Table of Contents REVISED.PMD

League City Parks and Open Space Master Plan ** CONTENTSCONTENTS 0. EXECUTIVE SUMMARYI ................................................ i 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 1 2. PLANNING FRAMEWORK ............................................ 5 2.1 Planning Process ........................................................................ 5 2.2 Planning Areas ........................................................................... 7 2.3 Parks Inventory .......................................................................... 8 2.4 Park Typology........................................................................... 15 3. NEEDS ASSESSMENT................................................. 29 3.1 Demand-Based Needs: Resident Survey .................................. 29 3.2 Resource-Based Needs: Physical Resources............................. 41 3.3 Standards-Based Needs: Level of Service (LOS) ..................... 45 4. PLANNING FOR 2025 ................................................. 63 4.1 2025 Park Needs ....................................................................... 64 4.2 System of Trails Concept ......................................................... 70 4.3 String of Lakes Concept........................................................... 79 5. IMPLEMENTATION ..................................................... 85 5.1 Financing .................................................................................. 87 5.2 Implementing Policies and Actions ........................................ 93 5.3 Prioritization of Needs ............................................................ 99 A. APPENDICES ............................................................ 101 A.1 Demographics ........................................................................ 102 A.2 Survey Data ............................................................................ 104 League City Parks and Open Space Master Plan ++ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS City Council Planning Department, • Jerry Shults, Mayor Parks Planning Division • Tad Nelson, Council Position 1 • Susan Reid, AICP, Parks Planner • Mike Barber, Council Position 2 • Linda Lindquist, Administrative Technician • Thomas Cones, Council Position 3 Public Works • Katie Benoit, Council Position 4 • Christopher C. Peifer, Director • Rusty Tidwell, Council Position 5 and Mayor Pro-Tem Parks and Recreation Department • Jon Keeney, Council Position 6 • Chien Wei, Parks Operations Superinten- • Jim Nelson, Council Position 7 dent Parks Board Engineering Department • Max Blansit, President • Jackie L. Murphy, P.E., City Engineer • Michael Adams GIS Division, Engineering Department • Henry Dugie • Rick Brezik, GIS Coordinator • Tim Kropp • Alice Whitehouse, GIS Technician • Barbara Meeks • Joanna Sharp Economic Development Department • Doug Frazior, Economic Development Planning & Zoning Commission Coordinator • John Wycoff, Chairman • Lemuel Bottoms City Attorney • Chris Hullman • Arnold G. Polanco • William Koonce City Secretary • Floyd Mahanay • Barbara Long • Chris John Mallios • Bill Shirley Consultant Team • Rob Zeller Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC • Jonathan Smulian, FRTPI, Professional-in- City Administrator Charge • Charles “Chuck” Pinto • Paul M. Rookwood, ASLA, AICP, Special Planning & Development Advisor on Parks Systems • Mary Chambers, AICP, Director • Michael E. Olin, Planner DRAFT: 10/31/05 Chapter 0, Executive Summary i 00 EXECUTIVEEXECUTIVE SUMMARSUMMARYY In any successful and memorable city, parks and open space systems play a critical role in shaping the urban structure. As a green refuge in a sea of built development, they enhance the city’s image by protecting nature within the city , improve the quality of life for all citizens ,increase property values and make the city a better place to live, work, and play. League City is one of the most rapidly growing cities in the Houston metropoli- tan region. Today (2005) it has an estimated population of 62,500. In 2025 it is projected to have a population of 154,300. In 2004 the City approved a Com- prehensive Plan designed to guide the management of future growth and change. This plan was prepared with the participation of the public, an 18- citizen Steering Committee, the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City staff. One of the key recommendations of the plan was to prepare a new Parks Clear Creek Nature Park Master Plan; the previous plan having been prepared in 1995 when the population of the City was approximately 30,000. In the Comprehensive Plan the public envisioned that the City in 2025 would have a system of parks, open spaces, and public facilities linked by a network of paths and trails which would serve citizens of all age groups. It is this system which is the subject of this report. The report seeks to provide a growth management tool whereby the City can assess its needs over a twenty year period. It demonstrates how resources can be used in the most effective way to remedy deficiencies in the provision of parkland by acquiring, developing and managing land for different types of public parks that would serve all sections of the community. It also deals with the integration of private sector parks into the city’s park system. The plan is for a citywide system of parks, open space, and public facilities. The Helen’s Garden preparation of master plans for specific sites will follow once decisions are made to develop sites already acquired or when new acquisitions are made in the future. ii League City Parks and Open Space Master Plan DRAFT: 10/31/05 ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT The report is comprised of the following chapters: CHAPTER 1, INTRODUCTION This provides a brief background to the parks planning process setting the Parks and Open Space Master Plan in the context of the City’s approved Comprehensive Plan 2025 and its relevant policy recommendations. The citizens’ vision for their city in 2025 is described, and the growth pressures currently affecting development decisions in the surrounding area are empha- sized. CHAPTER 2, PLANNING FRAMEWORK This section describes the planning process that involved the City’s elected and appointed representatives, the public, and the City staff. A planning framework of four planning areas was devised to analyze the specific roles of the diverse parks in League City and their accessibility and function serving citizens of different age groups. Planning Areas The East planning area comprises the most concentrated groupings of middle- The Sportsplex and high-income subdivisions including waterfront development on Clear Lake. The Central planning area comprises older subdivisions, the Historic District and commercial property on Main street, the residential area south of FM 518, undeveloped and unused agricultural areas and wetlands, the Civic Center, the Sportsplex, and the regional “big box” commercial strips on both sides of Interstate 45. The areas to the west of the Central area have been divided into two distinct planning areas. The Southwest planning area is open undeveloped agricultural land currently used for occasional grazing. The Northwest planning area con- tains both mature as well as recently developed subdivisions, a golf course, and wooded areas along Clear Creek. Review and Inventory A review was undertaken of all relevant documents including the 1995 Parks Master Plan. GIS maps were produced of existing physical condition such as hydrology, soils, vegetation, existing and planned use of land, areas for future development, transportation networks and an inventory of all parks and facilities was compiled. DRAFT: 10/31/05 Chapter 0, Executive Summary iii Currently the City has 1,041.24 acres of parkland including parks owned by Harris and Galveston County. Of these, 621.47 acres represent developed parks currently used by the public. The majority of this acreage is in parks owned by the Counties. There are 608.66 acres of land owned by the City, of which 419.77 acres has been acquired by the City for park purposes but is still to be developed. While the undeveloped city land represents a potential resource, it does not currently provide a service to the community. Privately owned Homeowners Association (HOA) parks, while only accessible to those living in the subdivision where they are located, currently play a major role in providing neighborhood amenities. Parks Typology A new typology of parks by size, function and facilities was devised to reflect Challenger Park is a Regional Park. League City’s special characteristics. Regional Parks Large parks or parks designed to enhance or preserve some unique physical characteristic that serve the population of a number of cities or communities, e.g. Challenger Park. Citywide / Special Parks Parks of different sizes which are of special interest to the whole city, e.g. League Park, Helen’s Garden, and the Sportsplex. Helen’s Garden is a Citywide/Special Park. County parks (dark green), City parks (light green), and HOA parks (purple) E NW C SW iv League City Parks and Open Space Master Plan DRAFT: 10/31/05 Community Parks Multi-purpose parks, usually over ten acres in area that often provide both active and passive recreation and serve an area within a radius of 3 miles, e.g. Walter Hall Park and Countryside Park. Neighborhood Parks Parks, generally 10 acres or less in area, that meet immediate neighborhood Countryside Park is a Community Park. needs and are located not more that half a mile from the residences they serve, e.g. Bayridge and Newport

Load more