The parks plan is continuing on current Erie Mayor Daria Devlin’s watch. And citizens have weighed in on the various enhancements they want to see. <\/p>\n
The draft plan for what’s being called “Erie Outside”<\/a> was unveiled in June. Erie Outside seeks to create a parks improvement plan for the next 20 years in Erie.<\/p>\n The city has more than 50 parks as well as nearly two dozen playgrounds, according to city officials.<\/p>\n The city\u2019s parks collectively comprise roughly 385 acres, and the city also operates two public golf courses, the J.C. Martin Golf Course on Shunpike Road and Downing Golf Course on Troupe Road in Harborcreek.<\/p>\n The city has set aside more than $4 million for the parks improvement plan. The money comes from the roughly $76 million the city received in 2021 as part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, a federal stimulus bill signed into law by then-President Joe Biden to aid in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n The parks plans seeks to create a roadmap for improvements, examining the level of financial investment needed to sustain Erie\u2019s parks; recreation facilities and programming; and the city\u2019s current staffing capacity and policies regarding parks.<\/p>\n Public input<\/p>\n Here are some key findings from the draft report developed through community input, which included public meetings and resident surveys:<\/p>\n Fix and improve existing parks through increased maintenance, accessibility, and updates to aging equipment.\u00a0<\/p>\n Make parks more comfortable for everyday use with more restrooms, shade, drinking fountains, seating, picnic areas, and places to gather.\u00a0<\/p>\n Expand nature, water, and four-season experiences including walking trails, nature play, splash pads, lake access, and winter play.<\/p>\n Support play and activity for all ages and abilities, with accessible play, multi-use courts, adventure play, performance spaces, and flexible event areas.<\/p>\n The city should celebrate what makes Erie unique at parks citywide by adding amenities that reflect local history, culture, neighborhoods, and residents\u2019 interest in memorable park experiences.<\/p>\n The draft report also says that “key strategies” to improving parks could include, but not be limited to, improving safety; making sure the public is more aware of what city parks have to offer; better engaging Erie’s diverse communities when it comes to parks\/programming; better utilizing\/activating underused parks; and creating “community-serving parks” at brownfields and underutilized areas.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the very beginning, this plan has been shaped by the people who use and care about Erie\u2019s parks,\u201d Jackie Spry, the city’s planning and zoning bureau chief, said in a statement. \u201cThrough a wide range of public engagement opportunities, residents shared their ideas, priorities, and experiences throughout this process.<\/p>\n \u201cNow we encourage the community to review the draft plan and help ensure the final document truly reflects Erie\u2019s vision for the future \u2013 one that will benefit our community for generations.\u201d<\/p>\n City officials said additional community feedback regarding the draft recommendations will be incorporated into the final parks plan, which is expected to be presented to Erie’s Planning Commission and Erie City Council for approval and adoption later this summer. <\/p>\n Expert support<\/p>\n The city in 2025 hired Design Workshop,<\/a>\u00a0a landscape architecture, urban design, planning and strategic services firm, to help craft the plan. Design Workshop has offices in Colorado, Texas, Nevada, California and North Carolina.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ballard King & Associates,<\/a> a Colorado consulting firm with expertise in crafting parks\/recreation master plans, and Erie’s Kidder Architects <\/a>are also part of the consulting team.<\/p>\n The parks plan has been in the works for several years; the city\u2019s last comprehensive parks plan was conducted in 1994 under then-Mayor Joyce Savocchio.<\/p>\n Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on X at @ETNflowers<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: How can Erie improve city-owned parks? The public weighed in<\/a><\/p>\n![\"As](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d542523f-47b2-4c1b-b1f4-d9c3420fa1ae.jpg\"\/)
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