of existing resources, (2) needs assessment informed by data and community input, (3) development of a guiding vision and goals, and (4) preparation of detailed recommendations and implementation strategies.
In 2023, the Parks Department launched an extensive community engagement initiative to inform the plan, beginning with public input at the Bur-Mil Park Fall Fest. Throughout 2024, staff and consultants gathered feedback through community workshops, online surveys, stakeholder meetings, and social media outreach. Engagement events were held countywide, including at Bur-Mil Park, Peeler Recreation Center, the High Point Public Library, Guilford County DSS, the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, High Point University, and Northeast Park in Gibsonville.
Overall, the Parks, Trails, and Open Space Comprehensive Master Plan provides a proactive, data-driven approach to managing and enhancing the County’s recreation system. It promotes equity in access, strengthens collaboration with municipal and nonprofit partners, and positions Guilford County to leverage funding opportunities while ensuring that near-term investments align with a long-term, strategic vision for community recreation and open space.
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Adopt the Parks Master Plan, to include implementation as an Fiscal Year 2027 budget priority and consideration of full-time and part-time staffing needs, and direct staff to create a funding and sustainability plan as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget preparation.
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