06-21-12 Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission

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7 6)Create a comprehensive wayfinding program to project a consistent image for the entire City and to provide directional guidance to the area's greatest assets, i.e., Main Street and Sylvan Beach. Partner with TxDOT to develop and obtain approval for a Wayfinding Sign Guide System Plan. 8.)7).Evaluate program criteria and make necessary improvements to achieve certification through the Scenic City Certification Program. Sponsored by Scenic Texas, this certification recognizes Texas municipalities that implement high -quality scenic standards for public roadways and public spaces, with the long-term goal of improving the image of all cities. 9-)8)Evaluate program criteria and make necessary improvements to gain recognition in the Tree City USA Program. Sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, this program helps communities become better stewards of their tree resources. Focus Area 4 - Adequate Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Parks and recreation facilities are an essential part of a healthy, quality, and vibrant community environment. They provide the necessary components for events outside the home and after work and after school activities. Whether for passive or active use, parks and recreation facilities are an important factor of everyday living, active living — serving health benefits for children, seniors, and people of all ages. The park system also enhances the community's "quality of life" factor, boosting economic development efforts to recruit and retain a skilled workforce; build a strong tax base to finance system expansion, facility enhancements, and maintenance; and attract retirees. It is clear that La Porte places high value on its park and recreation system. Subsequent to the last comprehensive planning process, in 1998, the City prepared and adopted a separate Parks and Open Space Master Plan (2002; amended 2008) and Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Implementation Plan (2003); both of which the City has been actively implementing in the over the past several years. This section of the Comprehensive Plan is not intended to supplant those separate specific master plans; rather it is intended to review those plans in terms of how they currently fit within the overall framework of a 20-year planning horizon —meaning, will the full implementation of those plans achieve the goals of creating a park, recreation, and open space system that is high quality (safe and well maintained), convenient and accessible (to its users), diversified (in its activities), and interconnected (to the community), while trying to preserve and protect La Porte's