By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Wishing to put together a 5-Year Master Plan, the Decatur-Adams County Parks and Recreation Department is seeking public input before embarking on a plan for the future.
“Our parks and recreation facilities belong to our community,” the department said in a news release. “Before we decide where we need to invest our time, resources, and funding over the next five years, we want to hear directly from the people who use our parks and recreation facilities.”
“Your answers will help us better understand what our community wants and needs for both the City of Decatur and Adams County.”
The department said it will use community feedback as part of a larger planning process that includes:
– Taking a complete inventory of the current parks, facilities, programs, and amenities
– Updating Parks & Recreation mission statement
– Reviewing and analyzing the survey results
– Holding public meetings and opportunities for community input
– Identifying the community’s top needs and priorities
– Developing a priority list and action plan for the next five years
– Looking at potential funding opportunities and partnerships to help make those priorities possible.
“If you want your feedback to be considered as part of the official planning process, please complete the survey,” the department said.
Do so at: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/
KEY OPPORTUNITY: Cara Gerber was named to the newly-created position of parks superintendent in early February.
“Having a superintendent dedicated to parks & recreation is also a tremendous opportunity for our department,” the recent news release said. “It allows us to have someone focused specifically on the long-term planning, development, maintenance, and improvement of our parks and recreation system while working directly with our community.”
As of Oct. 20, Gerber said the department had received
360 responses.
“I would like to get over 1,000 surveys completed. It is completely anonymous,” she noted.
PREVIOUS PLAN: The last 5-year plan, the department’s news release said, identified a number of goals and areas of improvement. Some of the items that have been completed or addressed, it said, include:
–Updated the skate park.
–Inspected the existing pool and evaluated whether it could be repaired or if a new pool should eventually be constructed.
–Extended pool hours.
–Added hitching posts at parks serving the Amish community.
–Provided maintenance support for existing trails.
–Worked toward more efficient ways of sharing information with the community.
–Installed a dog park.
–Added additional pickleball courts.
–Investigated the possibility of a YMCA in Adams County.
–Installed a disc golf course.
Now, it’s time to look ahead, the department said, asking:
What should the next five years look like?
What do you think our parks need?
What facilities should we improve?
What programs are missing?
What would make you and your family use our parks more often?
What should we prioritize?
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