Puyallup Parks and Recreation is gearing up to review the city’s parks master plan.
Public input is key in determining any changes that occur or focus that changes in the master plan, said Parks and Recreation Director Ralph Dannenberg.
“The input from the community is really important,” said Kent Boyle, Parks Board chairman.
It’s encouraging to see people give input about park use, like in the case of the bandstand in Pioneer Park, he said.
“What’s really nice is that it looks like now more so than ever citizens of Puyallup are becoming more active,” Boyle said.
Needs and wants change over a period of time, so public input and upcoming Park Board meetings later this spring will be key in determining changes in the park plan, Dannenberg said.,
As much as residents need to come forward with input, city leaders also need to listen to them, Boyle said.
To give input residents should attend upcoming Park Board meetings.
Accomplishing a complete review for the city council to approve is key to staying grant eligible. The deadline to complete the review is in June.
The department consistently goes after about eight state and federal grants to help fund park expansion, programs and maintenance.
“We’ll be close and we’ll remain grant eligible,” Dannenberg said.
As part of the city’s comprehensive plan the city reviews elements like the master parks plan about every six years.
The last time the plan was reviewed in 2002, maintaining a strong level of service was identified as well as acquiring more park land in areas of the city like the northeast corridor that lack parks.
Some elements that need to be addressed include how to maintain a level of service and maintenance.
As far as level of service the department is close to meeting those standards, Dannenberg said.
“We’re deficient in park land,” he said. “Primarily in Northeast Puyallup.”
Currently the city has about 250 acres of park land. Some of which is undeveloped and also includes specialty sites that aren’t traditional parks, like the Puyallup Recreation Center.
About 195 acres of the land comes from Wildwood, Clarks Creek and Bradley Lake Parks.
“One of our goals is to get a community park with two miles of every residence,” Dannenberg said.
The Park Board and department will have to determine how much open-space is needed to meet the needs of a growing population.
Print
E-Mail