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

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REVISED DRAFT JUNE 14APRIL 9, 2012 Service Areas Evaluating service areas is an effective means of identifying geographic areas that have sufficient park areas available, but more importantly to identify those in need of additional parks and recreation areas and facilities. Neighborhood parks have a service area of one-quarter (¼) mile, while community parks have a service area of one mile; which means that the majority of the persons who utilize these facilities live within those respective distances. The se Map 2.4, Park Service Areas. Since school playgrounds and private parks also provide neighborhood-scale park and recreation benefits to City residents, their service areas have been included in this analysis. While school parks have not been included in this analysis, they too could be included if the City and La Porte ISD formalize joint use agreements and these playground and other amenities are open to the public outside of school operating hours. Park System Plan The La Porte Park System Plan is designed to meet the requirements of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) in order to become eligible for grant reimbursement of up to 50 percent (with a maximum of $500,000 per application cycle) for qualified projects. With the City being proactive in adopting separate Parks and Open Space and Trails master plan, these requirements have been met as long as an update is performed every five years. Map 2.5, Park System Plan, is intended to be an intermediary analysis that will facilitate future discussion when those separate master plans are updated. As the City moves forward in expanding park acreage to meet the needs of the future projected population, the Park System Plan delineates the areas of deficiencies within the City and should be one of the primary considerations used to identify where future neighborhood and community parks are located. Key Planning Considerations Key planning considerations for ensuring adequate parks, recreation, and open space include: 1)All people should have equal access to recreational areas, activities, services, and facilities regardless of personal interest, age, gender, income, cultural background, housing environment, or handicap. 2)Public recreation should be highly coordinated among public institutions and private entities to avoid duplication and encourage cooperation. 3)Public recreation should incorporate public services such as education, health and fitness, transportation, and leisure. 4)Facilities should be well-planned and coordinated to ensure adequate adaptability to future needs and requirements. 2.24 Chapter 2