The City of Erie has a bright vision for the future: parks that better serve our community. This month, the city is giving locals the opportunity to vocalize what they want to see in our parks.

Erie Outside released a survey focused on what locals currently like about Erie’s parks and what changes they hope to see in the future.

Erie Outside is the city of Erie’s multi-year plan focused on the development of local parks and recreation. Currently, the city is still in the early stages of this comprehensive plan, which is identifying needs and creating a shared vision.

We spoke with the director of the Erie City Department of Planning and Neighborhood Resources, Jacqueline Spry, about the current survey and the overall importance in this phase of planning.

She said, “It’s the first time in 40 years that the city has embarked on a city plan. It’s really, also a process where we are engaging all members of the community. All people who recreate in our parks, not only city residents but county and tourists as well. So it’s very exciting.”

She also stated that her team is highly invested in this project as they are not simply city workers but also city locals themselves.

Although Erie Outside considers everyone in this plan, a big emphasis is on the youth. Prior to the current survey, the City of Erie reached out to local youths to get their input.

We asked Spry why they believe that youth should be prioritized. “There were historically places for the youth to recreate in our city, and those places no longer exist. And so we need to bring those spaces back for not only toddlers and the young children but also for our teenagers,” she said.

The Erie City Department of Planning and Neighborhood Resources says that outside spaces, such as parks, are not a luxury but a necessity.

The City of Erie invites locals to participate in the survey, which will remain open through October 31 online here.

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