District of Houston Parks and Recreation Master Plan Photos courtesy of Houston Today This report is prepared for the sole use of the District of Houston. No representations of any kind are made by Urban Systems Ltd. or its employees to any party with whom Urban Systems Ltd. does not have a contract. Copyright 2017. PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................. i 1. OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................ 2 1.1 Parks and Recreation Master Plan .......................................................... 2 1.2 Connection to OCP .................................................................................. 3 1.3 History and Location ................................................................................ 4 2. COMMUNITY PROFILE AND INPUT ..................................................................... 6 2.1 Population Overview ................................................................................ 6 2.2 Community Input ..................................................................................... 9 2.3 PRMP Objectives .................................................................................. 12 2.4 PRMP Format ........................................................................................ 12 3. PARKS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION ............................................................. 13 3.1 Parkland ................................................................................................ 13 3.2 Sports Fields .......................................................................................... 16 3.3 Other Park Amenities ............................................................................. 17 3.4 Park Design and Construction ............................................................... 23 3.5 Trails ...................................................................................................... 31 4. INDOOR RECREATION ....................................................................................... 33 4.1 Indoor Recreation Facilities and Programs ........................................... 33 4.2 Special Events ...................................................................................... 38 5. SERVICE DELIVERY AND MANAGEMENT ........................................................ 42 5.1 Service Delivery ..................................................................................... 42 6. IMPLEMENTATION .............................................................................................. 44 APPENDIX A: RELATED PLANS AND POLICIES APPENDIX B: SURVEY AND FOCUS GROUP INPUT APPENDIX C: MAPS DISTRICT OF HOUSTON EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Parks and Recreation Master Plan replaces a previous plan that was prepared in 1980. It was a recommendation in the 2010 Official Community Plan to prepare a new Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The population of Houston was 2,993 in 2016, decreasing by 4.9% since 2011. There are indications that the regional population, including Houston, will grow in the near future. Consistent with national trends, Houston’s population is getting older. There was a significant amount of community input that helped to guide the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Community surveys were completed by 121 respondents. Focus group workshops and an open house were attended by over 20 residents. Survey households were very active in outdoor recreation. The top outdoor activities overall were: (1) walk, hike or jog on a path or through a park, and (2) visit a park to relax, eat, play catch, etc. The survey results showed generally high satisfaction for outdoor recreation. Natural parkland, tennis courts, skate parks, mountain bike trails, ball diamonds, soccer fields, places to walk dogs, smaller parks close to where you live, picnic facilities, and paths and trails for walking close to home all had high satisfaction ratings. Satisfaction was lower for public washrooms, boat launches, winter activities in parks, water-oriented activities, and maintenance of parks. Respondents were asked to indicate their first, second and third priorities for improvements to outdoor recreation. Of those who chose to answer, 32% said their first priority is a higher standard of maintenance of existing parks and trails. Survey households were also active in recreation programs and activities. The highest participation was in drop-in swimming, special events, and public ice skating. Satisfaction rates were high for public ice skating and drop-in swimming. When asked if there are any age groups for which recreation programs are insufficient or lacking, the most respondents suggested that teens 13 to 18 have insufficient programs. In terms of indoor recreation facilities, the skating rink, pool and fitness centre received the highest satisfaction ratings. The facility that received the highest dissatisfaction rating was multi-purpose rooms. Respondents were asked to indicate their first, second and third priorities for improvements to indoor recreation. Of those who chose to answer, 40% said their first priority is more and/or better child and youth fitness or sports opportunities. In keeping with Houston’s overall vision of “individual/community satisfaction with quality of life”, the following are the objectives of the PRMP: 1. Inspire people to be active and healthy 5. Foster appreciation of the parks and the by providing year-round recreation environment opportunities 6. Place a priority on maintaining and 2. Link the community with a connected upgrading existing amenities system of trails 7. Set realistic goals consistent with the 3. Offer diverse programs for people of all District’s financial resources ages, abilities, income levels and cultures 8. Position the District to work with partners 4. Build community by communicating with and to acquire funding support and involving residents and instilling pride i PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN The master plan includes a description and analysis of the District’s parks and recreation facilities and services. Recommendations are based on community input, trends and best practices, and professional assessment. The implementation table lists the recommendations, along with their proposed priority, phasing, and relative costs. The following is a summary of the recommendations in each phase: Quick Wins • Work with community volunteers • Prepare Master Plan for site to identify any supports or across railroad from Steelhead • Replace picnic tables that are in incentives that the District could Park poor condition provide to encourage more volunteerism • Upgrade Jamie Baxter Park - • Provide distance markers along Phase 3 popular trails • Consider methods for improving maintenance • Upgrade Four Seasons Park - • Acquire some moveable play Phase 2 equipment for the Leisure Centre • Increase monitoring and • Open the pool until later in the enforcement of the dog bylaw Ongoing evening • Establish standards for • Acquire some equipment and plan Medium Term neighbourhood parks in new more dry-floor programs in the • Improve the quality of the fields at developments arena Four Seasons Park • Retain a portion of Silverthorne • Consider an assistance program • Add a fieldhouse at Four Seasons Elementary School site for a for those who need financial Park neighbourhood park if the school support is closed • Relocate the outdoor fitness • Consider more frequent equipment (see 3.4.2) • Designate specified District open exceptions to the Event space and natural areas as Regulation Bylaw for events with • Plan for a larger new dog off-leash parkland high community benefits run by area (see 3.4.2) non-profit groups • Obtain input on the planning and • Work with biking groups to design of neighbourhood parks determine the future of the bike Short Term park in Jamie Baxter Park (see • Replace playgrounds on a regular 3.4.2) basis • Decommission the ball diamond at Jamie Baxter Park (see 3.4.4) • Consider a multi-purpose court in • Upgrade existing trails in high-use Jamie Baxter Park (see 3.4.2) areas • Establish a replacement cycle for playgrounds • Prepare Master Plan for Four • Improve signage related to parks Seasons Park • Consider leasing the previous • Provide new trails within town and heritage area in Four Seasons • Prepare Master Plan for extending out from town Park to the rodeo for rodeo uses Alexandra Park and a campground • Establish better barriers and • Upgrade Jamie Baxter Park - monitoring to keep motorized • Consider a sliding scale of fees Phase 2 vehicles off District trails for use of the amphitheatre • Upgrade Four Seasons Park - • Work with teens in the community • Provide additional information on Phase 1 to identify and offer programs of the availability of the tennis courts interest • Upgrade Alexandra Park • Use design guidelines provided • Organize multiple groups to for new park construction • Consider a new multi-purpose work together on planning room for fitness classes some coordinated economic • Prepare Master Plan for Jamie development efforts Baxter Park • Provide additional information on the availability of the indoor • Upgrade Jamie Baxter Park - playground Aspirational Phase 1 • Upgrade Four Seasons Park - • Design a signage system Long Term Phase 3 • Plan for replacing the fitness • Consider re-establishing a • Build new park across railroad - equipment campground in the centre