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Parks and Recreation Master Plan Marion County, Florida Parks and Recreation Master Plan A Ten Year Vision 2007 Marion County Florida COMMISSIONERS Charlie Stone, Chairman Jim Payton, Vice-Chairman Andy Kesselring Stan McClain Barbara Fitos COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Pat Howard PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COUNCIL Stan Hanson, Chairman Tracy Rains, Vice-Chairman Pat Gabriel Shirley Little Bill Ward PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT Dr. Lee Niblock, CPRP – Director Don Hawkins – Operations Manager Cathy Norris, CPRP – Recreation Manager Greg Wiley – Parks & Natural Resource Manager Gina Peebles, PPRP – Administrative Manager James R. Couillard, RLA, ASLA – Parks Designer II Prepared by: Marion County Parks and Recreation Department With the cooperation and participation of the Marion County Planning Department Clean Water Program, Marion County Geographic Information Systems Team (GIS) iii Table of Contents Chapter One – Introduction Introduction – Marion County Overview ...................................1 Purpose and Methodology of this Master Plan .......................... 2 Parks and Recreation Master Plan Background And Comparison of 2003 Master Plan ................................. 3 Marion County Parks and Recreation Department..................... 5 Parks and Recreation Department Structure ............................... 7 Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (PRAC) ......................... 8 Chapter Two – Existing Conditions Parks System.............................................................................. 9 Existing Parks and Facilities .......................................................10 Park Types.......................................................................... 11 Park Inventory....................................................................13 Map 1 – Existing County Owned and/or Operated Parks.....15 Parks Management..............................................................17 Existing Facility Use.............................................................18 Existing Recreation Programs and Services ...........................19 Partnerships ....................................................................... 20 Existing Population and Future Projections ..........................21 How Population Affects Park Planning..................... 22 Park Planning Procedures ................................................... 26 Existing Parks and Recreation Analysis ................................ 27 Coverage Analysis................................................... 28 Conclusions ............................................................. 29 Chapter Three – Conservation Conservation ......................................................................31 Conservation of Land...............................................31 Conservation of Water.............................................31 Conservation of Area Resources............................... 32 Related Conservation Studies............................................. 33 Map 2 – Conservation and Environmental Lands................ 35 Open Space....................................................................... 37 Environmentally Sensitive Land .......................................... 38 Conservation Inventory ..................................................... 38 Federal and State Lands – Recreation Opportunities ........... 39 Conservation Funding.........................................................41 Map 3 – MCAVA .............................................................. 43 iv Chapter Four – Future Parks and Recreation Improving and Expanding the Park System .............................. 45 The Need for Parks and Recreation ......................................... 45 Corridor Studies: Their effects on Parks and Greenways.......... 46 Future Park Needs and Timetables........................................... 48 “Hot Spots”....................................................................... 48 Map 4 – Existing Parks with Population.............................. 49 Strategy for Addressing Park Deficiencies .............................51 Eight Year Forecast – Park Acre Needs by Population ......... 52 Map 5 – Population Projections ......................................... 53 Map 6 – Population Projections and Included Parks ........... 55 Park Needs by Park Types .................................................. 57 Map 7 – Parks Planning Map ............................................. 65 Map 8 – Population and Environmentally Sensitive Lands .. 67 Summary of Parks Needs.................................................... 69 Future Park Types and Facilities...........................................71 Ideas that Fit Marion County ..............................................71 Map 9 – Future Parks System Map ..................................... 73 Park Specific Improvements and Mentioning ...................... 75 Future Recreation Trends ................................................... 77 Recreation Programming.................................................... 79 Chapter Five – Department Strategies Department Finances................................................................81 Park Visitation and Cost per Resident ...................................... 82 Revenue.................................................................................. 82 Future Funding........................................................................ 83 Future Funding Needs ............................................................. 84 Department Operational Plan.................................................. 86 Funding Schedule Summary ............................................. 87 Future Funding Strategies......................................................... 89 Recommended Department Structure ...................................... 90 The Economic Potential of Recreation ......................................91 Marketing of Parks and Recreation ...........................................91 Parks Standardization.............................................................. 94 Construction Guidelines........................................................... 94 How Does this Plan Satisfy the Comprehensive Plan?............... 95 Department Procedures Manual .............................................. 96 Department Web Site .............................................................. 96 Appendices................................................................................... 97 References and Links.................................................................... 116 Parks Standardization ............................................................... PS - 1 Construction Guidelines...........................................................CG - 1 v Chapter One Introduction Introduction – Marion County Overview contribute to the recreational opportunities and provided education and interpretation to the Marion County is located in the heart of north public. central Florida, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. It is bordered by seven Numerous lakes and rivers including the counties: Alachua, Citrus, Lake, Levy, Sumter, Ocklawaha River, Rainbow River, Silver River, Putnam and Volusia. The County is home to five Withlacoochee River, Lake Weir, Lake Kerr and incorporated municipalities, with Ocala as the other significant bodies of water provide a county seat. Other municipalities include variety of water access for fishing, boating, Belleview, Dunnellon, McIntosh and Reddick. swimming, tubing, and snorkeling. Several of these bodies are spring-fed from the Floridan According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Marion Aquifer while three of Florida’s First Magnitude County had a total population of 258,916 springs (or spring groups) attract divers from residents. This is a 25 percent increase from the around the nation. previous U.S. Census conducted in 1990. While the U.S. Census data is helpful in showing “where The major roadways that provide routes to we have been,” data from the Bureau of Business Marion County include Interstate 75, U.S. and Economic Development (BEBR) at the Highways 27, 41, 301 and 441, and State Roads University of Florida predicts “where we are 40, 200 and 326. The roads, at some point, going” and is more helpful in projecting converge in Ocala which is centrally located population growth. Using BEBR data, by the within the County. Excluding I-75, these year 2010 the estimated population of Marion roadways are where the majority of commercial County is expected to reach 350,900; in 2020 development occurs while the interfaces between 433,100 and in 2030 501,200. It is important to I-75 and the mentioned roadways act as service understand that while the figures released by areas for pass-through travelers. BEBR are accurate, they represent a “medium” growth rate. Historically population growth has With a relatively low population-to-area ratio, occurred at a higher rate. Marion County has a primarily rural appeal. This character, along with comparatively lower land Marion County occupies 1,057,280 acres of land prices, has attracted new residents consistently with an additional 53,120 acres covered by over past years. The proximity to larger urban water. Marion County ranks as the fifth largest areas (Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and in size of counties in Florida. Approximately Gainesville) without the higher costs of living, 276,000 acres of Marion County is in the Ocala traffic and general congestion typically associated National Forest while two additional state parks, with these
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