What’s Up, Parks And Rec Board?
Author: Jen Dalrymple, Parks and Rec Board
What’s Up, Parks and Rec Board?
Jen Dalrymple
Parks and Rec Board
Well, to begin with, we have been strategizing on processes necessary to help interested groups to implement additional portions of the Broadwater County, County Parks and Recreation Plan 2023. This extensive long-term plan was developed to provide the Parks and Recreation Board, the County Commissioners and residents with a clear vision about how we, as a County with diverse communities and interests, can improve, maintain and manage recreation facilities for the next 20 years.
Though the plan initially set out a prioritized list of facility projects, as identified by input from public surveys and hearings, it is a living document in that implementation of those projects has been accomplished as grant and donor funding for specific areas becomes available and new opportunities present themselves for development.
Take, for example, priorities number three (Fairgrounds Project) and 9 (Silos Project) that are on our Parks and Rec Plan list. They are both extensive areas with multiple proposed improvement projects within those areas. Both required separate Master Plans specific to those improvements to ensure overall development is properly planned, coordinated and implemented in a consistent manner. Once the Master Plans are approved by the Commissioners, the interested entities can begin to solicit for volunteers, donors and other grants to implement their independent projects within their Master Plans. There have been many successful projects completed under the Master Plans at both of these areas. The goal of the Master Plan, a pseudo sub-document to the County Parks and Rec Plan, is to outline the specific project concept and site plan; structure placements, funding sustainability, operations and maintenance, security, topographic concerns, utility requirements, etc.
We, as a County Board, just completed coordination on our contract for the Commissioner-approved Parks and Open Space Master Plan for two specific County properties at Centerville/Mill Roads (10 acres) and Canton Lane/Delger Road (94 acres). This Master Plan, like the Fairgrounds and Silos Master Plans, lays out desired concepts and site designs for the two properties. Now, entities interested in developing specific projects within these two properties have the concepts and plans, with extensive public input and approval by the Commissioners, to begin the road to development.
Depending on the scope of the project identified on the Parks and Rec Plan list, it may or may not require a separate Master Plan, like the Fairgrounds and Silos, but merely a checklist for project development and the approved County land necessary to accommodate the project. Let’s take a look at the dog park project for example.
The dog park project is listed on the County Parks and Rec Plan but without a specific location identified. Now that it’s within the Parks and Open Space Master Plan for the Centerville acreage, it will still need some of the same elements of a Master Plan before actual construction can begin; individual/group project coordinator, type of construction, placement within Centerville acreage, funding sustainability and other considerations. We are in the process of developing that checklist to ensure that whoever coordinates and builds the project has incorporated all the elements required by the County Commissioners to protect the County’s public land and the investment.
If you are interested in reviewing any of the documents mentioned in this article, please visit the County’s website https://broadwatercountymt.gov/boards_committees/advisory_boards/parks_recreation_board/index.php .
If you wish to embark on specific project development within the newly approved Parks and Open Space Master Plan, please contact the Parks and Rec Board for further information through the County Planner Nichole Brown.
