Acknowledgements Georgetown-Scott County Parks and Recreation Master Plan County Judge Executive George H. Lusby Previous Magistrates at the County Magistrates start of the Project John T. Hoffman Bobby T. Rankin Jerry Bruin Stewart Hughes Patsy Brooking Rich Jim McClanahan Gary Allen Perry Chuck Tackett Anna Isaacs Tom Prather Previous Council Members at Georgetown City Council the start of the Project Karen Tingle-Sames - Mayor David Lusby Everett Varney – Mayor Jim Barnes Mark Singer Timothy Jenkins Renie Cooney Marvin Thompson Bias Tilford Stephen W. Glass Chad Wallace Donald Hawkins Parks and Recreation Board Jerry Graves Terri Sutton Bill Hamilton Suellyn Warring Robert Milligan Tom Willett Charlie Moore Bill Wilson Melody Palmer Parks and Recreation Staff Lois Holmes, Director Master Plan Steering Committee Andrew Ardary Jim Lokovich Patti Riddell Douglas Evans Todd MacMillan John Simpson Michael Goff Bob Milligan Terri Sutton Bill Hamilton Sherri Nicholas Chad Wallace John T. Hoffman Eve Oakley Bob Warring Mayor Jared Hollon Miriam Reese Tom Willett Bob Leonard Zan Rexroat i Consultant Team Brandstetter Carroll Inc. Patrick D. Hoagland, ASLA – Project Manager 2360 Chauvin Drive Wayne Bain, CPRP Lexington, Kentucky 40517 Mark E. Horman, ASLA (859) 268-1933 VOICE P.J. Feistritzer (800) 368-1933 Christian Comer (859) 268-3341 FAX Lynda Gates Architect’s Project No. 06059 Ronald Vine - Leisure Vision, Inc. August, 2007 ii Georgetown-Scott County Parks and Recreation Master Plan Georgetown-Scott County, Kentucky Executive Summary A Bold Vision The Need for a Plan You need not travel very far to witness The Georgetown and Scott County Parks and outstanding examples of park systems which are Recreation Board completed a comprehensive the direct result of a bold vision developed long Parks and Recreation Master Plan in the year ago and implemented over a long period of time. 1996. One of the highest priorities at that time The City of Louisville, Kentucky brought was for the acquisition of land for parks and landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmsted to the open space primarily due to the rapid growth of City in 1891 to begin the process of developing the County population. The City and County a long-term plan for parks. His firm was have made great strides towards improving the employed by the City over a 50 year period to parks and recreation system since the 1996 Plan implement a very bold vision that now results in was completed. Some of these improvements an outstanding system of active and passive include: parks throughout a community. • Developed The Pavilion, Across the Ohio River in Cincinnati, the bold vision of George Kessler in 1907 resulted in the • Purchased land adjacent to Marshall City’s park system recently being labeled one of Park for the recently opened Suffoletta only three cities in the country with a four star Family Aquatic Center, rating by the Trust for Public Land. This does not include the outstanding park system that has • Purchased land and developed the Scott been developed by surrounding Hamilton County Community Park, County. Chicago Architect and Urban Planner • Purchased 127 additional acres at Great Daniel H. Burnham best summed up the Crossing Park, philosophy of a bold vision by the following quote “Make no little plans. They have no • Developed the McCracken Creek Trail magic to stir men’s blood and probably and made plans to expand trails themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; throughout the Georgetown area, aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never • Purchased land and developed a Master die, but long after we are gone will be a living Plan for the Lisle Road Park and Soccer thing, asserting itself with ever – growing Complex, insistency. Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things that would • Developed the Buffalo Springs Park in stagger us. Let your watchword be order and Stamping Ground, your beacon beauty. Think big.” • Developed the Ed Davis Park and Learning Center, With this preface, the leadership of Georgetown • Developed large playgrounds at and Scott County, the Parks and Recreation Brooking Park and Ed Davis Park. Board, the Master Plan Steering Committee, and Although much has been accomplished, much of the Consultant, Brandstetter Carroll Inc., present the land that was purchased has not yet been this bold vision for the long-term future of parks developed into public use parks and the and recreation in Georgetown and Scott County. population continues to grow. The population iii nearly doubled from 1980 to 2005 and is 1. The Pavilion, Brooking Park, Cardome Park, expected to continue to grow dramatically by the Great Crossing Park and Scott County year 2030. The Georgetown and Scott County Community Park are the most used parks. Parks and Recreation Board has a very difficult task in trying to keep up with this rapid 2. 87% of persons responding to the survey population growth to provide the quality of visited a park at least once in the past year. services that they have maintained and 3. Approximately 85% of the households that developed over the last several years. Therefore, use parks rated the existing facilities as it is imperative that Georgetown and Scott “Excellent” or “Good”. County continue to review and update the Parks and Recreation Master Plan every five to six 4. 36% of the respondents have participated in years to evaluate the progress made toward programs offered by the GSCPRD in the implementation of the Master Plan and to re- past year. evaluate the goals, objectives and strategies to accomplish the bold and long term vision that is 5. The outdoor facilities with the highest unmet in this Plan. demand include: A Citizen Driven Plan Outdoor swimming pools Nature areas/ nature parks The Plan is truly based on the community needs. The public was involved in the process in the Hiking and bike trails following methods: Small neighborhood parks 1. Two public workshops at the beginning of Amphitheater the process. Fishing access areas 2. A Community Attitude and Interest Survey 6. Programs and activities residents would that was completed by approximately 407 participate in more often if offered include: households. Bike and walking trail use 3. An active Parks and Recreation Master Plan Steering Committee. Visiting nature areas 4. Meetings with several interest groups Running or walking including the Park and Recreation Board Fishing, canoeing, and boating members, staff, youth athletic organizations, coaches, community leaders, Georgetown Swimming College, and community groups. Community special events and festivals 5. Comprehensive presentations in public forums. 7. Additional baseball and softball fields are needed to support the strong participation of What Georgetown and Scott County these activities. Residents Told Us 8. There is a general shortage of park land Through the many opportunities for throughout the County. community input, the citizens’ needs were determined. The following is a brief summary 9. There is a strong desire for more open space of the needs as communicated in the various and land to be preserved as future green methods: space and natural areas. 10. The populace understands that as the County population continues to grow, there will be iv an increased demand for park land, Vision Statement recreation facilities, and programs. A dedicated and professional team committed to 11. There is a very strong demand indicated in leading the community to make Parks and all methods of public input for trails Recreation the community’s connection to a throughout the County. prosperous future, through equitable levels of quality neighborhoods and community parks and Future Vision of Parks and Recreation recreation services that enhance quality of life in Georgetown and Scott County and promote a thriving community. The vision for the future for Parks and Mission Statement Recreation in Georgetown and Scott County, as We create and connect communities through determined from the surveys, workshops, people, parks and programs. The theme of community input, and the Consultant’s connections illustrates the mission of the recommendations, include the following Department to: components: Connect people to the larger 1. Expand the Park and Recreation System to community develop new parks in underserved areas and developing areas of the County. Connect people to each other 2. Land will be acquired to be preserved as Connect people to a healthy life style open space. Connect people to nature 3. Develop a system of greenways, hike and Connect significant places in the bike ways and linkages that connect the County parks, schools, playgrounds, neighborhood and green spaces throughout the County. New Parks and Land Acquisition 4. Upgrade older facilities in existing parks and 1. The GSCPRD currently planned on provide new and improved facilities that will developing 147 acres of land already owned enhance the function and park experience. by the City, County or GSCPRD. 5. Maintain the high level of cooperation and 2. The plan recommends the development of coordination between the Parks and 188-218 acres of new parks throughout the Recreation Department, Schools, County. Georgetown College, Cities, and the County, 3. The County should establish a goal of 50% and other organizations to maximize the use of the park land owned to be developed. and cost effectiveness of operating facilities The remainder would serve as open space and programs to serve the residents needs. and green space for the future. 6. Provide coordinated, consistent, and 4. The new parks that are proposed would be a attractive entrances to the parks with new mixture of neighborhood parks, community signage and entrance features. parks, county parks and special use parks 7. Expand the Pavilion to better serve the that would be strategically located to needs of the citizens as the population provide convenient access to all residents of continues to grow.