Bellaire City Council has taken steps to develop a new Parks Master Plan, which the city’s website describes as “a map and direction for future parkland improvements, acquisition and development.”
How it works
Ryan Smith, Bellaire’s director of the Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department, said the Parks Master Plan is typically developed every 10 years.
With Bellaire’s last plan approved in 2015, the city is right on track for a new one, Mayor Gus Pappas said.
To get the process started, City Council members voted unanimously in an April 6 meeting to execute a $221,800 contract with MHS Planning and Design, an outdoor environment design firm.
The firm will work with the city to develop a master plan that will establish a long-term vision, evaluate existing conditions and provide a strategic roadmap for improvements, investments and operational priorities for the city’s parks and recreation facilities over the next 10 years, according to the April 6 meeting agenda.
Why it matters
Before approving the contract with MHS Planning and Design, council member Catherine Lewis wanted to ensure the planning process included public feedback. She also asked if the plan would strive to create parks within walking distance of every Bellaire neighborhood.
In response, Smith said the city does have several “park deserts,” and the department is looking at the feasibility of incorporating public parks within a 10-minute walk of each neighborhood in the city.
One more thing
Additionally, Smith said communication is the most important part of the process and that the department will be planning pop-up events, statistical surveys and open houses for residents to attend.
“Every chance we get to talk with somebody, we are going to try and capture data,” he said.