City of San Luis Obispo, CA
Home MenuBACKGROUND
The development of a revised Parks and Recreation Plan and Element Update was identified in 2018 as the top priority for the Parks and Recreation Commission. The City’s Parks and Recreation Plan was last updated in 2001; it was adopted concurrently as a Parks and Recreation Element and Master Plan. The current document is out of date and its usefulness as a policy document is minimal. The Parks and Recreation Commission and staff lack current policy direction as well as data regarding the community’s current and future parks and recreation needs.
A Parks and Recreation Plan is…
An updated Parks and Recreation Plan with a thorough Community Needs Assessment component provides guidance to the City as staff respond to community needs and maximize access to high-quality parks and recreation opportunities.
- A long-range planning tool to determine needs and service gaps, analyze growth trends and identify opportunities for improvements to parks and recreation amenities.
- An engaging document that establishes the guiding values, goals, and priorities for current and future parks, amenities, and programming.
- An opportunity for the community to help shape the future of parks and recreation facilities and programs, ensuring responsiveness, creativity, and partnerships in the planning effort.
- Identify and prioritize potential improvements in existing parks, evaluate the potential for new parks and recreation facilities.
- Provides conceptual short, mid, and long-term strategies to guide the development and redevelopment of parks, and the renewal and replacement of recreation facilities.
- Incorporates the aspects from the City’s adopted and future amended Climate Action Plan and the Active Transportation Plan for any planning, development, or revitalization of future park projects.
- Assist the Parks and Recreation Commission in advising staff on policies and priorities for developing recreation facilities and programs.
Please Note: The City’s Open Space Program is not part of the Parks and Recreation Plan as it is contained within the City’s Conservation and Open Space Element General Plan: (COSE 8.5.1)
TIMELINE
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PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS
Staff contracted with an outside consultant (WRT) to assist with the development of the updated plan to assist in conducting community surveys, statistical analysis, current parks and facility inventory, incorporate professional national standards and bench marks, and the development of the written plan.
Staff are committed in obtaining the communities input through a multi-level approach with a statistically valid community survey, coordinated community workshops and pop-up events, as well as key input from local community groups. Staff utilized the Parks and Recreation Commission meetings as additional avenues and methods to obtain input from the community.
View the latest Virtual Workshop and PowerPoint:
PRC Virtual Meeting 4/7/21
Pop-up Events
Staff conducted multiple pop-up events over a 5-month period to obtain feedback and ideas from the community. Mailers and comment cards were also utilized at program sites and events to provide additional opportunity for community feedback.
Bright Ideas Community Workshop and Outreach Events
In September 2018, staff and members of the Parks and Recreation Commission conducted a comprehensive “Bright Ideas” community workshop at the Ludwick Community Center to receive in-person feedback with a focus on the future needs and desires for recreational facilities and programs. Three additional specific community workshops were conducted in spring 2019, each focusing on a specific theme: Aquatics and Events, Parks and Amenities, Fields and Facilities.
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE 2018 EVENT!