1997-025E \WPDOCS\ORD\PARK PLN
ORDINANCE NO'-
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE DENTON PARKS AND RECREATION STRATEGIC
PLAN WHICH PROVIDES FOR SPECIFIC INITIATIVES TO GUIDE THE PARKS AND
RECREATION DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE YEAR 2000, AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, the adoption of a strategic plan for the Parks and
Recreation Department is a requirement of the Texas Parks and
wlldllfe Department and state law for the City's continued
participation in the State Matching Grant Assistance Program, and
WHEREAS, the Parks and Recreation Board has approved the
attached Denton Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan 1996-2000,
which is made a part of this ordinance as if written word for word
herein, and
WHEREAS, the Denton Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan 1996-
2000 ~mplements the vision of the City for its Parks and Recreation
Department, which states that by the year 2000, Denton will have a
parks and recreation system which (1) provides an array of leisure
experiences which are fully accessible to all members of Denton's
community, (2) is responsive to the d~verse and ever-changing needs
of our customers, (3) emphasizes quality over quantity, (4)
balances the need to grow with a sensitivity for more responsible
care and maintenance of existing facilities, (5) is effectively
planned, financed, and managed in collaboration with others, (6) is
seen by its citizens and all stakeholders as a vital component of
Denton's lmage as a dynamic, beautiful, and vibrant community in
which to live, work, learn, and play, and
WHEREAS, the City Council deems it in the public interest to
approve the Denton Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan 1996-2000,
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HEREBY ORDAINS
SECTION I That the attached Denton Parks and Recreation
Strategic Plan 1996-2000 is hereby approved and adopted
SECTION II That the Director of Parks and Recreation is
directed to send a complete, true, and correct copy of this
ordinance, including the attached Denton Parks and Recreation
Strategic Plan 1996-2000, to appropriate officials of the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department
SECTION III That th~s ordinance shall become effective
immediately upon ~ts passage and approval
19~_PASSED~ AND APPROVED thzs the ~/~ day of~,~
ATTEST
JENNIFER WALTERS, CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM
HERBERT L PROUTY, CITY ATTORNEY
/
Pa~e 2
Denton Parks & Recreation
Strategic Plan
1996-2000
Denton Parks & Recreation Department
321 E. McKinney St.
Denton, Texas 76201
(817) 566-8269
Ed Hodney, Director
Credits
City Council
Jack Mdler, Mayor
Euhne Brock, Mayor Pro Tern
Rom Beasley
Dawd Bales
Jerry Cott
Ned Durrance
Carl G Young, Sr
City Manager
Ted Banavtdes
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Doug Chadwick, Chatrman
Anmo Burroughs, Vtce Chatr
Gwendolyn Carter
Burkley Harkless
Tom Recto
Parks and Recreation Department
Ed Hodney, Dtrector
Janet Stmpson, Supenntendent of Letsure Services
Bob Tzckner, Supertntendent of Parks
Janco McLeod, Admtmstrattve Secretary
Pocky Petty, Park Planner
Lorraine McGregor, Pubhc Informatton Spectahst
Spectal thanks to the followtng tndtviduals and orgamzattons
for their contributions
Schnckel, Rolhns and Associates, Inc
(Photographs and master plan drawings on pages 15, 21 and Physzcal Plan)
Sam Fleming and Scott Lebsack, C~ty of Denton Water/Wastewater Administration
Mary Colhns and Sharon Masten, Administrative Services
Our Mtsston
To ennch the hves of all Denton c~t~zens
through enwronmental enhancements
and a d~verse offenng of recreational,
educational, and cultural services
Our I/tston
In the Year 2000, Denton will have a parks and recreation system
which
provides an array of leisure experiences which are fully
accessible to all members of Denton's commumty,
xs responsive to the dxverse and ever-changing needs of our
customers,
emphasizes quahty over quantity,
balances the need to grow w~th a sens~t~wty for the responsible
care and maintenance of ex~stmg facdmes,
~s effectively planned, financed and managed ~n collaboration
with others,
xs seen by ~ts c~ttzens and all stakeholders as a vital component
of Denton's ~mage as a dynamm, beautiful and vibrant
commumty m which to hve, work, learn and play
Table of Contents
Page
Executive Summary
Introduction I
Core Values and Operating Prmciples 2
Summary of Strategic Needs and Issues 3
Summary of Goals 4
Major Initiatives 5-6
Strategic Planning Process
Chart 7
Strategic Plan
Goals, Strategies and Acttons 8-27
Physical Plan In.de Back Covc~
Introduction
Denton, Texas has a wsmn or,ts future, a ws~on which includes beautiful parks, attractive
recreation facdmes and quality lc:sure servmes for all W~th the adoption ofth~s Strategic Plan,
the Denton Parks and Recreatmn Department :s positioned to play a wtal role :n creatxng the c~ty
that our c~t~zens have enwsmned
Th~s plan defines the m~ssmn of our orgamzatmn and estabhshes the direction we will take to
achieve our purpose It prowdes a bluepnnt whmh will grade demsmns regarding capital
~mprovements, services and annual budgets for the next several years The physical needs of the
parks system - "brick and mortar" projects based on tradmonal faethty standards - have been
ant~mpated and addressed However, ~n contrast to past planmng practices, a genmne effor~ has
been made to base all goals, strateg:es and actmns on the customer's need or desire for servmes
and hfe-ennchlng experiences
Also ~n a departure from tradmonal planmng, we have avoided the impracticality of
programming or "locking ~n" every actxon reqmred to fulfill object~ves over a five year planning
horizon The economy, poht~cs and the desxres of customers tend to change sxgmficantly over
ttme Instead, th~s plan emphasizes a clear dxrect~on, key processes and the ~mmedmte steps
necessary to build an orgamzat~onal momentum towards our goals, while prowd~ng for the
constant review and adjustment of selected strategxes and actions Thts Strategm Plan ~s intended
to be a fluid and useful bluepnnt through the Year 2000, anticipating growth and dramatic
change xn Denton along the way
Ifa plan is to be customer-driven, then the planning process must tnvolve all those who are
d~rectly and ~n&rectly affected by the orgamzatlon Work on ttus plan began m late 1993 with a
random sample survey of Denton resxdents regarding park facflmes and recreation programs
The process conhnued through numerous workshops w~th staff and the Parks and Recreatxon
Board to revxew the department's mission, key strategrc ~ssues and multiple strategies to address
the issues Along the way, other ~mportant stakeholders were consulted, ~ncludlng various
customer groups, netghborhood representatives, current and former council members and board
members, city executives, other serx, lce orgamzat~ons and non-profits
The 1996-2000 Strategic Plan, then, reflects the collecttve wisdom of the entire Denton
commumty as applied to parks and recreation services The process took more than two years
and much hard work, bm the result ~s a hvlng document w~th clearly defined values and a
dynamic vision
Core Values
and
Operating Principles
The Denton Parks and Recreatxon Depa ment beheves that
beautiful parks and opportunities for personal growth and enrichment through leisure are
essential to healthy, productive individuals, families and communities Working w~th
others, we are advocates for the quality of life in Denton,
our goals, priorities and actions must be directed at meeting or exceeding the expectations
of our customers We achieve our purpose by constantly hstening and responding to
those who take advantage of our services,
equal access to our facilities and services for an ~ncreaslngly diverse citizenry is vital to
the continued grovah and prosperity of Denton We shall strive to act from a standpoint
of inclusiveness and a valuing of diversity,
we are stewards of the natural and built environments The Parks and Recreation
Department will strive to balance the development of parks w~th the preservation of open
space and the protection of our unique natural environment,
we must invite others to unite voth us, so that we can achieve our mission of "enriching
lives" We are committed to seeking out opportunities for partnerships and collaboration
which enhance the value or benefit of our services,
change is to be expected and even embraced The Parks and Recreation team is
committed to a continuous review and adjustment of the organization toward the most
efficient and effective delivery of services
Summary of Strategic
Needs and Issues
Short Term Issues (Today through FY 1997)
Need to ensure that services and facd~t~es reflect Denton's demographic changes, including
populauon growth and increasing &vers~ty
Need to ensure that resources wdl be adequate to meet desired serwce levels
What ,s the appropriate role of PARD related to youth crime and violence, substance
abuse, teen pregnancy and other youth "at-risk" ,ssues'~
Need to determine resource levels and funding strate§les reqmred to support Denton's
desire for beauuficat~on, tree planting and art on pubhc properties
How do we ensure that parks and facd~t~es remain safe and crlme-free~
Need to develop d~vers~fied funding strategies for capital projects, programs and services
m order to minimize rehance on property tax dollars
How w~ll we meet our community's expectations of ~mproved quahw, more a~active
facd~t~es and leisure services which keep up w~th growth m a cost effective manner~
Long Term Issues (FY 1998-2000)
Need to develop strategies to ensure adequate parkland as growth occurs
Need to develop "signature" park and recreation fac,ht~es which not only meet the needs
of residents, but also support economic development strategies
Need to strengthen collaborative planning and service delivery efforts wrth DISD, TWU,
UNT and other non-profit prowders
Need to develop planmn§ and marketing strategies which wall anticipate the needs of our
customers and wall poslt~on PARD for effective, proactive responses
How wall we secure funding to acqmre new data management tools, grounds maintenance
eqmpment and other developing technology, m order to ensure conunuous quahty and
product~vity ~mprovemant'~
Summary of Goals
I
Ensure access to parks and services for all Denton residents regardless of race, gender, age,
income or physical ablhtles
II
Develop parks and open spaces, including unique "signature" facflit~es that enhance Denton's
image and bolster its economic development strategies
III
Consistently meet or exceed the expectations of our customers through proactive communications
and the continuous improvement of our services
Aggressively promote, initiate, cultivate and mmntam effective collaboration and partnerships
w~th other departments, agencies, non-profits, businesses and individuals in the pursuit of our
mISSIOn
V
Become a leading advocate for Denton's natural environment through the responsible management
and sensitive development of our parks and open spaces
VI
Strengthen the role of the community in determining the type, availability and quality of the
programs and services to be offered
VII
Ensure that the department's human, operating and capital resources will be sufficient to meet the
expectations of our community into the next century
VIII
Continually explore and exploit alternative funding strategies which will allow us to achieve our
vision and mission in the most cost-effective manner possible
Become a stronger advocate for healthy, productive individuals, families and communmes
through activities which promote personal growth and enrich lives
Major Initiatives
The 1996-2000 Strategic Plan is organized around nine goals that
· build on the mission, values and operating pnnclples of the Parks and Recreation
Department,
· direct action towards meeting the growing and ever-changing public desire for
recreational, educational and cultural opportunities,
· reflect community vision and initiatives for a more attractive and marketable Denton,
· demonstrate a more effective and responsive approach to parks, recreation and
community services
These nine goals are "timeless" to a degree, remaining in effect throughout the five year plan
horizon The Strategic Plan relies on 29 strategies and 83 specific actions to translate vision into
results, year-by-year These strategies and actions address both the programmatic or service
elements and the physical elements of the parks and recreation system The major initiatives of
the five year plan are summarized below
· Acquire neighborhood parks in five targeted residential growth areas through purchases,
donations, developer dedication and/or joint ventures wath the Denton Independent
School District (Goal V, Strategy B)
· Jolmly develop and operate w~th the school district a new middle school and a variety of
recreational facilities in South Lakes Park (Goal IV, Strategy B)
· By the year 2000, build a new revenue-based aquatics center that fulfills Denton's need
for a second swimming pool, while creating an emertalnment opportunity for out-of-town
visitors (Goal II, Strategy B)
· Construct a public botanic garden, possibly a children's theme garden, using private and
grant support (Goal Il, Strategy B)
· In cooperation wath other entities, conduct an annual "Community Needs Assessment" to
determine programmatic and service needs (Goal I, Strategy A)
· Promote, fund and install landscaping and works of art as elements of major facllmes and
park improvements (Goal II, Strategy A)
· Construct improvement to 14 eyastlng parks, as specified in the 1995-2000 Capital
Improvements Program (Goal II, Strategy C)
· Develop and implement a computerized work management and tracking system that wall
improve the productivity of park maintenance and will track related costs (Goal VII,
Strategy A)
5
· Improve services for low income households, youth and customers w~th dlsab~hties (Goal
I, Strategies C, D, F)
· Develop and ~mplement, ~f necessary an operations and management plan for Lake Ray
Roberts parks, greenbelts and other public use areas, should the Parks Depa~iment
replace the Texas Parks and W~ldhfe Department as the land manager (Goal VII, Strategy
^)
· Complete the construction of the Denton Branch Rail Trml (Goal VIII, Strategy A)
· Develop a new master plan for Clwc Center Park to guide funded and other proposed
improvements, wh~le mainta~mng the Integrity of the O'Nell Ford Complex
(Goal II, Strategy B)
6
GOALS, STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS
GOAL I
Ensure access to parks and services for all Denton residents regardless of race, gender, age,
income or physical abilities
Strategy A
In collaboratton wtth others, conduct periodic "Commumty Needs Assessments" to gauge
changes and trends m servtce needs, and then develop appropriate PARD actions
Actton 1 Work with Umted Way, Boys and Gtrls Clubs, YMCA, School District, Denton
County MHMR and other entlt~es to convene an annual "Commumty Needs Assessment" related
to recreattonal, educattonal and cultural needs (Years 2-5)
Action 2 In cooperatton wtth the southeast Denton netghborhood, LULAC and others, develop
and implement a plan to improve classes and programs tn order to attract the Hispantc
populatton at the MLK Recreation Center (Year l)
Actton 3 Prior to the start of each fiscal year, develop an Annual Actton Plan whtch addresses
needs tdenttfied m the annual Communtty Needs Assessment (Years 2-5)
Strategy B
Improve departmental staff and Park Board awareness and responsiveness to the diverse
recreational, cultural and educational preferences of om customers
Actton 1 Convene a forum for the Park Board and Dlwslon Managers to review trends and
selvme issues (e g, ADA, cultural diversity, national and local issues from the Community
Needs Assessment) m the second quarter of each fiscal year (Years 2-5)
Actwn 2 Conduct an annual assessment of staff tralmng needs (workforce &vers~ty, ADA, etc )
and develop training plan (Years 1-5)
Strategy C
Improve access to parks and services for people with disabilities
Action 1 Complete the installation of a wheelchmr lift m one of the department's passenger
vans (Year 1)
-~ Actton 2 In order to ensure ADA compliance and
~ a "user friendly" design for those with disabilities,
recrmt one or more members of the disabled
commumty to serve as a techmcal advisor on each
, capital improvement project in the 1995-2000 park
~ bond program (Years 1-5)
Actton 3 Develop a written agreement with the North Central Texas College Certified
Occupational Therapy Assistant program to offer occupational therapy services to individuals
with disabilities ~n PARD therapeutic recreation programs (Year 1)
9
Strategy D
Improve access to leisure servmes for low income households
Actton I Conduct a free learn-to-sw~m program which ~s targeted at low income famd~es
(Year 2)
Action 2 Develop a subsidy program through Recreation Fund to increase the number of
scholarships available to low income participants (Tear 2)
Strategy E
Develop and maintain a department workforce that reflects the ethnic and cultural d~versity of
Denton
Actton 1 As vacanctes arise among supervisory and professional positions, target recruitment
activities towards women and minorities, especially bilingual (Spamsh/Enghsh) candidates
(Tears 1-5)
Actton2 Support the work of the City Council's Diversity Task Force through active
participation in the study of diversity Issues and the development of recommendauons for
consideration by the Council (Tear 1)
10
Strategy F
Expand leisure services for youth-at-risk
Actton 1 In collaboration with area agencies and organizations, assess current youth-at-risk
programs and develop strategies to ~mprove and expand serwces (Year 2)
Actton 2 IdenUfy and subnut applications for grants and sponsorships to malntatn and/or
expand youth servmes (Years 1-5)
11
GOAL II
Develop parks and open spaces, including unique "signature" faciht~es that enhance
Denton's image and bolster its economic development strategies
Strategy A
Promote, fund and install landscaping and the display of artwork as elements of major faciht~es
and park ~mprovements projects
Actton 1 Worl~ng w~th GDAC and others,
coordinate the development of a Public Arts Pohcy
whmh will encourage and grade the placement of
artwork on pubhc grounds and facthties
(Year 1)
Actton 2 Complete Phase I of the ~n-house ~nstallation of landscape plantxng, ~mgauon and
signage for South Lakes Park (Year 1)
Actton 3 Complete Phase II of irrigation/landscaping for South Lakes Park (Years 1-2)
12
Act*on 4 Develop design criteria for the
implementation of "Entranceway Markers"
and "Downtown Improvements," as funded
by FY 1995-2000 CIP (Years 1-2)
Act*on 5 Complete the irrigation and landscaping of the South Branch Library, University
Drive, Teasley Lane and Phase II of the Denton Municipal Complex (Year 1)
Act*on 6 Estabhsh and implement a reconstruction/restoration program that will upgrade the
appearance and condmon of existing beds and medians while minimiz~ng maintenance
requirements (Years 2-5)
Act*on 7 Implement the recommendations of the department's "Appearances" committee
regarding the landscaping and improved appearance of PARD centers, buildings and major
faclhtles (Years 1-4)
13
Strategy B
Conduct an annual assessment of capital improvement needs and develop proposals/sttateg,es,
xnclud~ng joint ventures, for accomplishing them
Acrton 1 Develop the followxng project proposals to be considered by the Planmng and Zomng
Cormmssion and City Council for xncluslon m FY 2000-2001 Capital Improvement Program
- C~vlc Center Renovation
- Improvements to Civtc Center Park
- Northeast Park Development, Phase 1I
- Athletm Fields, Phase II
- Northeast Recreation Center (Year 1)
Actton 2 Conduct a market and feaslb, hty study for revenue-based aquattc center to be bmlt by
the Year 2000, the study should consxder joint ventures w~th private, for-profit tnterests and the
option of hnl, ang up wxth the DISD's proposed natatorium project (Year 2)
Action 3 Based on results of the feaslbfl,ty study, develop financing proposals and operating
plans (xncludxng possible partnershxps with the private sector and/or DISD) for revenue-based
aquatms center (Years 2-3)
Actton 4 Complete the design and construct,on of a revenue-based aquatics facllxty and beg,n
operations by or before summer 2000 (Years 4-5)
14
Action $ Assess the feas~bdlty of estabhsh~ng a
botamc garden ~n Ctv~c Center Park, South Lakes
Park, or another location by the Year 2000
(Year 2)
Actton 6 Develop concept and funding
opnons, and projected construcnon schedules
for a botanic garden (Yeara 3-4)
Action 7: In cooperatmn w~th the Denton
Festival Foundation, the Convention and
V~s~tors Bureau, and Mmn Street, conduct an assessment of Denton's festival and specml
events venues, develop recommendataons for s~te ~mprovements that would optimize the
~mpact of these events on tourism and economic development (Years 2-3)
Strategy C
Implement design and construction phases for all capital ~mprovement projects (FY 1986 and
FY 1995-2000 CIP and CDBG-funded) m accordance w~th workplan and schedules
Actton 1: Complete the planning and design phase for tmprovements to Fred Moore
(mcludmg activity stage), McKenna and Phoenix parks by September 19, 1996, complete
construction by March 1997 (Years 1-2)
Actton 2: Complete design and constructaon of Evers Park restrooms (CDBG) (Year 1)
Actton 3. Construct CDBG-funded ~mprovements to the American Legion Bmld~ng for use
by the southeast Denton neighborhood (Year 1)
Actton 4. Select parks to be ~mproved ~n
FY 1996-'97 ~n conjunction w~th CIP
projects "Upgrade Emst~ng Parks, Phase II"
and "Athletm Facthtaes Renovatton and
Development Phase I", seek concurrence of
Park Board and the Overstght Commtttee
(Years 1~2)
Actton 5 Complete design and mmate
construction of projects tn Action 4 m
accordance w~th workplans and schedules
(Year 2~3)
15
GOAL III
Consistently meet or exceed the expectations of our customers through proactive
communications and the continuous improvement of our services.
Strategy A
Conduct systematic evaluauons of the serwces and programs offered or sponsored by the
department, adjust, add or delete programs accordingly
Actton Conduct a complete rewew of all leisure service programs and make program
adjustments prior to copy subrmttal deadlines for PLAY brochure (Years 1-5)
Strategy B
Continuously rewew operations for potential productlwty and quahty improvement measures,
implement as resources pemut
Actwn I Transfer plans for all ex~stmg parks to CAD database,
inclu&ng utilities, infrastructure, eqmpment, road and vegetation
masses (Years 1-3)
Aetwn2 Purchase tuff aenfier and topdresser eqmpment to enhance
athletic field turf quality (Year 2)
Actwn 3 Develop alternative strategies, including contract mowing Y~
services, to upgrade maintenance levels on selected properties and to
address properties recently added to the mzantenance inventory
(year 2)
Action 4 Install and implement a computerized registrat~on system at the recreation centers,
Cixac Center and the Semor Center in coor&natlon with the Information Services Master Plan
(year 2)
16
Strategy C
Systemaucally assess and address condmons in our fac~lmes and programs whmh may present
safety concerns to our customers
Action 1 With assistance from the Police,
conduct a security audit at MLK Center,
take appropriate action to address ~dennfied
concerns within available resources (Year 1)
Action 2 With Pohce assistance, conduct a
security audit of at least two PARD
buddings each fiscal year, take appropriate
correctave action as resources penmt
(Years 2-5)
Action 3 Refine and improve playground
equipment lnspectton procedures to ensure
comphance with the most recently issued ASTM ",~
F1487 and USCPSC guidelines (Year2)
Actton 4 Conduct a risk management audit of
famlmes and programs Develop a plan to
address defimenctes (Year2-5)
17
GOAL IV
Aggressively promote, initiate, cultivate and maintain effective collaboration and
partnerships with other departments, agencies, non-profits, businesses and ind~wduals m
the pursuit of our mission
Strategy A
Continually solicit the help and advice of others ~n the development and delivery of capital
improvements and department services
Actton 1 In cooperation with the southeast
Denton neighborhood, LULAC and others,
develop a plan and supplemental funding requests
0f needed) to improve classes and programs in
order to attract the Hlspamc populatxon at the
MLK Recreation Center (Year i)
Actton 2 Develop a written agreement wlth the
North Central Texas College Cemfied
Occupational Therapy Assistant program to offer
occupanonal therapy servmes to lnd~wduals with
dxsab~lmes in PARD therapeuttc recreation
programs (Year 1)
Action 3 Invite other agencies, non-profits,
DISD, the umversmes and others to participate in
an annual forum on service issues, to be held
dunng the first quarter of each fiscal year
(Years 2-5)
18
Strategy B
Max~rmze the benefits of bond fund and general fund expenditures by pursuing the joint
development, management and operation of facilities and propertxes wxth DISD
Actton 1 Develop for Council's approval the plans and operating agreements assocxated w~th the
development of the DISD's new rmddle school and other facilities xn South Lakes Park (Year 1)
Actton 2 Develop and ~mplement strategies w~th DISD forjmnt funding, construction and
operations of athletac fields, aquatic facflmes and a fourth middle school (Years ]-5)
19
GOAL V
Become a leading advocate for Denton's natural environment through the responsible
management and sensitive development of our parks and open spaces.
Strategy A
Promote Denton's image and status as a "Tree City USA" through the planting of appropriate tree
and plant species on parks, open spaces and pubhc properties
Action 1 Install by either PARD, volunteers or
contractors, at least 100 new trees under irrigation each
fiscal year on parks, medians and other pubhc properties
(Years 1-5)
Action 2 Worl~ng w~th Keep Denton Beautiful, ~dent~fy
and implement strategies to ensure adequate care for trees
planted on pubhc property, including (but not hrmted to)
~ ~.~ the possible formation of a City forestry crew (Years 2-3)
Strategy B
Ensure that the recreational needs of future Denton residents w~ll be met through the t~mely
acquisition of new parks and the protection of umque or environmentally sensitive areas
Action 1 Acquire a commumty park in
Northeast Denton, talang advantage of potential
grants from the state and joint
acquisition/development w~th the school district
(Years 1-2)
Action 2 Acqmre neighborhood parks in
projected growth areas (shown as target areas on
the Physical Plan) through a variety of
acquisit~on methods, including developer
dedications, private gifts, joint use of school lands
and fee simple purchases, pursue funding
necessary to complete the acqu~sltions, including
the use of bond funds and state grants
(Years 3-5)
Action 3 Identify and acquire a permanent neighborhood park site to replace the s~te presently
leased as "Brlercliff Park" from the State School (Years 4-5)
20
Action 4 Acquire land as necessary to support the development of the proposed aquatic center
(Goal II. strategy B). location wall.be determined through a feas~bdity study (projected target
areas noted as "Special Purpose Acquisition Areas" on the Physical Plan) (Year 4)
Actton$ Provide recommendations to the Denton Development Plan Committee for revising
and strengthening policies related to 1) greenbelt/drainage way preservation for recreational use,
2) park land dedication, 3) landscaping, and 4) recreation facility development (years 1-2)
Strategy C
Work with the schools, universities, garden clubs, environmental groups and others to promote
environmental awareness/stewardship through programs and projects
/lctton 1 Working with other interested parties, complete a
feasibility study for a public botanic garden to be funded
through private and grant support (Year 2)
,4ct~on 2 Working with the Friends of South Lakes Park
Nature Center, establish a nature trail in the southwest
quadrant of the park which will be matntmned jointly by the
Friends and PARD (Yea~ 1)
Actton 3 Review department programs and office management practices and adjust as
necessary to improve the PARD's recycling efforts (year 2)
21
GOAL VI
Strengthen the role of the community m determimng the type, availability and quahty of
the programs and services to be offered.
Strategy A
Develop muluple strategies fm receiving customer input that can be used to ~mptove facflmes
and selvlces
Actton Conduct exit or "satisfaction" polls at recreation centers, Semor Center, sw~mn~ng pool,
and other "dest~natmn" factht~es on a systematm bas~s, adjust serwces as necessary (Years 2-5)
Strategy B
Ensure opportunmes for netghborhoods, ~nterest groups and customers to pamc~pate ~n project
and program planmng efforts
Actton 1 Identify tnterested part~es and conduct focus group sesstons for the destgn of bond and
CDBG funded ~mprovements at Fred Moore, McKenna, and Phoemx parks, ~n accordance w~th
project workplans (Year 1)
Actton 2 Conduct a revtew of at least three park development plans annually (Years 1-5)
Strategy C
Strengthen the role of the Parks and Recreauon Board and other adwsory groups ~n the
development and dehvery of PARD serwces
Actton 1 Create opportumt~es for Park Board to conduct 3mnt meetings wtth others (DISD,
non-profits, serwce groups, and neighborhood (assocmtmns), ~n order to mcrease the
commumty's awareness of the Board and ~ts acttvmes (Year 2)
Actton 2 Develop and tmplement strategies to tmprove attendance and part~ctpat~on m the
center adwsory cormmttees of Dema and North Lakes recreation centers (Year 2)
Actton 30rgamze a subcommtttee of the MLK Center Advtsory Comauttee that wtll make
recommendattons related to serwces for H~spamc customers (Year 1)
Actton 4 In cooperatton w~th the Denton Youth Sports Assoctat~on, conduct focus g~oup
meetings w~th officers and parents of the various sports entrees to design strategies to achteve
~mptovements m facfltttes and serwces (Year 2)
22
GOAL VII
Ensure that the department's human, operating and capital resources will be sufficient to
meet the expectations of our commumty into the next century
Strategy A
Commumcate more effectively to City executives and pohcy makers the resource demands on the
park and recreation system in order to secure adequate resource levels
Action 1 Prior to construction, conduct an Operational Impact Assessment on each proposed
capital improvement, landscaping and beautification project, cornmumcate such impacts to City
executives and policy makers, in order to ensure appropnete funding levels
CIP Project ii
005301B Upgrade Existing Parks Phase II (Year 2)
006305A Athletic Facilities Phase I (Year 2)
006329 Downtown Improvements (Year 3)
005301C Upgrade Existing Parks Phase III (Year 3)
006321 Expansion of Dema and (Year 3)
North Lakes Recreation Centers
00305B Athlet, c Facilities Phase H (Year 4)
005308 South Lakes Park Phase H (Year 4)
005301P Upgrade Existing Parks Phase IV (Year 4)
005315 Umverslty Drive Landscaping (Year 4)
006305C Athletic Facilities Phase IH (Year 5)
006325 Athletic Field Additions (Year 5)
006326 Future Indoor Recreation Facility (Year 5)
Acuon 2: To facihtate Action 1, develop a work management and tracking system for
implementation in accordance vath the follovang
1 system tracks resource utlhZetlon (manpower, work hours, materials used) by employee,
park name and facility type in order to provide more detmled and useful data for work
planmng and budgeting,
2 system utlhZes computer hardware currently in possession and will also be compatible
with components called for m the Information Services five year plan (Year 1)
Action 3: Establish a staff position to coordinate athletic faclhtles with sports leagues, schools
and tournament usage (Year 2)
Action 4: Implement a computerized customer service and "one-stop" registration system at
PARD facilities (Year 2)
23
Action 5 Complete an Operational Impact
Assessment for newly Installed irrigation systems
on Teasley Lane, University Dnve, at the South
Branch Llbrat3, and at the DMC, secure
applopnate funding levels or adjust operations to
reconcile annual costs with available resources
(Year 2)
Action 6 In cooperation with the Denton Youth Sports Assocmtton, review athletic field
maintenance standards, secure appropriate funding levels or adjust maintenance activities to
reconcile costs with desired operating standards (Year 2)
Action 7 In coord~natson w~th Utilities, develop an operations and management plan for the
Lake Ray Roberts parks, green belts and public use areas to be implemented October 1997,
should the Parks Department replace Texas Parks and W~ldhfe as the land manager (Year 2)
Strategy B
Conduct a systematm review of the mfrastructure needs to support budgetary decisions and
capital improvement program requests
Action 1 In conjunction w~th annual CIP planmng and the development of the Annual Action
Plan, conduct an assessment of facility cond~tmns and needs (Years I-5)
Action 2 Worlong with Fac~ht~es Management, Utthttes and others, determine PARD office
space needs and construct ~mpmvements ~n accordance with 1995-2000 CIP (Years 1-2)
Strategy C
Plovlde trmmng/career development opportunities which help maximize the contribution of
lndlwduaI employees to the mlssmn
Action As part of the Annual Action Plan, assess the training/development needs of the
orgamzat~on and develop a plan to fulfill them (Years 2-5)
24
Strategy D
Consxstently recogmze and meaningfully reward the contributions of teams and mdxvlduals
toward the accomphshment of PARD goals and n~ssmn
Actton Develop and implement
recommendations of the PARD
RewardsfRecognmon goal team
(Years 1-2)
Strategy E
Complete the review of all PARD fees and charges every three years, and adjust as needed to
reflect customer demand, program cost, and service philosophy
Actton Conduct a revxew of selected fees and charges, and propose adjustments for
consxderatlon in the FY 1996-'97 budget process (Years 1-5)
25
GOAL VIII
Continually explore and exploit alternative funding strategies which will allow us to
achieve our vision and mission in the most cost-effective manner possible.
Strategy A
Maximize the use of grant funds for facilities and services, including funding of staff
Acnonl Sohcit non-profit and corporate funding to underwrite costs of the IMAGINE
program (Tears
Acnon 2 Acquire a community park in northeast Denton in accordance with the following
criteria
1 does not exceed 1986 bond fund allocation of $450,000 as the City's investment in the
project,
2 takes advantage of potential joint site acquisition/development with DISD,
3 considers possible multipurpose acqmsltion/development as park/hbrary/school site,
4 facilitates the use of the park's land value as the local match to apply for a development
grant through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (Year 1-2)
Acnon 3 Secure final approvals from TX]DOT and the
City Council to execute a consultant services contract for
the design of Denton Rall/Trml improvements, complete
design and execute construction contracts (Tear 2)
Strategy B
Establish formal methods of soliciting and receiving
contributions for the improvement and the operation of
parks and services
Action 1 Revltahze the Denton Parks Foundation as a
legitimate funding entity by recruiting new board
membership to fill vacancies (Tear 2)
Action 2 Explore with the Denton Youth Sports Association the possible creation of a
self-assessed "enhancement fee" to underwrite field improvements and services not funded by
the City (Year 2)
26
GOAL IX
Become a stronger advocate for healthy, productive ~nd~v~duals, families and commumt~es
through act~wtles which promote personal growth and enrich hves
Strategy A
Develop and implement a promotional program to fully commumcate the products and se~vtces
which are avadable through the department
Action 1 Conduct an evaluatton of the department's promotional material and act~wttes, refine
as needed ~ear 2)
Actton 2 Develop a proposal/strategy for a department brochure which dlustrates facdlttes,
sohc~t private funding for the pubhcat~on and dtstnbut~on of th~s document in FY 1996-'97
(Years 1-2)
Strategy B
Develop and sponsor annual events/programs which promote wellness and active hying to City
of Denton employees and their famdtes
Actton Conduct a survey of C~ty employees to measure leisure acnv~ty levels and use results to
develop PARD acttmtles which promote h~gher act~wty levels among employees (Year 2)
27
Denton Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
Capital Improvements by Park
ck~struct~c~
Park Prolect Description Year*
Avondale replace tables, benches 2000
expand/repair walks ,,
pave parking .
Bowling Green - replace play equipment 1997
~ replace tables, benches .
- add p~cnlc shelter ,,
Civic Center - replace/repair play equipment 1997
- replace tables, benches .
- replace pedestrian bridge .
- expand/repair walks ,,
- overlay Senior Center parking 1998
- renovate restroom building 1999
Denxa - replace play equipment 1997
- replace tables, benches .
- replace p~cn~c shelters ,,
- build new softball fields (2) "
- build new restroom/ .
concession building
- expand walks 1998
- expand recreation center 1999
- renovate parking ,,
Evers - replace play equipment 1999
- replace tables, benches ,,
- replace picnic shelters ,,
- expand walks .
- relocate football fields .
- replace ballf~eld lights, fences .
- add second restroom/ ,,
concession building
- overlay parklng ,,
- build new baseball fields (2) ,,
Fred Moore replace play equipment 1997
replace tables, benches ,,
replace p~cn~c shelters ,,
- expand walks ,,
Joe Skiles replace play equipment 1998
replace tables, benches .
replace picnic shelters .
expand walks .,
* NOTE Pro3ected start of construction -sub]ect to change
Mack - replace play equipment 1999
- replace tables, benches ..
- replace picnic shelters
- expand walks .
- overlay parking 2000
- replace ballfleld lzghts, fences "
- renovate restroom/ .,
concession buzldlng
McKenna - replace play equipment 1997
- replace tables, benches .
- replace picnic shelters ..
- expand walks .
- renovate restroom building ..
Milam - replace play equipment 1998
replace tables, benches ,.
Nette Schultz replace play equipment 1997
replace tables, benches .
replace p~cnlc shelters "
expand walks .,
North Lakes replace play equipment 1999
replace tables, benches
replace pzcnlc shelters
expand walks
overlay parking
expand recreation center
build new roller hockey rink
build new soccer restroom/ 2000
concession building
light four additional fields ..
Phoenix replace play equipment 1997
replace tables, benches .
replace picnic shelter ,.
add walks .
add practice soccer f~eld .
South Lakes construct Phase II improvements, 1998
· nclud~ng tra~ls, p~cn~c facilities
construct second retention lake 1999
Other Entrance Monuments 1997-2000
Downtown Improvements 1998
Rail Trail Construction 1998
2255 1/21/97
Pa~e 2
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