Washington Department Working on Parks, Recreation Plan

Washington Parks Department committee members Thursday night were updated on the status of the parks and recreation comprehensive plan.

“So far, as it stands, we’re looking for the plan to consist of 20 chapters,” said Darren Dunkle, parks director. Of those, he said the first four chapters are complete.

The chapters include a community profile, a review and outline of the 1990 parks and recreation master plan, objective/practical visions and contradictions.

Dunkle, who said he has been working on the plan since he began his job in last December, is working on Chapter 5 of the plan — public involvement.

The plan is separate from the city’s comprehensive plan, but will use some of the input from the city’s plan.

The purpose of the plan is to serve as a tool for the development and improvement of the parks system, as well as to establish goals. The plan will span 20 years.

Other topics the plan will cover include the level of service and the statewide comprehensive recreation plan that the state of Missouri puts together, which includes guidelines on how many facilities a city should have based on population.

The plan also will review existing parks and trails, highlight what new facilities or amenities need to be placed in the parks, as well as land acquisition policies and procedures and development. It will establish criteria for designs and themes, natural resources and environmental resource management.

Urban forestry and beautification, maintenance operations and standards, recreation program services, partnership opportunities, historic cultural and arts, staffing and certifications, funding, public safety, and park definitions and classifications all will be included.

Dunkle said the creation of plan is going well so far and that he expects it to be completed and approved by the city council in December.

The plan project schedule is broken into four phases including review, public engagement, analysis and plan report.